Chilika Lagoon

Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lake, is a paradise for those interested in birding, fishing and boating. The lake spreads over 1000 sq km in the districts of Khurda, Puri and Ganjam and it houses a wide variety of flora and fauna in its brackish waters. Within Chilika, there are a number of places that will leave tourists mesmerised; Nalabana Bird sanctuary, Honeymoon Island, Kalijai, Balugaon and Mangaljodi, to name a few. Mangaljodi and Nalabana Bird Sanctuary are birdwatchers’ paradise. While Nalabana is a protection site of migratory birds, Mangaljodi is a community-based eco-tourism habitat where various rare birds along with regional and migratory avian species can be seen.
Interestingly, Mangaljodi village was earlier a haven for poachers but after the intervention of state and wildlife lovers, it has now turned into a beautiful bird paradise. Locals now eke out their living through eco-tourism and fishing. The best to visit Chilika is between October and February. Lakhs of migratory birds from the Himalayas, Sibera, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran can be seen here during the winter months. One of the common avian guests arriving in the brackish water lake is the Flamingo.

Tourists can also visit the Kalijai and Narayani temples within the lake, which have Goddess Kali and Goddess Durga as their presiding deities, respectively. Honeymoon Island, Breakfast Island and Beacon Island are three most important islands of Chilika where limbless lizards and other varieties of animals can be seen.
The lake has three entry points—Barakul, Rambha and Balugaon—and for accommodation, OTDC has its Yatri Nivas properties in all the three places where rooms can be either booked online or in person. As far as food is concerned, the locally-prepared seafood is the best bet. The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar and railhead at Balugaon. By road, Chilika is around 120 km from Bhubaneswar and taxis are easily available.