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-   -   A Pichavaram Detour (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/148427-pichavaram-detour.html)

23.2.2014 Sunday Morning. Some 7 of us work-mates, went for a wedding in Kumbakonam (not Kumarakom :D). Our ride was a Toyota Qualis.

We started off from Guduvancheri (Chennai outskirts), drove all the way non-stop to Kumbakonam 242 kms, attended the wedding, had a sumptuous lunch... and by 1.30 pm we were ready by the car to hit the road back to Chennai. Just then I suggest that we take the Pondichery route and go for a Pichavaram Detour?... after all we have the whole afternoon ahead.

All guys aye'd and thats it.


A 90 minute drive from Kumbakonam brought us to this place.

This is the turn-off point towards Pichavaram 10 kms as per the signage.

This junction is:
74 Kms from Kumbakonam.
202 Kms from Chennai (Starting from Tambaram, via Tindivanam Pondichery)
63 Kms from Pondichery (Via Cuddalore)
185 Kms from Salem (Via Athur Virudhachalam)
150 Kms from Trichy (Via Jayankondam)


As we enter, the road looked fine...

Many websites and blogs warned us that this last 10 km stretch is bad, broken, pot-holed and unfit to take our cars in. Those sites also advised us to leave the cars behind in Chidambaram and take the local buses shuttling to Pichavaram. Not true now. The status of the tarmac what we see in the above picture remains the same through out the entire stretch, flawless and butter-smooth all the way till Pichavaram. May be it got re-laid recently.

Buffalo Barricade. The herd loves occupying the road.




Another herd loved occupying the pool.


While Shepherds watch their flocks. A village scene.


Boats in a canal of backwaters.


Somewhere before entering here, the local village panchayat had a booth and charged Rs.50/- per car as entry fee.

Reaching Pichavaram Boating area.

The place had ample parking space with security guards around.






In English:

Row Boats.
2pax 1km 1hour - Rs.150
4pax 1km 1hour - Rs.220
5pax 1km 1hour - Rs.250
2pax 2km 2hour - Rs.300
4pax 2km 2hour - Rs. ___
5pax 2km 2hour - Rs. ___

Motorised Boats.
8pax 2km 40 mins - Rs.1000
8pax 3km 1hour - Rs.1400

Sorry the fares are unseen in this picture for boating into the forest areas. Someone may post a better pic if available.


The Boat Jetty - Row boats on the left.


Motorised Boats on the right.

As we were in a crunchy time schedule, we opted a motorised boat for 40 mins 2 kms at Rs.1000/- for a quick yet a longer ride.

The ladies boarding a Row Boat.


Our boat speeds over the sprawling backwaters.


With Mangrove forests all around.


These two boats are returning.


That one is fishing.


This one heading to the sea.


Fishing boats... Parked.


In through the water lanes.


Egrets nesting.... Many species of water birds are found here.


The Heron thinks its fully hidden.

Our Boat heads for a tunnel through the mangroves.


Inside the tunnel


A fork


Narrow & Shallow.


Exit the tunnel






On the main lane again.


Fisher folks. They say they catch Crabs.


Time to get back to the shore.


Some scenes from the watch-tower.


There is a guest house.


Lanes of backwaters.


Row Boats in plenty.


Looking tired of rowing.


The Boat House area. Still some cars are coming in.


While driving back... towards Chennai.



The route taken on the day: http://goo.gl/maps/ZvhxW

More details on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pichavaram


Thanks for reading :).

Nice pictures and a good short travelogue. One question, are life jackets at least an option here?

You have clearly showed the spirit of a true bhpian by taking this detour.

Thanks for sharing the details.

Clear bright photos.

Returned via ECR?

Thanks GTO for moving this.


Thanks Arvind. Life jackets were hanging there and when i asked what about these?.. the boatman said "Take one and wear if you want". Wearing a life jacket is not compulsory here it seems. But we were wearing it through out the ride :).

Thanks bbhavan. We returned via Pondichery, Tindivanam & Tambaram.

A nice and crisp travelogue. I too visited Pichavaram on 28th Feb.

This guest house which is located on a small island is owned by TTDC (Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation) but not operational currently. It has been shut down after the 2004 Tsunami. I heard that a family from Chennai was staying there when the Tsunami was hit. Fortunately, they all survived by climbing on top of the guest house.

TTDC currently provide rooms for stay near the Reception area itself.

Nicely explained and amply supplemented with photographs of taste.
Good work.

As I understand, only these speed boat rides take you through the tunnels in mangrove forests. Right?
Other than the mangrove forests, is there anything else of tourist attraction at pitchavaram?
Also, what would be the ideal time of the day to visit this place?

Even row boats take you inside the mangroves, ideally that is what is to be taken to savour the place slowly. Usually the boatman will say if you give me this much more will show you the place where some movie was shot, you can bargain with him and still do that longer duration one. The Mangroves are a very important part of the ecosystem, in fact during the Tsunami only because of the mangroves the damage was minimal to this area.
We had been there during Sep'10, we had stayed at Mahabs and passed through Pondi, the best time is around 4 in the evening so that you dont feel the heat of the sun. You could also club a visit to the Chidambaram Temple.

If taking the row boat, will it be possible to cover the place in one hour stipulated time?

Yes you can, the choice is entirely yours, since you have gone all the way, suggest you spend extra time since this would be an unlikely place to re visit. Most people pay them extra and cover some more place.

Yes, it's about 15 km or so from the temple. Still remember how un successfully I coerced my family to visit this place during our last trip to Chidambaram. But coming from the shores of vembanad lake, they simply turned down my plea.:banghead:

@Ddrive, Excellent travelogue, these kind of unplanned/spur of the moment trips always turn out to be worthwhile, superb pictures as well, thanks for sharing :thumbs up
Wondering how I missed reading such a good travelogue earlier :Frustrati

Any suggestions for hotels nearby (other than Pondicherry) - maybe even 50-100Km away from Pichavaram from where one can do a day trip ?

Thank you for the kind words sir.

These are some towns where decent hotels will be available.
Chidambaram - 12 kms (Hotels available upto 3 stars)
Cuddalore - 53 kms (Good hotels should be there)
Neyveli Township - 60 kms. There is one good 2 star hotel reviewed as good.
Jayankondam 63 kms - This is another town where decent hotels should be available, as the famous world heritage site, Sri Brahadeeswarar temple is just 10 kms away from Jayankondam, on SH-227 which goes towards Pichavaram