The mangrove forest at Pichavaram is spread over 1,100 hectares and joins the Bay of Bengal, where it’s separated by a lengthy sand bank. Apparently, the forest has more than 50 islands of various sizes, and 4,400 big and small canals. Astonishing! The small canals are sun-flecked tunnels of roots and branches, some hanging so low that there’s hardly any room to pass through. Approximately 200 species of birds have been recorded, along with many varieties of seaweed, fish, prawns, crabs, oysters, turtles, and otters. There are around 20 different varieties of trees in the mangrove forest as well.The trees grow in water that’s three to 10 feet deep in different places. Pichavaram is located about 30 minutes drive from the temple town of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. It’s a picturesque route past paddy fields, villages with colorfully painted houses, traditional style huts with thatched roofs, and women selling fish by the roadside. A taxi will cost approximately 800 rupees for a return trip and is the most convenient way of getting there. You can expect to pay about 1,700 rupees per hour for a motor boat, and 300 rupees upwards for a row boat to go inside the mangrove jungle. November to February is the best time, particularly for bird watching
