This year, the celebration will allow the city dwellers to trace the story of their city at Pulicat. AARDE Foundation, a not-for-profit Trust, is organising a full-day heritage trip to Pazhaverkadu (Pulicat) for heritage lovers to trace Chennai city’s origin on August 17, 2024.

Located north of Chennai at 55 km on the Coromandel Coast,  this coastal town is famous for its second-largest brackish water lagoon in South Asia, measuring 759 sq km, and for its two-thousand-year maritime history. More than seventy thousand migratory birds visit Pulicat Lagoon every winter, and its built heritage reflects the history of the first European administration in South India.

Ar. Xavier Benedict, the founder of AARDE, leads the guided walk based on his two decades of research on the nature-culture linkages of the Coromandel Coast. His talk will trace the reasons for Europe's decision to establish its COTTON ROUTE and its administration in India. The walk takes through the Pulicat Interpretation Centre, Dutch and Portuguese Cemeteries, Adi Narayana Perumal Temple, Lighthouse, Tamil Mosques, Portuguese Church, and the Lagoon. The day trip from Chennai will start at 7:00 a.m. from the Mahalingapuram Loyola-ICAM gate, on 17 August 2024.

A few seats are available for booking.
 

07.00 AM: AC-BUS Starting from Loyola ICAM Gate, Mahalingapuram Main Road, Chennai
09.15 AM: Reaching AARDE Museum, Pulicat
09.15 AM: Refreshments – Tea & Biscuits (introduction of Palm Leaf Handicraft)
09.45 AM: Talk on Pulicat Nature-Culture by Xavier Benedict
10.45 AM: Walk to Dutch 1656AD Cemetery
11.45 AM: Walk to Temples – Adi Narayanan Perumal & Sameeswarar
12.45 PM: “25th Milestone” & Dutch Building walk
01.00 PM: Lunch @ Light House and visit Pulicat Lagoon.
02.30 PM: Climbing on Light House if permitted
03.55 PM: Leaving for Chennai after Tea & Biscuits
05.30*PM: Drop at Brown Stone Apartment Gate, Mahalingapuram

*Traffic & other conditions apply