Chilika Lake

Chilika Lake, spread across 1,100 sq km between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, is Asia's largest coastal lagoon and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Its brackish waters sustain a staggering ecosystem: over 230 fish species support 150,000 fisherfolk from 132 villages, while every winter more than one million migratory birds — including rare bar-headed geese, flamingos, and white-bellied sea eagles — descend on the lake from as far as Central Asia, Siberia, and the Caspian Sea. The lagoon is also the last refuge of a thriving population of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, best spotted near the Satapada channel where the lake narrows before meeting the ocean. Ancient texts mention Chilika as a major port on the maritime spice route to Southeast Asia; today, scattered islands like Kalijai (home to a revered temple) and Nalabana (a dedicated bird sanctuary) make every boat ride an exploration of both natural wonder and cultural memory.