Start an adventurous day with thrill and excitement. You might have never dreamt of cruising in a river with the old traditional boats made from logs. This is what we are going to head forward for. Post breakfast drive towards Gopalpur, en routing visit to Chilika Lagoon. Cruise in Chilka lagoon by boats to visit islands and temple. Later, drive to Gopalpur and overnight. Chilika Lake is the world’s second-largest a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam districts of Orissa state on the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Chilka Lagoon is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. The lagoon hosts over 160 species of birds in the peak migratory season. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, the Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here.
According to a survey, 45 percent of the birds are terrestrial in nature, 32 percent are waterfowl, and 23 percent are waders. The Lagoon is also home to 14 types of raptors. Around 135 rare and endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins have also been reported. Plus, the lagoon supports about 37 species of reptiles and amphibians.
