Poompuhar beach,
Nagapattinam
Poompuhar Beach is a natural and ancient beach located in Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu, India, along the Bay of Bengal. The beach starts from the Kaveri river estuary and extends around 3 km north side
towards Neithavasal. The sand of this beach spreads out around 3 kilometers.
Recently granite stone has been placed on the shore to stop erosion.
This beach and Poompuhar city plays an important role in South
Indian history. Chitra Pournami is an important festival for this
beach which happens during the full moon in Tamil, month chittrai. Another
festival which features Holy dip in the mouth of Kaveri River is celebrated
during new moon in the Tamil month of Thai and Adi.
Mayiladuthurai is the nearest town which is located on the bank of Kaveri
around 24 km away from this beach. Poompuhar Beach also known as
Kaveripoompattinam is located at a distance of 40 Kms from Chidambaram in Tamil
Nadu. Poompuhar was the biggest port during Chola Kingdom.
This Beach of Tamil Nadu is also known as Kaveripoompattinam and
is about 40 km from Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery River drains into
the Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar. Poompuhar Beach is an ancient historic town
situated in Sirkali Taluk of Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu. An
archaeologist delight, Poompuhar is a town for those who like to wander amidst
history and take a stroll through time. It was once a major port during the
reign of Cholas.
Poompuhar Beach is filled with black sand and is an ideal picnic
spot. It has a monument engraved with a bathing scene, which adds to its
uniqueness. The beach is unsuitable for swimming because of the roughness of
the sea.
This beach is also home to the Silappathikaram Art Gallery, which
is a seven tiered, classically built building, highlighting the history of the
place. The Zion Church and Thiruppallavaneeswaram Temple are also situated near
this beach.
Poompuhar beach has black sand and rough surf, making it unsuitable
for swimming. In spite of this it is very popular with the locals. A fine beach
and calm water offer good bathing.
Poompuhar, once the biggest port on the east coast, was at its
peak under the earlier Chola Kings. The greatness of the city is brought out in
some of the poems in Sangam literature and also by Silappathikaram and
Manimekalai among the epics.
The life and time of the Tamil classic 'Silappathikaram' has been
recreated at Poompuhar to the immense pleasure of the Tamils. In order to
conjure up the decorative ornamental scenic beauty of Poompuhar, an art gallery
is made to present the environment and atmosphere of the 2nd century AD by the
creation of the llanji Mandram, Paval Mandram, the Buddhist School, Arugan
Kottam, Tirumal Kottam, Murugu Kottam, etc.
The Department of Tourism offers shell shaped cottages to the
tourists in the Poompuhar Tourist Complex, at a moderate tariff.
Connectivity
By Air:
By Train:
Poompuhar in located in Sirkali taluk of Nagapattinam district.
The nearest railway stations are Mayiladuthurai railway junction (24-km) and Sirkali
railway station (21-km). Visitors from Chennai, by train have to get down at Sirkali.
By Road:
Poompuhar is well connected to Mayiladuthurai and Sirkali by road.
Tourists from Chennai to Poompuhar by private carriers can take the route via
Tindivanam, Pondicherry, Cuddalore and Sirkali. Those who come from Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli
may proceed via Melur, Tiruppathur, Karaikudi,
Tharangampadi and Akkur. They can also come via Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, and Mayiladuthurai.