A Comprehensive Guide to Chilika Lake
Chilika Lake is considered the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and also holds the second-largest position as a coastal lagoon throughout the world. For those who want to know chilika lake is located in which state, the answer is Odisha, India. It covers about 1000 or 420 km2 square meters and is spread over the Puri, Khorda, and Ganjam districts of Odisha state, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
It is listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals and is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the country. Some species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened animals inhabit the lake for some part of their life cycle.
How to Reach Chilika Lake?
To reach Chilika Lake, one needs to travel to Balugaon which is the nearest town. Tourists can travel via train, airplane, and road to reach Balugaon. Bhubaneshwar to Chilika Lake distance is around 120 kilometers, so those who are traveling by plane can land at Bhubaneshwar and take a train, taxi, or bus. Travelers by train can alight at Balugaon railway station and take the bus to Chilika Lake.
For travelers who are coming by road, they can catch a bus from Bhubaneshwar or Cuttack from anywhere near bus stops to Balugaon throughout the day. From Balugaon, they can travel in a taxi or an auto-rickshaw. Transportation from Puri is also available as local OTDC buses ply from Puri to Satapada which is also a day tour attraction. The puri to chilika lake distance is around 108 kilometers so it is possible to travel by bus to get there. All the curious and willing tourists can get a chilika lake map to refer to and make their travel easier.
Attractions at Chilika Lake –
Chilika Lake is famous for migratory birds so it is obvious that the best time to visit there is during winter when one can see a number of bird species. There are many other attractions near Chilika Lake, which tourists should never miss to visit. Some of these are:
- Breakfast Island –
This island is a 20-minute boat ride from Rambha. Tourists pack breakfast from the OTDC Panthanivas at Rambha and have it here in pristine surroundings. Beacon Island and Honeymoon Island are also very close to here.
- Mangalajodi –
A former poacher village that has become a community owned by a wildlife venture is what is the actual identity of Mangalajodi. The community is supported by Mangalajodi Ecotourism.
- Chilika Sea Mouth –
The sea mouth is located on a strip of sand lined with casuarina trees. Boats can take the tourists slightly near the southwest of the sea mouth, which is called Chilika Sea Mouth Beach.
- Nalabana Bird Sanctuary –
A designated chilika lake bird sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act is built in Nalabana. This is a big island in the center of the lake and a treat for bird watchers during the winter months. During monsoon months, this island is completely submerged in the lake water.
- Kalijal Island –
Abode to Goddess Kalijal, pilgrims gather here in January during Makar Mela (Makar Sankranti) to pray to the goddess. Near Barkul, this place offers hoards of peacocks roaming and mingling with devotees. It is said that around 200-300 years ago, a girl named Kali drowned near the present Kalijal temple. After some years her sister Jai, too died here, for which reason was unknown. Hence to calm their souls, the kalijal temple chilika lake was built.
- Rambha and Satapada –
Rambha is a good place to discover Chilika Lake and the tour guides offer boat trips to visit the island and watch the birds at the rambha chilika lake view point very comfortably.
Close to the Dolphin Point, Satapada is a place where critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and occasionally the bottle-nosed chilika lake dolphins can be seen.
Things to do in Chilika Lake –
Apart from enjoying the bird-watching at Chilika Lake, the tourists can also spend their time in a lot of other activities in and around the place. Chilika Lake administration offers the boating service of different packages. The chilika lake boating price is also very affordable resulting in an amazing trip in the beautiful lake water. At Barkul, water scooters and pedal boats are also available and tourists can enjoy the trip in speedboats too, which is run by a boating club in nearby Tampara.
OTDC Panthanivas as Rambha offers boating to tourists between 5.30 am to 5 pm. Alternately, there exist other islands such as Breakfast Island, Bird Island, Sanakuda Island, Honeymoon Island, and Beacon Island which also are centerplaces for boating opportunities. The chilika lake boating is a great experience and comes in a variety of offers that suit you the best.
Accommodation Options Near Chilika Lake –
Tourists have a lot of options to stay near the Chilika Lake location. They can choose either luxury or budget-friendly accommodation based on their plan as both are on offer always. At chilika lake odisha, tourists who want to just have normal accommodation can opt for OTDC which provides a routine to mid-expensive stays.
Tourists can opt for a place for their stay based on where they feel comfortable. Here are some places and the chilika lake hotels that are on offer for tourists to book:
- Rambha –
The hotel available to be booked at Rambha is Panthanivas.
- Balugaon & Barkul –
Hotels available for tourist booking in Balugaon & Barkul are – Hawa Mahal, Hotel Ashoka, Hotel Digantika, Narayani Lodge, Patro Lodge, and Shree Krishna Lodge.
- Satapada –
In Satapada, the only hotel available for tourists to book is Yatrinivas Satapada.
For higher rates and a stay in chilika lake resort, the tourists can go to Kites Beach Resort at Nabaa in Malud.
Places to Visit Near Chilika Lake –
Apart from Chilika Lake, tourists can explore many other beautiful places to enhance the joy of the trip. The places like Barkul and Satapada offer excellent opportunities to see the beauty of nature. Also, Satapada is famous for its dolphin sanctuary and Barkul is popular for boating.
Except for the above-mentioned places to visit near Chilika Lake, below is a list of some other places that tourists should not miss out on at all:
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Nalabana Island –
Nalabana Island is famous for its bird sanctuary as many migratory birds can be witnessed here. It got the status of a sanctuary in 1987 and acts as a treat for the bird-watchers especially during the winter season.
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Honeymoon Island –
The Honeymoon Island is surrounded by clear waters with natural habitats all around. Limbless lizard, an epidemic species is found especially on this island.
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Rambha Bay –
Rambha Bay is an abode of natural beauty and is well-known for the incredible landscapes around it.
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Bird Island –
This is a very famous place for a lot of bird species that migrate here in the winter season.
Exploring the above destinations along with Chilika Lake will surely be a treat for the tourists.
Tourism Insights and Tips to Visit Chilika Lake –
Chilika Lake plays one of the major roles in developing the tourism culture in Odisha. This lake is the first wetland and popular tourist destination of Odisha. The Government of Odisha created the Chilika Development Authority in 1992 to conserve and restore the lake & make it worth recognition of the tourists. Chilika Lake is the best eco-tourism initiative model to follow.
The best time to visit Chilika Lake is winter when one can see several species of migratory birds. Tourists, however, need to take all necessary precautions while near the lake for their own safety, even though there exist guides to instruct them. Many tour operators offer different tour packages so tourists can easily opt for the best-suited one for themselves and enjoy their tour of Chilika Lake to the fullest.
Frequently Asked Questions –
1.Which type of water is present in Chilika Lake?
The water with which the lake is filled is brackish water. This means that it has more salt than freshwater but less salt than seawater. This lake’s salinity comes from seawater that flows in from the Bay of Bengal.
2. What does Chilika Lake exactly look like?
Chilika lake is a brackish water lagoon in Odisha, India. It is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and the second largest in the whole world.
3. What is the depth of Chilika Lake?
The depth of Chilika Lake varies from 0.9-2.6 feet or 0.3-0.8 meters during the dry season and 5.9-13.8 feet or 1.8-4.2 meters during the rainy season.
4. How was Chilika Lake formed?
Chilika Lake began forming 2000 years ago during the Pleistocene epoch era. It was once a bay of the ocean, but the monsoon tides silted it up and now it has become a small lake in Odisha.
5. What is Chilika Lake known for?
Chilika Lake is a biodiversity hotspot with many birds and fishes. These include the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. The lake is known for being a natural habitat and a comfortable home to all these bird and fish species.
Conclusion –
Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and the second largest in the whole world. The place is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Konark Sun Temple. This is a must-visit place, not only for the lake but also due to many other nearby amazing places to see.
For visitors, this would surely be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience. They can surely take back a lot of unforgettable memories from here when they visit chilika lake.
