Take the road to Kodiakarai Wildlife Sanctuary

Sunset at Windflower

The target - 4 days of vacation to unwind

The bucket list for this vacation - relaxation, beach, poolside fun, good food, wildlife, sleep,games, shopping, activities and temples too!!

The locations - Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Thirunallar, Vedaranyam, Kodiakarai Wildlife Sanctuary@ Point Calimere.

We were a motley bunch of half a dozen adults and half a dozen children ranging from a year old to a 11 year old. We were armed with water and supplies of junk food and some beach wear.

It was an early morning start to Pondicherry! The drive got us to Pondicherry for a late lunch and we stopped at Hotel De Europe for a delicious meal served with large portions of French Fries & appalams. To the starved folks, this hot meal was a blessing.

Relaxation took precedence over all other needs and we checked into "Windflower Pondicherry".

The extreme afternoon heat struck us. Although the resort is located 5 mins away from the beach and overlooks the backwaters, it was simply hot and humid. 

The rooms were luxurious and pre cooled by the time we got in. We settled down to a nice nap and then some indoor games for the rest of the noon.

The next tick off the list was poolside. With floats and swimsuits the whole gang descended into the pool and even the youngest at just 14 months refused to come out of the pool even after 2 hours of splashing around! Few benefits of travelling during weekdays is the fact that you get to be the exclusive guest at the resort and the beach too. The beach beckoned us next morning the splashing waves left us in awe of the seas.

Pampered, indulged & over indulged in service, hospitality and gourmet food for the 3 days that we spent at the resort. The staff were extremely warm and friendly, we savored the exquisite food and forgot about work and the schedule charged lives that we lead back in Namma Bengaluru.

The children were treated to Toy trains rides, aquariums with sharks whilst the ladies treated themselves to some streetside shopping and designer bags

Day 3 we set off to Point Calimere to V M T Guesthouse the only place that has accommodation for Wild Life enthusiasts to board before the early morning drive to Kodiakarai Wildlife Sanctuary.

The forest department also has a decent resthouse that bird watchers and naturalists may use at Kodikkarai

On the way we visited Chidambaram Temple, Thirunallar Shaneeshwara Temple and the iconic Vellankani Church enroute Point Calimere. The beauty of silence, power of prayer, ancient architecture, temple bells soothed us furthermore and somehow the spiritual aspect added a feeling of calm and peace to all of us.

Chidambaram Temple

                                                    For those who have an extra day, at an hour's drive away from Chidambaram is the World's second largest Mangrove. Called "Pichavaram" this is the Sunderbans of South India. There are a few water based activities that one can try here.         

We were warned that compared to the luxurious stay at Windflower, the stay at Point Calimere could well be like a Cowshed. In truth it was better than a cowshed with basic clean beds and bathrooms. However the place was pretty much run down and dusty and hadn't seen a mop or a broom over several months in the common areas.

Wetlands of Vedaranyam

Next morning we started out at 6:00 am to Vedaranyam Backwaters to spot flamingoes. September onwards is the season where migratory birds from across the world travel to this major wetland. Painted Storks, Flamingoes, Brahminy Kites, Kingfishers, black headed Ibis, spoonbill,bee eater were among the several birds that we sighted.

The walk to the wetland and backwaters was peaceful, the weather was cloudy and divine. Fishermen making their way into their living, birds at ease, the sound of silence was enticing and it was easy to be lost in thoughts.

We made a quick stop for breakfast of hot idlis and coffee and headed out to Point Calimere Wildlife sanctuary which is a self drive sanctuary. A crowded car meant few of us rode on the top through the sanctuary.

Riding atop the car in the sanctuary

Black Bucks, Warthogs,Nilgai, Chinkara, Spotted Deer, Feral Pony, Jackals and hares were sighted by us in abundance.

The end of the sanctuary leads to an ancient British Lighthouse which is still functional and serves upto a distance of 13 nautical miles. The British Lighthouse leads into the backwaters and the beach, which is the magnificent Bay Of Bengal.  We then proceeded to the Kodikkarai Lighthouse 254 stairs to the top, an unimaginable view of the coastline that turns at Bay of Bengal, a military radar station, hazy view to few SriLankan islands and the climb up was worth every step that we had taken.

The journey back felt as if I was being taken away from where I belonged. The luxury of being in raw nature was far superior in comparison to the man made 5 star luxuries that many of us are accustomed to. I asked the children which part of the luxury they enjoyed more, nature or the resort, the answer came quickly - we like nature and wildlife, but Amma we also like the resort and the food. We would like to come back, but to the sanctuary first and then to the resort!!

From being pampered by luxury epicure meals and service to eating at roadside shacks and to not finding food for over 8 hours. From the cool confines of the Air conditioned rooms to the intense heat outdoors & walking on the hotbed of stones at the temple. Seeing the power of faith at the temple and the church. Looking at nature's grandeur, observing silence to spot wildlife to non stop chattering in the pool. 

Seeing the poorest of the poor, seeing the expanse of the Bay of Bengal, understanding how the tsunami hit places have rebuilt life and their world, said it all. 

Star gazing on a clear night sky, with just the green grass serving as the bed, to the cushioned plush bed indoors, few days taught us the value of life, love, nature and how really small we are in this world. 

Travelling they say leaves you speechless and then turns you into a story teller.

I think it makes us dreamers, addicts us and turns into oxygen for the souls, nourishing and enriching us in ways beyond mere comprehension of life and the mundane activities that we confirm ourselves to.

Until the next time, signing off with a song in the heart, memories to last a lifetime, a fervor to take the road less traveled and warmth & peace that would bring solace to a fretful mind.

Author 
Sumana Rao Chandu
raosumanaeventful.blogspot.com