Pichavaram is a village near Chidambaram in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. The distance from Chidambaram Nataraja Temple to Pichhavaram Mangrove Forest, one of the largest mangrove forests in India, is 22 km. Boating is available here every day of the week from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. The charges for a motor boat are Rs 900 for 40 minutes, Rs 1300 for 1 hour, Rs 130 for a row boat and Rs 460 for 2 hours. Pichavaram Mangrove Forest is one of the largest mangrove forests in India covering an area of 1100 ha. The mangroves are a beautiful sight, with roots rising from the water and a green umbrella over them. It is estimated that there are 177 species of birds in this mangrove forest. The best time for bird watching is from November to February. There are more than 50 islands of various sizes and 4,400 canals, both large and small.