| Chilika
Lake " A Carpet of Emeralds " in Orissa. |
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Nestling in the heart of coastal
Orissa , Chilika is India's biggest inland lake. Spread over 1.100 square
kilometers, stretching across the length of the three districts of Puri ,
Khurda and Ganjam , it joins up with the Bay of Bengal through a narrow
mouth, forming an enormous lagoon of brackish water.
Dotted with many emerald green islands with colorful names such as
Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Islands , Chilika is home to a rich variety
of fishermen, |
| Hundreds of boats sail out daily on the lake's blue
expanse in search of mackerel, prawn and crabs, the sight providing
and insight into the pageant of rural India at its colorful best. |
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| Encircled by hills all along its arched shape, Chilika
lake's color changes with passing clouds overhead and the shifting sun. The
water ripples languidly occasionally rippling with a gentle breeze across
from the Bay of Bengal. |
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Birds frolic and dive in search of
unsuspecting prey |
| ATTRACTIONS WITHIN THE LAKE |
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NALABANA (forest of reeds )
For long-range migrant in winter
BIRDS ISLAND
For resident and migratory birds
KALIJAI
Abode of the island Goddess," Kalijai"
SATAPADA
For cavorting dolphins
BRAHMAPURA
A place of scenic beauty
PARIKUD & MALUD
Island within the lake |
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' Hundreds of boats sally out daily on the lake's
expanse in search of mackerel, prawn and crabs....' |
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Goddess " Kalijai" Temple in the
Chilika |
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EXCURSIONS |
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NIRMALA JHAR -
11km from Rambha and 21 km from
Barkul. A place of religious worship, perennial stream and picnic
spot..
NARAYANI - 10 km from Barkul and 22km from Rambha. A picnic spot of great
scenic beauty. Temple of Goddess Narayani and a natural spring.
BANPUR -13 km from Barkul and 8 km from Balugaon, Time honoued shrine of
Goddess Bhagabati and the temple of Dakshya-Prajapati.
GOPALPUR-ON-SEA - 75 km from Barkul and 60 km from
Rambha-Ancient port, present sea-side resort and the blue beach.
TAPTAPANI - 125 km from Barkul and 100 km from
Rambha. A pleasant health resort with a hot sulphur spring having medicinal
properties . Water from here is canalized to bath-tubs of Panthanivas. |
| APPROACH |
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| AIR - Bhubaneswar is the
nearest airport - 105 km from Barkul and 130 km from Rambha and 110 km from
Satapada. Indian Airlines has flights from Delhi, kolkata, Visakhapatnam,
Nagpur, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai. |
| RAIL - The Kolkata -
Chennai rail route of South Eastern Railway touches Chilika lake at Balugaon,
Chilika, Khallikote and Rambha. The nearest Railway Station for Barkul is at
Balugaon ( 5 km ) and for Satapada, Puri ( 50 km ). |
ROAD - The Chennai bound
N.H.No.5 linking Kolkata-Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Balugaon-Barkul-Rambha-Berhampur and
Visakhapatnam runs along the lake. Buses and taxis to Chilika are available
at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri and Berhampur. Auto rickshaws are available at
Balugaon for Barkul.
O.T.D.C and other private tour operators
provide luxury coaches and cars from Puri and Bhubaneswar ( Both A/C and non
A/c at reasonable rates. |
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CRUISE |
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Motor launches of O.T.D.C ltd. at Barkul and
Ramba, and of the Revenue Department at Balugaon. Country boats can be hired
from private operators at these places and at Satapada as well.
ACCOMMODATION
Panthanivas at Ramba of O.T.D.C, Ph-(06810)25736; Panthanivas at
Barkul of O.T.D.C, Ph- ( 06756)-220488 and Ashoka Hotel at Balugaon, Ph-(06756)-22408/22409
and Yatrinivas, Satpada. |
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Motor launches in Chilika Lake...... |
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