Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, a coastal sanctuary, is around 90 km south-east of
Thanjavur in a wetland which projects out into the Palk Strait, separating India and Sri Lanka.
The sanctuary comprises forests of tidal swamps and dry evergreen forests of mangroves. Also known as Kodikkarai, this sanctuary is famed for the migratory water fowl, especially flamingos, which congregate here every winter. In the spring, a different variety of birds, namely, mynas and barbets flock here mainly due to the abundance of wild berries. Wild life such as chital, wild boar, bonnet macaque, black buck, flamingos, teals, gulls, terns, plovers and stilts inhabit the sanctuary. Dolphins and turtles often come close to the shore.
The best time to visit is November to January.
Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible from Vedaranyam (11 km).
