After Savouring the beauty of Chilika managed by CDA ( Chilka Develpoment Authority),
this November we set out on a day tour to a relatively less popular destination closeby , the Mangalajodi Bird
Sanctuary. The coastal state of Odisha has some of the most beautiful eco sensitive hotspots in the
country. Apart from World renowed Temples, Heritage sites, of course.!
A post on less known offbeat place called Mangalajodi bird sanctuary will sure enthrall the readers
and motivate them to visit this paradise. Come, let’s explore the offbeat Mangalajodi Bird Sanctuary together. We were pleasantly surprised with a line up of narrow long colourful wooden boats with a canopy Shikara , each named after a bird, namely Godwit, Stork, Ibis, Plover At the jetty. clad in uniform boatmen and guides sporting a sun cap with a frown on their faces welcomed the visitors heading for a boat ride. No
bargains, hassel free , pay the standard price as per the tour you wish to explore and get going.
Where is the Mangalajodi Bird Sanctuary?
Mangalajodi is a small hamlet located on the northern shores of
the Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lake in Asia. It is a mere 70 km (About 2
hours
drive) from Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha.
Significance of Mangalajodi ?
The Mangalajodi side of Chilika is filled with marshy wetlands. That makes this
area
a perfect spot for birds which visit during winter across the globe to, nest, and breed.
More than 230 species of birds live in peace in Mangalajodi or call it
their
home during the winter months. It is also one of the largest wintering grounds in Asia.
Over 100
exotic bird species fly in from Eurasia and the Arctic regions every November – February to escape the
chilling
cold of their home bases. Mangalajodi provides them with warmth and friendly environs.
You will have probably heard of the Chilika Lake, the first Ramsar Site of India. However,
Mangalajodi is
much less-known except in the birders community. Hundreds of bird lovers flock to this sleepy village every
year
to get some gorgeous frames of their winged visitors.
From A Poaching Village then To a Santuary Now
?
Mangalajodi was titled as ‘poachers’ village’ because of the
involvement of villagers in water bird poaching on a large, commercial scale. Even the eggs
were not
spared. It was no surprise therefore, when the census in the year 2000, the count dwindled to a mere few
thousands
birds in these waters.
Villagers unanimously decided to put an end to this menace and decided to
revive the bird-friendly ecosystem of the village.
This October, I took a short and quick trip to a relatively less popular destination in India, the Mangalajodi Bird Sanctuary in Odisha. Odisha is my home state and has some of the most beautiful nature reserves in the country.
Apart from an illustrious history, of course.This post on the Mangalajodi bird sanctuary is the first in my
“Know My Odisha“
series. In this series, I am going to take you through an insightful tour of Odisha, a state that is often referred to as India’s Best Kept Secret. So much so that even some Indians on the west coast do not know of its existence!!! Mangalajodi thus becomes a double-offbeat – an offbeat destination within an offbeat state in India. Don’t you want to be among the first few to get a sneak peek?
