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Point Calimere (Kodiakkarai) is the low cape at the southern tip of the Kaveri delta in Nagapattinam district, where the Coromandel coast turns west towards the Palk Strait. Its wildlife sanctuary, created in 1967 to protect blackbuck, is part of a Ramsar wetland site and, in winter, hosts one of the largest gatherings of migratory waterbirds in India.
This three-day tour gives you an afternoon and a full morning in and around the sanctuary, then a night in Velankanni and an easy coastal drive home. It suits birdwatchers, nature lovers and families who want to combine wildlife with the pilgrimage town.
Birds and wildlife at Point Calimere
The Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary covers about 21.5 sq km of dry evergreen forest, grassland, mangrove, salt swamp and mudflat. Migratory waterbirds begin arriving in October from as far as the Rann of Kutch, Siberia and Central Asia, and the peak counts have exceeded 100,000 birds. Greater flamingos are the star, along with pelicans, painted storks, herons, gulls, terns and many shorebirds.
On land, the sanctuary has one of the largest blackbuck populations in South India, as well as spotted deer, wild boar, bonnet macaques and feral horses. Early morning is the best time for both birds and mammals.
When to go
November to January is the best period for flamingos and the big flocks; birds arrive from October and many leave by February or March. The north-east monsoon (October to December) can bring heavy rain and occasional flooding of the forest tracks, so allow some flexibility. From April to September the heat is strong and the migratory birds are gone, though blackbuck and resident birds remain.
History along the way
Near the modern lighthouse at Kodiakkarai, the remains of a brick lighthouse attributed to the Chola period stand in the tidal zone; it was badly damaged by the 2004 tsunami. Ramar Padam, the shrine at the sanctuary’s highest point, is linked by local tradition to the Ramayana.
At Vedaranyam, a memorial marks the salt satyagraha of April 1930, when C. Rajagopalachari led about 150 volunteers from Trichy to the coast here to make salt in defiance of British law, a southern counterpart to Gandhi’s march to Dandi.
Visiting the sanctuary
- Entry and vehicle permits are issued by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department at the sanctuary; fees and opening hours change, so check at the time of your visit
- Carry binoculars, a hat, water and insect repellent; there is little shade on the mudflats
- Keep to the tracks and keep your distance from flamingo flocks so they are not flushed
- A forest department rest house exists inside the area; it must be booked through the department and is often full, so most visitors stay in Vedaranyam
Velankanni
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health draws pilgrims of every faith all year. The annual feast from late August to 8 September brings very large crowds, and hotels fill well ahead; if your dates fall then, tell us early. Modest dress is expected inside the church.
Route at a glance
- Pondicherry → Karaikal → Nagapattinam: about 145–150 km, 3.5–4 hours on the coastal road
- Nagapattinam → Vedaranyam → Kodiakkarai: about 70 km, 1.5–2 hours
- Kodiakkarai → Vedaranyam: about 9–11 km
- Vedaranyam → Velankanni: about 50–55 km, 1.5 hours
- Velankanni → Pondicherry: about 165 km, 4–4.5 hours
Who this trip suits
Birdwatchers and photographers with binoculars and long lenses, families who want a nature trip with a pilgrimage stop, and travellers looking for a quiet coast away from Pondicherry’s weekend crowds. Facilities at Kodiakkarai are basic, so pack light and be ready for simple food.
How to customise
- Add a night in Tranquebar, as in the Tranquebar, Karaikal and Velankanni coast tour
- Visit the Pichavaram mangroves on the way down
- Combine with the Navagraha temple tour around Kumbakonam
- See more bird-watching trips from Pondicherry
Frequently asked questions
How far is Point Calimere from Pondicherry?
Kodiakkarai (Point Calimere) is roughly 215–225 km from Pondicherry by road via Karaikal, Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam, about 5–5.5 hours by car.
When can I see flamingos at Point Calimere?
Migratory birds arrive from October, and November to January is the best period for large flamingo flocks. By late winter most have left.
How far is Point Calimere from Velankanni?
About 55 km by road via Vedaranyam, roughly 1.5 hours by car.
Can we see blackbuck at Point Calimere?
Yes. The sanctuary was created for blackbuck and has one of the largest populations in South India. Sightings are most likely in the early morning.
