Chilika Lake, Lake Chilika, Chilka Lake, Chilika Lagoon

Lake Chilika, the queen of Natural scenery in Orissa, also known as the Swiss-lake in the continent. Nestling in the heart of coastal Orissa, Chilika is India's biggest inland lake. Spread over 1165 square kilometres during the monsoon season and 906 square kilometres during dry season, it runs along the borders of three districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam and finally joins the Bay of Bengal through a narrow mouth, forming an enormous lagoon of brackish water. Chilika is the largest brackish water lagoon of Asia situated on east coast of India. It is situated between 19⁰28' and 19⁰54' North latitude and 85⁰05' and 5⁰38' East longitude. Due to its high productive ecosystem, rich biodiversity and socio-economic importance, Chilika was designated as a Ramsar site in October 1981, under the convention of wetlands of international importance.

The prime attraction of Chilika is the Nalaban Island. This island spread over 15.53 square kilometers, within the chilika lagoon is notified as a "bird sanctuary" under Wild Life (protection) Act in 1987. The place derives its name from the tall grass (nala grass is a kind of weed) found in the island. It supports the largest congregation of migratory birds in the country. In winter Chilika flutters with thousands of migratory birds and water-fowls from as far as the Siberia, Caspian sea, Lake Baikal, Aral sea, remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mangolia, central and south east Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas for feeding, resting and roosting. The lake is famous for bareheaded geese and common geese,etc.

Dotted with numerous emerald green islands, with such colourful names as Honeymoon island and Breakfast island, chilika is home to a rich variety of aquatic flora and fauna. Chilika is veritable wonder of nature. Containing a large variety of fish the lake privides livelihood to thousands of fishermen. Hundreds of boats sail out daily on the lake's blue expanse in search of mackerel, prawn and crabs, this sight providing an insight into the pageant of rural India at its colourful best. Within the lake there are many attractions like Satapada', an ideal place for viewing cavorting dolphins. 'Parikud and Malud', are other colourful islands within the lake.

Another important place in Chilika is the the island of Goddess Kalijai which is the most frequent visited spot for tourists. The island is famous as a centre of religious worship due to the temple of Goddess Kalijai. Goddess Kalijai is the presiding deity of chilika lagoon. In the January month of every year there is a big fair held here on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. There is a story behind the place which is centered around an innocent girl called "Kalijai" who got married and was going by a boat along with her in-laws through this lake to the in-laws place. In between, heavy storms came and the boat sank. Everybody including Kalijai died in that storm. The place where the temple stands now is near to the place where the boat sank. Local tourists, sailors and fishermen pray Goddess Kalijai everyday for their safe journey in the lake.

Enriched by picturesque hills all along its arched shape, its colour changing in Kalidoscopic glory with passing clouds and the moving Sun, its body rolling in languid abandon, excited by the gentle breeze wafted from the Bay of Bengal. It is said that any visit to Puri remains incomplete without a visit to Chilika Lake. Chilika provides an opportunity to visit nature and natural beauties through its vast coverage of bluish water, small green mountains and islands in it and the clean bluish sky with floating clouds. That is why Chilika has attracted many poets, nature lovers, bird watchers and even the general public and tourists every year.

Chilika at a Glance

Location 19⁰28' 19⁰54' North Latitude
85⁰05' 85⁰38' East Longitude

Boundaries East - Bay of Bengal
West - Rocky hills of Easternghats
North - Alluvial plain Mahanadi Delta
South - Rocky hills of Eastern Ghats

District coverage Puri, Khurda and Ganjam

Length and breadth Maximum length - 64.30 km
Maximum breadth - 18.00 km
Minimum breadth - 5.00 km

Water Spread area Maximum - 1165 square km
Minimum - 740 square km

No. of rivers and rivulets (running water flowing on or under the earth) draining into it 35

Total area of island 223 square km

Annual rainfall 1160 mm

Lagoon mouth One (near Moto village, previously near Arakhakuda)

Fishermen village 132

Depth 0.38m - 4.2m

Declared as Ramsar site 01 October, 1981

Satellite View of Chilika Lake

Scenic sopts near Chilika lake

Nirmal Jhar

11 kms. from Rambha,the place is hallowed by the shrine of Lord Vishnu.the perennial stream that flows at Nirmal Jhar is channelised to different ponds.As a picnic sopt and a sopt for religious worship,Nirmal Jhar has earned considerable distinction.

Narayani

22 kms. from Rambha,it is a picnic spot of great scenic beauty.By the side of a natural spring,the temple of Goddess Narayani adorns the place and it is an ideal place for relaxation.

Banpur

8 kms. from Balugaon,it is a centre of religious activities,revolving round the time honoured shrine of Goddess Bhagawati and the existing temple of Dakshya Prajapati.

Goplalpur-on-Sea

75 kms. from Barkul,it is one of the ancient sea ports of Orissa and presenting famous as a sea-side resort.Being a quite place,Gopalpur has become a favourite resort for the tourists for combating the foamy waves of the sea.

Taptapani

100 kms. from Rambha,the place is a pleasant health resort with a hot sulphur spring which has medicinal properties to cure skin diseases.The water of the spring is also channelised to the baths of the Panthanivas(tourist bunglaow)where tourists can stay and enjoy this at lieasure.

How to Reach Chilika

Air

Bhubaneswar is the nearest Airport-105 kms. from Barkul and 130 kms. from Rambha and 110 kms. from Satapada. Indian Airlines has flights from Delhi, Calcutta, Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai.

Rail

The Calcutta-Chennai rail route of South Eastern Railway touches chilika lake at Balugaon, Chilika, Khalikote and Rambha. The nearest Railway station for Barkul is at Balugaon(5kms) and for Satapada, at Puri(50 kms).

Road

The Chennai bound N.H. No.5 linking Calcutta-Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Balugaon-Barkul-Rambha-Berhampur and Visakhapatnam runs along the lake.
Buses and taxis to Chilika are available at Cuttack, Puri, Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. Autorickshaws are available at Balugaon for Barkul.
OTDC and other private tour operators provide luxury coaches and cars from Puri and Bhubaneswar(both A/C and non A/C) at reasonable rates.

Cruise

To visit the islands as well as to cruise on the lake, visitors can avail of the water transport facilities by motor launches of the OTDC limited, stationed at Barkul and Rambha, and of the Revenue Department at Balugaon. Country boats can also be hired from private operators at these places.

Accommodation