Also known as Kodikkarai, this coastal sanctuary is 90 km south - east of Thanjavur in a wetland which juts out into the Palk Strait separating India and sri Lanka. It is noted for the vast flocks of migratory water fowl, especially flamingoes, which congregate here every winter.

The best time to visit is between November and January when the tidal mud flats and marshes are covered with teals, shovellers, curlews, gulls, terns, plovers, sandpipers, shanks, herons and a huge numbers of flamingoes at one time. In the spring, a different set of birds - koel, mynas and barbets are drawn here by the profusion of wild berries. Black buck, spotted deer and wild pigs also congregate here.