Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary

Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary

Forest Division :	Chilika (Wildlife) Division
District :	Khurda, Puri & Ganjam
Date of Notification :	17-12-1987
Notified Area :	15.53sq.kms

Chilika Lake in Orissa is Asia's biggest internal brackish water lake studded with few tiny islands. This pear-shaped lake, separated from the Bay of Bengal also imbibes one of the most supportive ecosystems in the name of Chilka Wildlife Sanctuary in the region. 

It is also popularly known as Nalabana Bird Sanctuary. The large Nalabana Island covering 15.53 sq km in the lagoon area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1987. The core area of about 6 sq km attracts around 400,000 waterfowls of different species.

Quick Facts

• Nalaban island is completely submerged in the monsoon months.

• This tiny island supports the congregation of about 60% of total migratory birds visiting Chilika lagoon each year.

• Tourism is not allowed in the Sanctuary at present as per the prescription of the management plan. However, tourists visiting Kalijai temple and having boat ride in Chilika can have a glimpse of the sanctuary from the sanctuary boundary.

How to reach

By Road: Two hours journey from Bhubaneswar. From there, From there, the sanctuary is approachable with a one-hour boat journey
By Rail: The tourists can find the nearest rail stations at Balugaon, on the Howrah-Chennai track From Balugaon
By Air : Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport located at 120 km away.

Facilities available

• Boat ride to Chilika is available at Balugaon, Rambha.

• Staying facilities available at Panthanivas, Barkul run by Odisha Tourism Development Corporation.

• Many private hotels are also available at the Balugaon area.

Salient Detail

Geographic Extent:	Longitude 85º 05’ to 85º 38’ (East) Latitude 19º 28’ to 19º 54’ (North).
Climate :	Temperature - In summer: 42°C, In winter: 16°C
Villages :	None
Contact officer:	D.F.O., Chilika Wildlife Division, Balugaon, Dist-Khurda.
Best time to visit:	December - February.
Accommodation :	OTDC Guest Houses at Barkul, Rambha & several hotels at Balugaon.

Spots of Interest 

Feathered creature Island : An ideal goal for the ornithologists to watch winged animals in their common living space. 

Nalabana : This is among a portion of the couple of assigned feathered creature asylums under the Wildlife Protection Act. Nalabana is a major island in the focal point of the lake where during winters, a huge rich of occupant and transitory avians demonstrate as a reward for the flying creature watchers in a total bungee experience. This island is totally lowered in the rainstorm months. 

Mangalajodi : Formerly, Manglajodi was known to be the poachers' town, since the inhabitants of the town were totally associated with the poaching exercises; however later, in mindfulness, the town is today considered as a network which is possessed by natural life adventure. The people group is bolstered by Mangalajodi Ecotourism. 

Kalijai Island : this island is in a perfect world being treated as the home of Goddess Kalijai. Pioneers rush here in January during Makar Mela (at the hour of Makar Sankranti) to pay respect to the Goddess. The old conviction of local people depicts that a young lady named Kali and her sister (the other barely any years after the fact) were suffocated in the island, when she went to the island looking for Kali. The neighborhood people used to hear their cries in the Kalijai Island zone. Be that as it may, when the sanctuary was built the calls of the sisters were no all the more being heard around evening time that demonstrated some promising and sacrosanct explanations behind it. The territory is effectively open from Barkul. 

The amazing piece of this region is that the herds of peacocks wander here, blending with the aficionados. Prior anglers used to visit the sanctuary before wandering into the remote ocean, however these days, it's simply one more place of interest. 

Satapada : This area is near Dolphin point, where the basically imperiled Irrawady dolphins and container nosed dolphins can be seen. Chilka is one of the main 2 tidal ponds on the planet where Irrawady dolphins can be seen. 

Brahmaputra : The spot is known for its picturesque magnificence and serves for the extraordinary cookout spots for the voyagers. 

Breakfast Island : 20 minutes vessel ride from Rambha will take the sightseers to this stunning island AT Chilka Lake zone. The island is being named so since the visitors pack breakfast from the OTDC panthanivas at Rambha and have it here in the perfect environmental factors. Guide Island and Honeymoon Island are different attractions at the close by zone of the Breakfast Island. 

Rambha is the best spot from where the well known Chilka Lake can be found and the area likewise brings visit pontoon excursions to visit the islands and to watch a huge number of fowls. 

Close by Tourist Attractions and Excursions Places 

Govt. School of Arts and Craft : Located in Khallikote, around 25 km from Balugaon and 12 km from Rambha, this workmanship exhibition is situated in the royal residence of the past ruler of Khallikote. Encircled by all the sides with richly mountains, it bears some wonderful perspectives and delineates numerous well known Indian contemporary painters as its graduated class. The craftsmanship exhibition present inside has some wonderful works of art mirroring Orissa's way of life. 

Nirmaljhara : It is a lasting stream that has been directed into various lakes and has been situated in Khallikote, near the craftsmanship school. Worked in 1676, the stream is additionally enlightened by numerous sanctuaries. Courageous people can wash up in one of the lakes here. 

Banapur : Known for Bhagawati Temple and markets, Banapur region is most popular for hang-outs and shopping. 

Narayani : About 15 km from Balugaon, it has a sanctuary in beautiful environmental factors in the Eastern Ghats. 

Oriya individuals believe it to be fortunate if Kalijai Temple, Bhagwati Temple and Narayani sanctuary are visited around the same time. 

Salia Dam : this dam is being based on River Salia and is situated in the midst of the dazzling areas. Around 25 km from Rambha and 15 km from Barakul, the Salia Dam is the most qualified area for touring and some bold recreation trips. 

Gopalpur-On-Sea : It is an amazing seashore resort in Ganjam area of Odisha. It was at one time a bustling ocean port utilized for exchanging however today is the calmest spot changed over in a perfect world for the desolate searchers and the individuals searching for placation. The zone is very liberated from all the buzzing about of the sanctuary town of Orissa with the attractions of picturesque and marine marvels. Gopalpur-on-ocean is today one of the preeminent sea shore resorts in India. 

Puri : Most prominently this area is known for the popular Rath Yatra at Jagannath Temple which is being held in the long stretch of Asadh (June and July) and the chariot of Lord Jagannath is being conveyed out there for anyone to see. Situated in the Bay of Bengal, Puri is probably the holiest spot in India and is supplied with gigantic alluring ocean sea shores.