What to expect
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
One of the world's largest mangrove forests, explored by rowboat through backwater channels between Chidambaram and the sea, with rich birdlife along the Vellar-Coleroon estuary.
Practical guide
Plan Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
Who's going?Tailor Pichavaram Mangrove Forest to your trip
Typebackwater
Nearest basePichavaram
DistrictCuddalore
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier…
Time neededAbout an hour
Entry₹50
Places to visit3→Pichavaram Mangrove Forest is planned from Pichavaram, one of the travel bases in Cuddalore district. Use Pichavaram for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.
Getting there
How to visit
- Base yourself in Pichavaram or nearby in Cuddalore, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
- If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Timing
Best time
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
Weather in Pichavaram Mangrove ForestSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
Sunrise6:01 am
Sunset6:22 pm
Golden hour best light5:22 pm–6:22 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:22 pm–6:47 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 279°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 83%
South-west monsoon. June to September is monsoon season: the sea gets rough, swimming is often unsafe and boat services can be suspended. Follow lifeguard and local warnings, and expect changeable conditions.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Photos
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
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Top experiences around Pichavaram
2 more places around Pichavaram, each worth a day of its own.
heritageParangipettai (Porto Novo)
9.2 km · ~15 min by cab
Historic Coromandel port settled by the Portuguese in the 1590s as "Porto Novo", later Dutch and British, site of India's first iron-and-steel works (1830).
beachSamiyarpettai Beach
15.7 km · ~26 min by cab
Quiet golden-sand Bay of Bengal beach midway between Cuddalore and Chidambaram, home to the coastal Pinnai Vazhi Amman shrine.
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Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest — at a glance
Timings9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Best timeNov-Feb best; avoid peak monsoon (Oct-Dec) when water levels surge
Entry price
- Indian adult
- ₹50
Fees change without notice. Check the current rate at the counter.
Entry: ~₹50 entry + boat hire
Getting here
How to reach Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
Chidambaram (CDM) railway station ~15 km; nearest airport Puducherry (~55 km)
Getting around Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
On the map
Where Pichavaram Mangrove Forest is
Good to know
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Pichavaram Mangrove Forest?
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
What are the entry fee and timings at Pichavaram Mangrove Forest?
Entry: ~₹50 entry + boat hire. Timings: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The rupee figure quoted is the Indian adult rate.
How do I reach Pichavaram Mangrove Forest?
Base yourself in Pichavaram or nearby in Cuddalore, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
How much time do I need for Pichavaram Mangrove Forest?
About an hour.
What else is near Pichavaram Mangrove Forest?
Nearby you can pair Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Thiruvetkalam (7.0 km), Uchinathar Temple, Sivapuri (Thirunelvayil) (8.3 km), Palvannanathar Temple, Thirukkazhippalai (8.4 km), Parangipettai (Porto Novo) (9.2 km).
Read before you go
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest guides, stories & itineraries
Stories & history of Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
Written about Pichavaram Mangrove Forest itself — its history, its legends and the arguments about them.
Around Pichavaram
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest sits in Pichavaram, so these cover the streets, buildings and surroundings around it.
Itinerary
Pichavaram & Chidambaram in 2 Days: Cosmic Dance and Mangrove Backwaters
7 min read · Read →
Tamil Nadu-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Tamil Nadu.
Photographs: KARTY JazZ (CC BY-SA 4.0), Satdeep Gill (CC BY-SA 4.0), VasuVR (CC BY-SA 3.0). Wikimedia Commons.
Image credits
- Pichavaram Mangrove Forest:KARTY JazZ · CC BY-SA 4.0