THE INDIA'S LARGEST SALT WATER LAKE (CHILIKA ) IN ODISHA

SALT WATER LAKE (CHILIKA ) IN ODISHA

Chilika Lake :: - Chilika Lake An Lagoon In Eastern Odisha State, Eastern India. It Is Separate From The Bay Of Bengal By Narrow Spit. This Lake Is One Of India's Largest Salt Water Lake, It Is 40 Miles (65 Km) Long, 5 To 13 Miles (8 To 20 Km ) Wide, And About 6 Feet (2 Meters) Deep. The Daya And Bhargavi Rivers Feed The Lake. Except During The Dry Months December To June. 

When The Saline Ocean Water Enters Through A Small Passage. Chilika Was Once A Bay Of Bengal The Ocean Until Silted Up By Strong Tides During The Summer Monsson. Dotted With Islands, It Offers Good Hunting, Boating, And Fishing (Crabs, Mackerel, And Prawns). The Lake Is Known As A Sanctuary And Winter Stopover For Migratory Birds. Some Flying From As far Away As Siberia. There Are Fisheries And Salt Palms Around It Shores. Queen Of Natural Beauty, Chilika The Largest Brackish Water Lake In Asia Covering An Area Of Over 1,100 Square Km . 

This Is Great Attraction For The Tourists For Fishing, Bird Watching And Boating, In Winter Chilika Aflutter With Thousands Of Indigenous And Migratory Birds Of Many Varieties From Far And Near Even From The Distance Siberia, Austria. The Fabulous Beauty Of Chilika Which Has Inspired Poets To Sing Its Glory And Which Can Be Best Enjoyed From Balugaon, Barkul Must Be Seen To Be Believed. One Can Also Have A Glimpse Of The Lake From The Moving Trains And Vehicles On The Road Near These Place. The Atmosphere Is Just Serene And Undisturbed Amidst The Blue Expanse Of Water On One Side And An Evergreen Range Of Hills On The Other. 

Due To Its Shaped Structure, The Chilika Lake Was Being Prevented From Being Used As A Deep Drought Harbor. Legend Also Proved That A 4th Century Pirate King Raktabahu (Or Red Arm) Was Believed To Have Travelled Across The Seas To Sack The Rich And Holy Town Of Puri. The Residents Of Puri Deserted The Area In Fear Of Attack. The King Later Realized That He Had Been Mislead By The Sea Tides Along With His Troop. Chilika Lake Apart From The Avifaunal Species, The Region Also Highlights Varied Wild Animals Such As Black Buck, Golden Jackals, Spotted Deer And Hyenas. Chilika Lake Is Very Prosperous In Equality Species As Its Basin Area Has About 160 Various Species Of Crustaceans, Fish And Many More Marine Lives Including The Well Known Chilika Dolphin. Local People Are Dependent Upon Prawn, Mackerel And Crab Fishing As The Vital Source To Run Their Livelihood. 

How To Go ::-  Barkul, Balugaon And Rambha Are Situated On National Highway Number 05 Regular Buses Ply Between Berhampur And Bhubaneswar. Which Stop At Rambha And Balugaon. Tourists Can Avail Of Auto Rickshaws And Text From Both These Place And Reach The Lake In A Short While. 

Nearest Railway Station Balugaon And Nearest Airport Capital Bhubaneswar.