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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2020}}
[[File:Point Calimere aerial.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of Point Calimere]]{{coord|10.2878|N|79.8651|E|display=title}}
{{Location map
|India
|label=Point Calimere
|lon_dir=E
|lat_dir=N
|lat_deg=10|lat_min=17
|lon_deg=79|lon_min=52
|position=right
|width=250
|float=right
|mark=Cercle rouge 100%.svg
|marksize=20
|caption=Location of Point Calimere in the Indian coast
}}

'''Kodiakkarai,''' also called '''Point Calimere''' or '''Cape Calimere''', is a low [[headland]] of the [[Coromandel Coast]], in the [[Nagapattinam district]] of the [[Indian state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The Cape is located about {{convert|9|km|mi}} south of [[Vedaranyam]] in the delta region of the [[Cauvery River]], and marks a nearly right-angle turn in the coastline. The antiquity of the area is evidenced by the [[Kodi Kuzhagar temple]] built during the Chola period, and a Chola lighthouse, which was destroyed in the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami]].

Kodiakkarai has been designated as a [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar site]] since August 2002. The forests of Kodiakkarai, also known the Vedaranyam forests, are one of the last remnants of the dry evergreen forests that were once typical of [[East Deccan dry evergreen forests]] ecoregion. The Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, with an area of {{convert|24.17|km2|sqmi}}, was created on 13 June 1967.
[[File:Kodiyakarai wild animals.jpg|thumb|wild life/Horses in serene forest]]
The sanctuary includes the cape and its three types of habitat: dry evergreen forests, [[mangrove]] forests, and [[wetlands]]. In 1988, the sanctuary was enlarged to include the Great Vedaranyam Swamp and the Talaignayar Reserve Forest, and renamed the [[Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary]], with a total area of {{convert|377|km2|sqmi}}. Point Calimere is home to the endangered endemic Indian blackbuck and is one of the few known wintering locations of the [[spoon-billed sandpiper]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=First records of Spoon-billed Sandpiper ''Calidris pygmeus'' in the Indian Sundarbans delta, West Bengal|author=Sharma, Arunayan|url=http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/19pdfs/Sharma-SpoonbilledSand.pdf|journal=Forktail|volume=19|year=2003|pages=136–137|access-date=2008-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704121108/http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/19pdfs/Sharma-SpoonbilledSand.pdf|archive-date=2008-07-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also holds large wintering populations of [[greater flamingo]]s. The area is dotted with [[Salt pan (evaporation)|salt pans]] and these hold large crustacean populations that support the wintering bird life. Pesticide runoff from agricultural fields and shrimp farms has entered the ecosystem resulting in many species having high concentrations of DDT and HCH in their tissue.<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Chemistry and Ecology| volume=19|issue=4|year=2003|pages=247–261|title=Organochlorine residues in the avifauna of Tamil Nadu (Southeast coast of India)|author=Sethuraman, A and AN Subramanian|doi=10.1080/02757540310001596843| s2cid=95072477}}</ref>

Point Calimere is also associated with the mythological [[Hindu]] epic, The [[Ramayana]]. The highest point of the cape, at an elevation of {{convert|4|m|ft}}, is Ramarpatham, meaning "Rama's feet" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. A stone slab on the Cape bears the impressions of two feet and is said to be the place where [[Rama]] stood and reconnoitered [[Ravana|Ravana's]] kingdom in [[Sri Lanka]], which is {{convert|48|km|mi}} to the south of the Point. It is also mentioned by [[Kalki Krishnamurthy|Kalki]] in his historical novel ''[[Ponniyin Selvan]]''.
[[File:சுனாமியில் அழிந்தது போக எஞ்சியிருக்கும் கோடியக்கரை சோழர் காலக் கலங்கரை விளக்கம்.JPG|thumb|Remains of the beacon of Chola Albanske devastated by the tsunami.]]

==Cultural Heritage==
Several sites of religious, historical or cultural importance are located within the sanctuary:
[[File:PCWBS-Ramar Padam.JPG|thumb|200px|Ramar Padam shrine containing the footprints of Lord Rama in stone]]
* '''Ramar Padam''' (literally: [[Rama]]s Footprint) located on the highest point of land in the sanctuary, is a small shrine containing the stone footprints of Lord Rama. Large numbers of Rama devotees gather here during the second week of April to celebrate [[Ram Navami]] Festival.
*'''Kuzhagar Temple''' or '''Kodi Kuzhagar Temple''' (கோடிக் குழகர் கோயில்)<ref name="ta.wikipedia.org">[[:ta:கோடியக்கரை அமுதகடேசுவரர் கோயில்]]</ref> (also called '''Amrithakadeswarar Temple''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]], located in the town of [[Kodikkarai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Kuzhagar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''Tevaram'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''. Kuzhagar temple is originally believed to have been built by the [[Cholas]] and it has several inscriptions dating back to the [[Chola]] period.
* '''Navakodi Sitthar Aalayam''' is a temple in south of the Kodiakkarai village. The history of this temple is the wedding ceremony of Lord Shiva and Parvathy ammaal have been attended by lot many Sitthars at this location. Chola Emperor and Mannar Sarafoji were visited this temple. A small village called "Kanakkar Madam" near this shrine was demolished by 1940s (around 80 years ago) and the people who were living there are relocated to Kodiakkarai village and they are still called as Kanakkarmadathiaar's family. A large congregation of devotees from all over Tamil Nadu state to come on special day of Amaavasai/Pournami to celebrate a special festival here every year. The greatest lord and the environment gives the peace like never ever feel.
* '''Sanyasin Muniaswar Kovil''' is a shrine between the eastern bank of Muniappan Lake and Kodiakkarai Road visited by devotees on all auspicious occasions. On 20 March a special [[Puja (Hinduism)|Puja]] is celebrated here.
* '''Mattumunian Kovil''' is a small temple in the south of the sanctuary where people worship and offer prayers throughout the year. A major festival occurs here on the 3rd Friday of September.
* '''Modi Mandapam''' is a shrine located near Ramar Padam where people of all castes worship. Hindu legend says that Lord [[Vedaraneswarer]] spends a night here with his consort during January - February. In the first week of March a major festival is held here.
* '''Avulaiganni Dargah''' is the grave of a Muslim saint located near the road by Ramar Padam. His death anniversary is observed here at the end of November.
* '''Shevrayan Kovil''' is a shrine to the deities ''Shevrayan'' and ''Soni'' located deep in the forests of the northern part of the sanctuary. A small village near this shrine was relocated outside the sanctuary after the creation of Kodiakkarai Reserve Forest. A large congregation of devotees from [[Arcothurai]] celebrate a special festival here in June/July.
[[File:PCWBS-Adivasi.JPG|thumb|200px|Adivasi Colony]]
* '''Adivasi Colony''' is a community of [[Ambalavasi|Ambalakars]] living in huts of mud, coconut fronds and palmyrah leaves on the edge of Kodiakkarai village. Their traditional livelihood was the collection of non-timber forest products in the areas that are now the sanctuary. These practices are now prohibited but not fully eliminated. Many of these people catch fish and small prawns in the nearby mudflats and swamps. Some work as day labourers in the nearby salt pans. They have little interaction with other communities on the island.
[[File:PCWBS-lighthouse.JPG|thumb|200px| Kodiakkarai Lighthouse near Kodiakkarai Beach]]
* '''Chola Lighthouse''' is the remains of a brick and mortar lighthouse near Point Calimere said to have been built by the [[Chola]]s more than a thousand years ago. This structure was badly damaged by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami]] but can still be seen in the intertidal zone near the British lighthouse.<ref name=Ramsar>{{cite book
| title = Point Calimere Wildlife & Bird Sanctuary - A Ramsar Site
| author = Arauah A.D.
|date=March 2005
| publisher = [[Tamil Nadu Forest Department]], Wildlife Warden
| location = District Collectorate Campus 329, 3rd Floor, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu 611002 India
| page = 180 illus. color
}}</ref>
* '''British Lighthouse''' is a {{convert|13|m|adj=on}} tall operating lighthouse built by the British at the tip of Point Calemere in 1890 and can be seen {{convert|13|nmi}} at sea.<ref name=C_light>{{cite web
|url=http://dgllnoida.gov.in/chennai/POINT.html
|title=Welcome to POINT CALIMERE LIGHT HOUSE
|access-date=2008-09-20
|publisher=Directorate General of Lighthouses and Ships
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904065637/http://dgllnoida.gov.in/chennai/POINT.html
|archive-date=2010-09-04
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>
* ''' Kodiakkarai Lighthouse''' is a {{convert|45|m|adj=on}} tall modern aid to navigation located near Kodiakkarai Beach and is accessible to the public between 1500 - 1700hrs. This dominates the sanctuary and may be seen by seamen far at sea.<ref name=Ramsar/>

===See also===
* [[Kodi Kuzhagar temple]]
* [[Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary]]
* [[List of birds of South India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nagapattinam district}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Headlands of India|Calimere, Point]]
[[Category:Mangroves]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]
[[Category:Nagapattinam district]]

Point Calimere - Revision history

imported>Tom.Reding: +{{Authority control}} (1 ID from Wikidata), WP:GenFixes on