Tales of the Calm Waters

Chilika Lake in Odisha welcomes migratory birds from all parts of the world and is home to a variety of unique flora and fauna.

With a nip in the air felt now and then, we can realise that winter is coming. The season, for a lot of us, brings along its own charms and surprises in the form of natural bounty. One example is at Chilika Lake in Odisha, which shows the best of itself in the cold months. An estuarine lagoon, it is the largest inland brackish water body in Asia. Spread over 1,100 sq km, it is connected to the sea by a 32-km-long channel running parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Zoological Survey of India has recorded about 800 species of fauna in this place, including the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and migratory birds from countries as far as Siberia.

Come winter, it is the peak migratory season for the birds and over 160 species of them will visit the lake. Some of the regular visitors include white-bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhens, jacanas, herons, flamingos, egrets, gray and purple herons, the Indian roller, storks, white ibis, spoonbills, Brahminy ducks, shovellers, pintails and many more.

Several islands dot the lagoon. The Nalabana bird sanctuary here has the highest concentration of birds. A major island in the centre of the lake, it remains fully submerged during the monsoon months before the water level drops in the winter months, making way for marshy land and the arrival of avifaunal visitors.

But the tale of Chilika Lake can’t be complete without mention of the Irrawaddy dolphins, which are the main draw of this place. It is, after all, the only known place in India where one can see this particular species. With a population which is still not too high, these dolphins have been classified as critically endangered. The best way for travellers to take a look at them is on a boat ride. In any case, the ride is a treat for photographers who can capture the beauty of the natural surroundings and the fauna at large--t he lake hosts some 250 species of fish and a daz1ing array of aquatic and non-aquatic plants. While on a visit to Chilika Lake, a tourist can choose to visit the other places of interest around, including Pun, the famed Nirmaljhar waterfall and picturesque Satpada, among others. 

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