Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary

Chilka Lake in Odisha is Asia's biggest internal saltwater pond studded with a few tiny islands including the most charming Honeymoon Island and the Breakfast Island. This pear-shaped lake, separated from the Bay of Bengal; also imbibes one of the most supportive ecosystems in the name of Chilka Lake Sanctuary in the region. A wide range of flora, fauna, and aquatic faunas, are observed in and around the brackish water of the lake.

The area also proves an eminent witness of an array of avifaunal varieties, both native and migrant as their winter stopover to make this area most formidable in India. There are also fisheries and saltpans around its shores.

Apart from the most tranquil varieties of flora and fauna, Chilka Lake Sanctuary is favorably known for its dynamic sunrise and sunset views. Lots of people especially visit this sanctuary for this splendid view.

Chilka Lake is being treated as a real paradise for lovers and ornithologists since the whole vicinity attracts a large number of aquatic birds preferably in winter for the migratory counts. The major species that can be witnessed as White-bellied Sea eagles, Graylag geese, purple moorhen, flamingo jacana, and herons. Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary is also a habitat of one of the biggest breeding places for flamingos in the world.

Apart from the avifaunal species, the region also highlights varied wild animals such as blackbuck, golden jackals, spotted deer, and hyenas. Chilka Lake is very prosperous in aquatic species as its basin area has about 160 various species of crustaceans, fish, and many more marine life including the well-known Chilka dolphin. Local people are dependent upon prawn, mackerel, and crab fishing as the vital source to run their livelihood.

To catch the wildlife glimpses, numerous fishing boats can be seen in the lake to bring the day's catch. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve has the second biggest pachyderm numbers in India to bring the opportunities to catch the great numbers of elephants, especially in the dry season.

Apart from residents and migratory birds, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to Blackbuck, Spotted Deer, Golden Jackals, Hyenas, and many more. Being richly famous for the presence of aquatic wildlife, Chilka Lake sanctuary also houses Prawn, Dolphin, Crab, Crustaceans, and Limbless Lizard. More than 225 species of fish including Acentrogobius Griseus, Arius, Alepes Djedaba, and Elops Machnata are also found here.

Chilka Lake is the most popular destination for eco-tourism in Orissa. Apart from having the presence of exotic wildlife in the area, the lake and its vicinity hold a rich floral system with an abundance of aquatic as well as non-aquatic plants. The recent environmental survey revealed the presence of more than 710 species of plants in and around Chilka Lake. Such a huge variety of flora and fauna including numerous rare and endangered species of all forms has been the main reason for considering Chilka Lake as a Ramsar site.