Excursion to the conference > Mangrove tour

The Pichavaram mangroves

(and the Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India)

The Pichavaram mangroves are located about 90 km south of Pondicherry, between the estuaries of the Vellar and Coleroon rivers. They cover about 10 km² and are surrounded by fishermen villages, aquaculture ponds, rice fields and heavy industrial projects. The environmental context is stressed by increase of salinity due probably to the combined impacts of the 2004 tsunami and the decrease of fresh water. We will have a 1-2h boat tour inside the mangrove. After the lunch, we will stop for a visit of the famous Nataraja temple of Chidambaram.