The Blue Lagoon

There were moments when ths sky is splattered with colourful dots.Below,the blue waters reflect them.For a while I was not sure whether I was dreaming or looking at a real phenomenon.By and by I become one with the scene.Indeed,if I can do so,I feel the joy of freedom,of infinity,of adventure,and of faith.For,I am there to welcome the symbols of all these qualities.They are birds coming from not only our neighbourhood of Bangladesh or Nepal but distant and still more distant lands – Australia,Siberia,so on and so forth.Year after year they visit the great lake they are so fond of,a little before the winter sets in.They venture to fly over villages and towns,hills and forests for thousands of miles.

This happens at Lake Chilika,the largest lake in India,situated in Orissa,about 100km from Bhubaneswar,the capital of the State spread over 1100 sq.km.Chilika is India’s largest blackish water inland lake.The lake is rich in aquatic fauna and is a bird watcher’s delight.The lake is encircled by hills all along its arched shape,and its colour changes with the passing clouds overhead and the shifting sun.Chilika is well connected by air,rail and road.Bhubaneshwar is the nearest airport,situated 105km from Barkul,130km from Rambha and 110km from Satpara.Many attractions are there within the lake like Birds Island,Kalijai Island and Satapara.Birds Island is a haven for resident and migratory birds and is a bird-watcher’s paradise.Kalijai Island is home to Goddess Kalijai.The temple hosta a huge fair on Makar Sankranti every year.Satapara is a retreat on Chilika lake near the confluence of the lake with the sea.The sight of dolphins round the year ad abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter make it a preferred vacation spot to enfoy nature.Boating facilities are also available at Satapara.The nicest time to visit Chilika is during winter,when the lake reverberates with the cries of its avian population.Boats,to tour the lake,can be hired at Balugan,Barkul and Rambha.Accommodation is available at various places in available at various places in and around the lake.Some of the hotels are maintained and managed by the OTDC (Orissa Tourism Department Co-operation).