Pulicat

Pulicat(Pazhaverkadu) is a town which lies in the Thiruvallur District, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is approximately 60 km to the north of Chennai, on the seaward side of the barrier island of Sriharikota, which separates Pulicat Lake from the Bay of Bengal. It gives its name to the Pulicat lake, a shallow lagoon stretching for about 37 mi (60 km) along the coast. Pulicat Lake is a shallow salt water lagoon which stretches for about 60 km along the coast and is today a nondescript fishing village.

The Dutch built a fort here as early as 1609, and it was for a long time their chief settlement on the Coromandel Coast. It repeatedly changed possession, until finally occupied by the British in 1825. It became part of the Madras Presidency, which later became Madras state in independent India, later renamed Tamil Nadu in 1968. The Dutch church has been built over several times and is rather dilapidated today, and the Dutch fort has fallen into ruin. The old lighthouse still stands at the opposite bank of the lake. The cemetery dating to 1600 has been taken under the wing of the Archeological Survey of India and so has survived the passage of time. The grand, Latin inscribed tombs and graves, carved with skeletons rather than the cross, have been quite well preserved. The cemetery lies behind the market and visitors often don't know that it is there.

Pulicat is also a bird sanctuary. Every year between the months of October and March, thousands of migratory birds land here. Though several varieties can be seen, the flamingos are the most, covering the swamps surrounding the lake, giving it a pink tinge.

Brief on Pulicat:

Pulicat is the second largest brackish-water eco-system on the East Coast, the first being Chilka lake in Orissa.

Pulicat is 54 km away from CMBT (Koyambedu). To reach Pulicat you need to follow the 100 ft Road, from Koyambedu towards Reterri , need to go straight till you reach a dead end, from where you need to take a left turn, passing through an entry point of "Ennore Port Trust". Entering into Minjur, (opp to Inidan Oil Bunk, take a right turn, cross the Railway level crossing, turn first left & continue following the road, for next 17 km. Going on this road, after 17 km you will reach "Ponneri- Pulicat" main road. Take a right turn and after 4km drive you reach Pulicat Jetty.

Entry tax for vehicle is 20 ( with receipt) is collected. By then you would be surrounded by local Acquaintances requesting you to prefer their Boat. (Rs 200 to 300 per boat, inclusive of drop, waiting & return - each boat can accommodate 18 adults). The ride of 15 minutes to a lonely Island, where you see Casuarina plantation. Sea is calm and not to shallow. No one can say how safe it is to swim there.

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