Saturday, April 18, 2009

Pitchavaram Mangrove Swamps, Tamilnadu


When you take the boat ride in the backwaters of Pitchavaram you will see mangroves like this.. and the sceney is like this around you. The water ride will be some 3 kms.. but the depth of the water is only 5 feet or so.. so you will see fishermen standing in the water and fishing.


Fantastic Ride!! The boat ride will take you to the beach at one end and drop you there and wait for you. When you walk across the beach to the sea side you will feel your feet feeling soft sand underneath. This beach is actually an Island I think.. On one side the sea water is coming into the backwater and the other side seems to be disconnected from the mainland.. since we came from mainland and this side of the beach seemed to join the piece of land across the water when we stood on the mainland while boarding the boat. Another thing I feel. It is that there is water deep under this sand beach.. or else why is it soft to walk? In fact this is evident from the impressions left behind on the sand by animal or man walking as you can see. No other beaches are like this.. During Tsunami this beach was under water but the mainland was protected by the mangroves swamps. There are fishermen living on this beach at one corner.. do not know what they do when Tsunami comes!!

We are reaching the beach (island). Here the waterway narrows and becomes very shallow.. the boatman has to push his way with the help of the oar.

The photo at above right is the beach showing the sea on the far side front.
A hole made by a Crab. Unfortunately could not see one! The greenery at the end is the tiny village where th fishermen live. The photo below on the left side shows some manmade canal to get water (for what? Growing plants? Some plants are seen- Succulents rather that you probably have in your flower pots in your houses. Here they are growing naturally.)








9 comments:

workhard said...

Awesome.... love the pictures of the swamp.. its like u watch on tv... its amazing to see places like these actually exist for real...

monsoon dreams said...

hi shantanu,
nice snaps and travelogue.does sunderbans look like this?in my imaginations it looks like this.

ShantanuDas said...

Hi Workhard Thnx!!.. I came to TN..did not like to come.. but I have turned it into a wonderful experience and am sharing it with the world.. I only wish I cld write more details.. I seem to misplace the papers where I write the address ph nos etc (of course I found them from net and then calling up forest deptt in this case they will always help)

Dear Monsoon.. I myself hv not seen Sunderbans.. but I believe that will be even more swampy.. and with crocodiles and snakes.. !..

eyeeww 1!

Smita said...

Awesome pictures!!! Makes me want to go there.....

ShantanuDas said...

hello smita.. thnx 4 ur comments.. yes.. the place is worth staying one night.. there were huts earlier on an island there but govt has not maintained them maybe they will renovate and soon start.. for now the place to stay are only what I have shown.. small rooms..not that good for women unless you are okay for a little discomfort..

Kichu $ Chinnu | കിച്ചു $ ചിന്നു said...

good snap

Anurag said...

dude ..first time here..and you got a picture blog ehh??...

Looks nice mann .....U travelled all over and collected it ??....
Hv U like travelled all over the country ??

ShantanuDas said...

lol... not exactly whole country.. but will cover one day maybe.. !!

Pallav said...

hi...
first time visited,, n loved it..
it seems u love to travel a lot...

must tell u pics rock....

:)
Pallav

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