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Chilka Lake :
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Chilika Lake, spreading over an area of 1100 sq. kms is the largest brackish water lake in
the country and attracts large number of migratory birds besides resident ones. Barkul and
Rambha are two places on the lake which serve as the base. Though the lake can be visited
throughout the year, October to March is the best season.
Flora: The lake hourbours the "aquatic vegetation" of its own and is typically
represents by Algal forms (e.g. Chaetomorpha and Enteromorpha widely distributed algae
followed by Lyngbya, Ulva, Cladophora and others like Gloeocapsa, Nostoc, Sprigyra,
Oedogonium, Chara, Nitella, Gracilaria etc.), a number of Diatoms/Phytoplanktons and a few
species of brackish water submerged phanerogams like Potamogeton pectinatus, Halophila
ovalis, Ruppia maritima, Naja faveolata, Hydrilla verticellata and Ceratophyllum demersum
etc. Some floating plants like Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes and Azolla pinnata
etc. enter the like with flood water but disappear after a few months. The communities of
Schoenoplectus littoralis in association with Eleocharis dulce, Phragmites karka,
Myrostachya wightii & many other grasses and sedges also exist in shallow muddy areas.
Species like Salicornia brachiata, Suaeda maritima, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Phyla
nodiflora, Heliotropium curassavicum & some others occur in marshes and salt fields
along the edges and other shallow areas. The present scanty littoral and scrub jungles on
lake margin, islands and rocky faces are represented by the species like Salvadora
presica, Pongamia pinnata, Colubrina asiatica, Cassipourea ceylonica, Aegiceras
corniculatum, Azima tetracantha, Pisonia aculeata, Clerodendron inerme, Carmona retusa,
Carissa spinarumm, Crateva spinarumm, Meytinus emarginatus, Opuntia dillenii, Ficus sps.,
Crateva adansonii spp., Lepisanthes tetraphylla, Streblus asper etc. and a number of
climbers/twinners and herbaceous ground flora. The dunes & sandy areas of the beaches
near lake have the floral composition of their own, favoured in the conditions they offer.
The land lying between Sea and Lagoon exhibits rich growth of casuarina equisetifolia,
planted by Forest Dept.
Fauna: There is a wide varity of animal life forms representing various groups of Animal
Kingdom (ranging from Protozoa, Porifera, Polyzoa, Brachiopoda, Coelenterata, Ctenophora,
Isopoda, Echiura, Sipuncula, Chaetognatha, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Crustacea,
Arachinida, Insecta, Mollusca to Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mamals). The more
details of some of these fauna arefurnished here.
Around 158 species of fishes and prawns have so far been recorded.Crabs like Scylla
serrata & Neptunus pelagicus are the predominent types available here.
Oyster (e.g. Ostrea talpur, Arca, Meretix etc.) occurs in small patches. Nearabout
countless types of Amphibians Reptiles viz. Snakes, Lizards, Turtles & Crocodiles.
Discovery of Limbless skink (Barakudia insularis), a rare reptile which was reported first
time from loose soil of Barakudia island by Annandale (1917), attaches much significance
to this place. The Dolphins have been reported mostly near Satapada-Magarmukha area and
occasionally between Kalijai and Balugaon. Other mammals reported from small pockets in
the surrounding hlls/forests/scattered islands & amidst the vegetation of sandy ridge
facing Chilika and Sea include Black bucks (Antilope cervicara), Spotted deer, Fox,
Jackal, Hyaena, Jungle Cat, Hare, Rat, Pachyura (an insectivora), Common bat, Otter,
Common mongoose, Monkey, Squirrel, Porcupine etc.
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Area: 1100 sq. kms. ( Wildlife Sanctuary area- 15.53 sq. kms.)
Temperature (deg C):
Summer - Max. 37, Min. 30
Winter - Max. 24, Min. 17
Rainfall - 1160 mms. (Mainly July to September).
Clothings - Tropical.
Languages Spoken - Oriya, Bengali, Hindi, English.
Best Season - Throughout the year
How to get there
Air : Nearest airport Bhubaneshwar is 105 kms from Barkul & 135 kms
from Rambha.
Rail : The nearest railheads are at Balugaon (7 kms from Barkul)
and Rambha on South-Eastern Railways which are directly connected to Calcutta, Puri,
Madras, Hyderabad and Bombay via Secunderabad etc.
Road : Both Barkul & Rambha are situated on the National Highway
No.5. Regular buses ply between Bhubaneshwar and Berhampur with stops enroute at Balugaon
(for Barkul) and Rambha. Barkul to Bhubaneshwar (105 kms), Puri (167 kms), Cuttack (133
kms), Berhampur (78 kms), Gopalpur-on-Sea (75 kms) and Rambha (30 kms) etc.
Local Transport : Auto and Cycle rickshaws available at Balugaon, Rambha,
Barkul. |
Places of interest
The lake with several of its islands, main among them being, kalijai, Nalabana, Honeymoon,
Breakfast islands etc. Satpada towards the South Eastern stretch of the lake is closer to
puri and is fast developing as a tourist spot on the shore of Chilika.
CRUISE ON THE LAKE: To visit various islands, particularly, Kalijai & Nalabana as well
as to cruise on the Chilika Lake, motorised Yatch and speed boat services are available at
fixed rates from the Manager, O.T.D.C., Panthniwas, Barkul.
Excursions .
Narayani (22 kms from Rambha)
Gopalpur-on-Sea (45 kms from Rambha and 75 kms from Barkul)
Taptapani Sulphur Spring (100 kms from Rambha and 130 kms from Barkul) |
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