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Facts About Chilka ... .. .
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 Coordinates
: 19°43'N
085°19'ECoordinates: 19°43'N 085°19'E .
Lake type
:
partly freshwater , partly saltwater
Primary sources
: Mahanadi River
Primary outflows
: Bay of Bengal
Basin countries
: India
Max length
:
29 km
Surface area
: 906-1165
km²
Rainfall
:
135.23 Cms.
Language Spoken
: Oriya, Hindi and English
Clothing
:
Light cotton in summer and light woolen in winter.
Best season to visit
: October to June
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Situated on the south part mouth of the river Mahanadi , Chilka Lake is a brackish
water coastal lake of Orissa state . It is the largest coastal lake in India. The
lake was formed due to the silting action of the river Mahanadi , which drains into
the northern end of the lake and the northerly currents in the Bay of Bengal . The
lagoon is a unique assemblage of marine, brackish and fresh water eco-system . It
is one of the hot spots of biodiversity and shelters a number of endangered species
. It is an avian grandeur and the wintering ground for more than one million migratory
birds. The highly productive lagoon eco-system with its rich fishery resources sustains
the livelihood of more than 0.15 million-fisher folk who live in and around the
Lagoon. The water spread area of the Lagoon varies between 1165 to 906 sq.km during
the monsoon and summer respectively. A 32 km long, narrow, outer channel connects
the lagoon to the Bay of Bengal, near the village Motto.
The total number of fish species are reported to be 225 including Dean and Saaltink
in 1991. Along with a variety of phytoplankton, algae and aquatic plants, the Lagoon
region also supports over 720 species of non-aquatic plants . A survey of the fauna
of Chilika carried out by the Zoological Survey of India in the year 1985-87 recorded
over 800 species in and around the lagoon. This list includes a number of rare,
threatened and endangered species, including the Barakudia limbless skink. On account
of its rich bio-diversity, Chilika was designated as a "Ramsar Site", i.e. a wetland
of International Importance. The Nalaban Island within the Lagoon is notified as
a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act, the lagoon is also identified as
a priority site for conservation and management by the National Wetland coral reefs
Committee of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Lagoon
is a highly productive ecosystem and with it’s rich fishery resources sustains the
livelihood of more than 1,50,000 fisher folk who live in and around the lagoon.
The north shore of the lake is part of Khordha District while the western shore
is part of Ganjam District.The larger islands lie between the sandbar and the lake
and include Parikud, Phulbari, Berahpura, Nuapara, Nalbana, and Tampara. These islands,
together with the peninsula of Maluda, constitute the Krushnaprasad revenue block
of Puri District.
Chilka Lake is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar
Convention.
The Chilka Lake in Orissa is Asia's largest inland salt-water lagoon. Studded with
small islands- the lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sandy ridge. The
lake spreads across 1,100 sq km, and has a unique ecosystem with a range of aquatic
flora and fauna found in and around its brackish waters. An impressive array of
bird life, both native and migrant, makes Chilka one of the best places in India
for a bit of satisfying bird-watching.
Chilka, in fact, is home to one of the world's largest breeding colonies of flamingos.
White bellied sea eagles, purple moorhen, greylag geese, jacana, herons and flamingos
are among the many species which make the lake a bird watcher's delight. Other than
the birds, Chilka's shores are home to blackbuck, spotted deer, golden jackals and
hyenas, and the lake is rich in aquatic life- its waters harbour around 160 species
of fish, crustaceans and other marine creatures, including the famous Chilka dolphin.
Prawn, crab and mackerel fishing are an important source of livelihood for the local
people.
SATAPADA: Located on the eastern shore of the Chilika lake, it is 55 Kms from Puri.
It is bounded by the lagoon on three sides and thus offers an excellent view of
the Lagoon. One main attraction of Satapada is irrawaddy Dolphins.
Birds Island:
It is heaven for the resident and migratory birds. One can watch the birds in their
natural habitat here.
Kalijai: The abode of Goddess Kalijai,the island is famous
for the temple and the scenic surroundings. She is venerated due to the folk-lore
and the legend. An excellent destination for the tourists.
Nalabana: It is a forest
of reeds and is famous for the long-range migratory birds in winter.
Parikud and
Malud: They are islands within the lake.A group of composite islands constitute
parikud ,the Garh Krishnaprasad Block and are ideal spots for nature lovers, during
the winter season it becomes an avian grandeur.
Satapada: The famous Chilka Dolphins
are can be seen in their natural best.
Air : Nearest Airport is at Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India.
Rail : Nearest Railway Station
is at Balugaon and Rambha on S. E.
Road : National High Way No. 5 touches Chilika
at Balugaon, Barkul and Rambha,approximately 120 km from Bhubaneshwar.
The best time, however, is from October to March, when the lake is crowded with
migrating birds . The weather remains moderately warm the whole year round .So any
time of the year except during the rainy season from June to September one can come
to this scenic place. Pilgrims flock here in January during Makar Mela (at the time
of Makar Sankranti) to pay obeisance to the Goddess Kalijai, whose temple is situated
on Kalijai island in Chilka Lake.
There are a few hotels on the banks of the lake including an OTDC run hotel and
two tourist bungalows ,the `Panthnivas' at Rambha and Barkul.A number of state-run
as well as privately-operated resthouses and tourist lodges also dot the shores
of the lake, and tariffs vary considerably, depending upon the facilities offered.
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