For a moment it seems that you have reached the wrong destination. The other end of water is not visible; this one cannot be a ‘lake’. Once you confirm with a local, the innate beauty and enormity of Chilka Lake – the largest inland salt-water lagoon in Asia — starts sinking in.
Kingfisher at the lake
The pear-shaped lake, spread over an area of 1100 square kms, is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest in the world. Located about 128 kms from Bhubaneshwar at the mouth of River Daya, the Chilka Lake — lined with the Eastern ghats on one side and separated from the Bay of Bengal with a sandy ridge on the other – provides captivating scenic views to visitors.
Chilka is largest waterfowl habitat in the country and an awesome birding destination. It attracts almost nine lakh migrant annually. It is home to 169 species of birds and is one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of flamingos.
White Ibis flock during winter
Migratory birds from faraway places like Mongolia, Russia, Siberia, Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Laddakh and other Himalayan regions, fly thousands of km every year to various bird sanctuaries around India to escape the ruthless winters in their home countries. Chilka has become the most popular choice amongst them because of its unique ecosystem and a wide range of aquatic flora and fauna found in and around its brackish waters. Chilka has been acknowledged as a “Ramsar site” because of its rich bio-diversity.
[showhotels id="501" name="Chilka"]
The place has a number of islands including the Nalabana, Parikud, Phulbari, Berahpura, Nuapara, Tampara, Breakfast and Honeymoon Islands, which are separated from each other by shallow channels.
Popular with tourists, ferries are an important means of transport
Nalabana Island, spread over an area of 15.59 sq km, has a forest full of reeds and mainly attracts long range migratory birds. It comprises the core of Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary and attracts over three lakh of the total nine lakh birds which flocked to the lake last year. After Nalabana, Mangalajodi followed by Kalupadaghat Island are the next most popular haunts for birds.
The popular birds sighted in the region include northern pintail, gadwall, yellow wagtail, pratincole, white bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, brahminy kite, spotbilled pelican, jacana, herons, kingfisher and flamingos. Last year, the Gadwalls species accounted for the highest number of visitors to the lake. They were followed by Pintail and Eurasian Wigeon. Gloshy Ibis is an avian species that was spotted for the first time in Chilka Lake last year.
Fishermen at work
A boat cruise from Balugaon, Barkul, Rambha or Satpada is the best way to explore the flora and fauna inhabiting the numerous islands on Chilka Lake. But that’s not all. Witnessing the rare and endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins jumping and dancing around the lake while on a boat cruise, is a spectacular sight.
Chilka also shelters over 200 species of fish, crustaceans, prawns and crabs. The popular varieties of fish include Acentrogobius Griseus, Alepes Djedaba, Arius Arius and the Elops Machnata. Chilka’s shores are also home to blackbuck, spotted deer, golden jackals and hyenas.
Country boats idling at the lake
The best time to visit the place is from October to March, when the lake plays home to almost 70 species of migratory birds.
The Sand-Bar or the Mouth of the Lake, which is a 30 km stretch of sand separating the Lake from the Bay of Bengal, provides an incredible experience to visitors.
The place is also popular with Hindus. Pilgrims visit the place in January during Makar Sankranti to pray to Goddess Kalijai, whose temple is situated on hill at Kalijai island in Chilka Lake. The Goddess is believed to be the reigning deity of the area.
Sand-Bar separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal