GEOGRAPHICAL EXISTENCE
Chilika Lake is a brakish water lagoon, and its largest in Asia. Chilka is surrounded by Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state. starting from the mouth of the River Daya, thus flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Total covering area of more than 1,1652 kms. It is the largest coastal lagoon in Asia and also the second largest brackish water lagoon within the globe after the Reef Island. Chilka has been listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the foremost significant wintering ground for migratory birds.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The lake has been a home to many threatened species of plants and animals. The lake here depends on the ecosystem with a large fishery resources within it. Chilika Lake’s rich fishery resources helps fishermans to sustain their livilihood by fishing on it. Currently a replacement mouth has been opened. A 32 km long channel connects the lagoon to the Bay of Bengal which has been a home to hundred species of flora and fauna. The ecological richness of the lake is of great value in conserving all the genetic characters in it. As the multiplicity of its habitat, flora and fauna.
MOST IMPORTANT SALTWATER LAGOON
Chilika Lake of Odisha is the foremost important saltwater lagoon within the planet. Geological confirmation specifies that Chilika Lake was a part of the Bay of Bengal during the later stages of the Pleistocene period (1.8 million to 10,000 years BP). Chilika could even be a shallow bar-built estuary with large areas of mudflats. The western and southern margins of the lake are hem by the Eastern Ghats hill range. The north shore of the lake could also be a component of Khordha District and also the western shore could be a component of Ganjam District. Because of saltation, the width of the barrier has fluctuated and thus the mouth to the ocean has periodically been closed.True of the mouth has also frequently shifted, generally towards the northeast.
CHILIKA, THE SOURCE OF LIVING
It sustains over 150,000 fisher–folks living in 132 villages on the shores of the river or onthe islands. The local fishermen, to run their livelihood, had to cut open the mouth regularly to understand access to the ocean for fishing. The width of the old channel that opens to the ocean, has now been reported to be as 100 m (330 ft), which in turn is known as Magarmukha i.e. Mouth of the Crocodile. The lake is split into four separate zones namely, the southern, central, northern sectors and thus the outer channel area. A channel that is 32 km in length connects the lake with the Bay of Bengal at Arakhuda village. Chilika Lake is blessed with huge amounts of sediment, vitamin and fiber. Fishermen depend on the lake for fishing and they run their houses by this source dependently. The lake in all is blemished with many kinds of fisheries which the fishermen fish and sell them out in order to get money.
MYTHOLOGICAL LEGENDS
As history tells that, a newly married girl named as Jaai and her father were visiting to meet her husband. They board on a boat to go across the lake as Jaai’s in-law’s house was on an other Island. Odisha’s coast is extremely prone to the unexpected cyclones. While crossing the lake they encountered a severe cyclone strom. As a result their boat was overturned within the Lake. All the boatmen and her father survived, except Jaai. They hunted for her but were unable to find. Her father return home with empty hands. After her death, people started worshiping her as an goddess who saves people/fishermen from the cyclone storm. Till today she has been worshiped as Maa Kalijaai.
And, this is how the place got its name. Now peoples from different parts of India, visit the Goddess Kalijaai. However, when the most focus is on Chilika Lake we’d get to experience some magnificent temples on the numerous islands and suburbs of Chilika.
LIVINGS NEAR THE LAKE
There are lots of astonishing facts about this place which can motivate you to travel and see the character defying instances for yourself. The specialty here is that unlike most other boating experiences this may not bring you back to the identical place you began rather will take you to a close-by island or location where you’ll spend some great time. You’ll use the boat to induce to the temple or the volary. Also, on condition that this can be often one in all the foremost important lakes within the country, there’s little doubt that you just just won’t experience anything new since the biodiversity is vast and you’re certain to see something new. This might just bring out the adventurer in you and show you a replacement face of life. There are not any living families within the Island. You will be ready to see some small shops selling low cost souvenirs and handmade sea shell items. These shopkeepers are from near Islands Parikud and Malud. There are many other Islands that surround in Chilika lake like Titipa, Satapada, Krushna Prasad, Malud, Nuapada, Parikuda etc.
HOW TO REACH:
Major cities like Berhampur, Gopalpur, Puri and Bhubaneswar are well connected by road and Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Vizag are connected through rail, nearest major railway station is Behrampur.
It’s an honest economical picnic spot and lots of tourist visits this place often.
Cover Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/anilrockzz123/
