A journey to the world's second largest mangrove forest.

gajadonga · 30th January 2010, 16:41

I had always dreamt of going to these forests from my college days when my friends used to describe these forests and it so happened I had the opportunity to see this place.I had travelled from Hyderabad to Trichy for Pongal and I had 3 days in my hand and was looking out for a short trip and finally short listed to Chidambaram and Pichavaram as these two places were nearby.
A small word about these forests mangrove forests are found in depositional coastal environments where fine sediments (often with high organic content) collect in areas protected from high energy wave action.The fine, anoxic
sediments under mangroves act as sinks for a variety of heavy (trace) metals which colloidal particles in the sediments scavenged from the water. Mangrove removal disturbs these underlying sediments, often creating problems of trace metal contamination of seawater and biota.

Started from Trichy in the morning 5am and took the Veppur-Vridachallam-Bhuvanagiri-Chidambaram route.The route from Veppur to Bhuvanagiri was average with lot of potholes could manage to reach Chidambaram by 7.30am.

gajadonga · 30th January 2010, 16:48

Had Darshan in

the temple as the crowd was not much and spent about 45mins then finished breakfast and started from Chidambaram

around 9am and reached Pichavaram 9.30am.We were the second boat to start and we took the 2hrs trip so that we could

cover the beach also.Our boatman was very helpful and was narrating about the forests.He was saying that the whole

forest area was around 3500acres of land.Initially when the boat started I was not that impressed as the water was

backwaters of ocean and with dense forests later as we entered the forests then I realised it was worth the trip

venki.bala · 31st January 2010, 07:44

Cool, My brother studied in Annamalai University and always tells his trips they made during his college days in cycle to Pitchavaram. Nice pictures. Are the boats safe? why no one is wearing life jackets?

hvkumar · 31st January 2010, 08:44

I have heard of a lovely beach accessible only by boat at the end of the mangrove swamps - did you manage to go there?

Ravveendrra · 31st January 2010, 09:59

Nice destination, off the beaten track. Looking forward to more pics and info on places, accomodation and rates etc.

Keep it coming doc!

Cheers,

aargee · 31st January 2010, 10:06

Oh!!! I never knew that Pichchavaram is second largest mangroove forest in the world, otherwise I would've made to it 2 years back when I was driving to Chidambaram. Nice going, keep them coming @gajadonga

gajadonga · 31st January 2010, 15:07

Hi venkibala most of the boats are row boats and they are quite safe.We took the motor boat so that we can go upto the beach as these boats travel faster.

gajadonga · 31st January 2010, 15:10

hvkumar sir as we had taken the motor boat and we were quite early to the boathouse so the boatman accepted us to take us to the beach.If the crowd is more they usually deny the trip to beach as it takes 2hrs to go and come back.

gajadonga · 31st January 2010, 15:15

Hi Ravendra the place is quite ok facilities not that great.Occomodation you have only TTDC rooms which are average and the rates are quite reasonable.The best way would be to stay at Chidambaram and reach Pichavaram.The boats start as early as 7am and you can view a lot of birds during that time.

vasanthn21 · 31st January 2010, 15:23

Please post pics of the beach and the mangrove (closer one;s)

hvkumar · 31st January 2010, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Hi Ravendra the place is quite ok facilities not that great.Occomodation you have only TTDC rooms which are average and the rates are quite reasonable.The best way would be to stay at Chidambaram and reach Pichavaram.The boats start as early as 7am and you can view a lot of birds during that time.

I had lunch at the TTDC Pichavaram hotel once, one of the dirtiest and least attarctive of Hotel Tamil Nadus! Avoidable!

gajadonga · 31st January 2010, 15:32

As we started the mangrove forests were quite becoming more denser and my boatman said he will take us to the beach first and then into the mangrove forest.We could see some birds.All of us were excited about the beach.

gajadonga · 31st January 2010, 15:42

All of us were jumping in the beach for some time.If you look closely in one of the pictures the sand colour is more of black colour.We collected some sand and shells.We could get hold of a decomposed fish with teeth.On the shores there were houses which were destroyed by tsunami.

gajadonga · 31st January 2010, 15:49

hvkumar sir as you said the food is very poor only one TTDC restaurant rest all are small shops. Facilities wise not upto the mark.

HappyWheels · 31st January 2010, 15:57

Great spot!

Waiting for the rest of the travelogue.

30th January 2010, 16:41	#1
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	A journey to the world's second largest mangrove forest. I had always dreamt of going to these forests from my college days when my friends used to describe these forests and it so happened I had the opportunity to see this place.I had travelled from Hyderabad to Trichy for Pongal and I had 3 days in my hand and was looking out for a short trip and finally short listed to Chidambaram and Pichavaram as these two places were nearby. A small word about these forests mangrove forests are found in depositional coastal environments where fine sediments (often with high organic content) collect in areas protected from high energy wave action.The fine, anoxic sediments under mangroves act as sinks for a variety of heavy (trace) metals which colloidal particles in the sediments scavenged from the water. Mangrove removal disturbs these underlying sediments, often creating problems of trace metal contamination of seawater and biota. Started from Trichy in the morning 5am and took the Veppur-Vridachallam-Bhuvanagiri-Chidambaram route.The route from Veppur to Bhuvanagiri was average with lot of potholes could manage to reach Chidambaram by 7.30am. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

30th January 2010, 16:48	#2
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	Had Darshan in the temple as the crowd was not much and spent about 45mins then finished breakfast and started from Chidambaram around 9am and reached Pichavaram 9.30am.We were the second boat to start and we took the 2hrs trip so that we could cover the beach also.Our boatman was very helpful and was narrating about the forests.He was saying that the whole forest area was around 3500acres of land.Initially when the boat started I was not that impressed as the water was backwaters of ocean and with dense forests later as we entered the forests then I realised it was worth the trip Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 07:44	#3
venki.bala BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 395 Thanked: 313 Times	Cool, My brother studied in Annamalai University and always tells his trips they made during his college days in cycle to Pitchavaram. Nice pictures. Are the boats safe? why no one is wearing life jackets?
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 08:44	#4
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,466 Times	I have heard of a lovely beach accessible only by boat at the end of the mangrove swamps - did you manage to go there?
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 09:59	#5
Ravveendrra Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,390 Thanked: 447 Times View My Garage	Nice destination, off the beaten track. Looking forward to more pics and info on places, accomodation and rates etc. Keep it coming doc! Cheers,
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 10:06	#6
aargee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TSTN Posts: 6,355 Thanked: 10,059 Times	Oh!!! I never knew that Pichchavaram is second largest mangroove forest in the world, otherwise I would've made to it 2 years back when I was driving to Chidambaram. Nice going, keep them coming @gajadonga Last edited by aargee : 31st January 2010 at 10:06. Reason: spelling mistake
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:07	#7
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	Hi venkibala most of the boats are row boats and they are quite safe.We took the motor boat so that we can go upto the beach as these boats travel faster.
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:10	#8
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	hvkumar sir as we had taken the motor boat and we were quite early to the boathouse so the boatman accepted us to take us to the beach.If the crowd is more they usually deny the trip to beach as it takes 2hrs to go and come back.
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:15	#9
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	Hi Ravendra the place is quite ok facilities not that great.Occomodation you have only TTDC rooms which are average and the rates are quite reasonable.The best way would be to stay at Chidambaram and reach Pichavaram.The boats start as early as 7am and you can view a lot of birds during that time.
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:23	#10
vasanthn21 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 814 Thanked: 524 Times View My Garage	Please post pics of the beach and the mangrove (closer one;s)
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:32	#12
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	As we started the mangrove forests were quite becoming more denser and my boatman said he will take us to the beach first and then into the mangrove forest.We could see some birds.All of us were excited about the beach. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:42	#13
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	All of us were jumping in the beach for some time.If you look closely in one of the pictures the sand colour is more of black colour.We collected some sand and shells.We could get hold of a decomposed fish with teeth.On the shores there were houses which were destroyed by tsunami. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:49	#14
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,068 Thanked: 499 Times	hvkumar sir as you said the food is very poor only one TTDC restaurant rest all are small shops. Facilities wise not upto the mark.
	() Thanks

31st January 2010, 15:57	#15
HappyWheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,145 Thanked: 571 Times	Great spot! Waiting for the rest of the travelogue.
	() Thanks