Forest Trips in India: POINT CALIMERE

Most of you would not have heard of this place, Point Calimere. Its the nose tip of Tamil Nadu, Southern India, very close to SriLanka, we are told its 22kms as the crow flies. Another name for the place is Kodikarai. Its situated near Vedaranyam. A place famous for smugglers those days, I believe.

We travelled in our Pajero, early March this year. We took the route from Bangalore through salem, Attur, Thanjavur,Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Vedharanyam and Kodikarai.

Its exactly in the tip and the sanctuary is next to the ocean. Very beautiful.

We stayed in a hotel called VMT GUEST HOUSE at Kodikarai, as the forest Bunglow was not available, we were told so at the forest check post. The rooms were air conditioned with TV and food was taken care by them. After check in, we just drove to the beach, fishing was going on and we could drive thru to the ocean, we didn't drive in the sea as we felt it was a bit risky. Kodikarai is a very small fishing village and not many people around. There are a couple of tea shops and food places(Mess) and a decent mini super market and that's it!!.

Later that afternoon, we drove to the sanctuary, about 5 kms may be. The name of the sanctuary is Blackbuck sanctuary, Kodikkarai. Its very small sanctuary. The link for booking a guest house in the sanctuary www.forests.tn.nic.in, in that you can choose wildbiodiversity and choose Point Calimere Wildlife & Bird sanctuary. Its a dry sandy forest leading to the sea coast with few bushes around.

There are Blackbucks, Wild horses, Wild boars and lots of birds, not much of wildlife. You can go into the sanctuary in your own vehicle, and you don't need a 4X4 as the gravel roads inside are good. A day visit is enough. Its better you go early morning before the sun becomes too hot. I think the sanctuary opens only by 8am or so.

There is also a bird sanctuary nearby, you can visit any time, to view birds, and drive to the tip of the land.