I was planning a trip to Chilika Lake and was researching on the subject, when I came across the name 'Mangalajodi' for the first time. Mangalajodi was mostly popular among birders but to normal tourists it was an unheard of place.
Chilika lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha, India. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest coastal lagoon in the world after The New Caledonian barrier reef in New Caledonia. Mangalajodi is a small fishing village under Tangi block in Khordha district at the northern edge of the Chilika Lake.
Way back, Mangalajodi was a poacher's village . Over a decade of persuasion managed to convert them into protectors. Now the birds are returning, and each census is registering increase in number of birds. Normally the lagoon hosts over 200 species of birds during the peak season of which at least 80 are migratory. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here. From poachers to protectors, Mangalajodi is an unique success story of community based conservation.
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For a night stay in Mangalajodi during peak season one has to book their stay well in advance. Two options available are Godwit Eco Cottage and Mangalajodi Eco Tourism Resort. Mangalajodi Eco Tourism Trust offers various packages for travelers including stay packages, day packages, student group packages, corporate group packages, special photographers packages, etc.
The road leading to the bird watching tower through the village, is a narrow one but never the less is accessible in a four wheeler. One will have to negotiate a huge speed breaker near the railway track crossing, which might scrape the bottom of the car. In our case the 'Google Map' did a great job guiding us to the bird watching tower but still it is wise to keep asking for directions. Also, there are plenty of sign boards to help tourists reach the bird watching tower. One may park their cars near the bird watching tower and hire a boat from the jetty on the opposite side of the road. Other than bird watching one might also like to have a hands on experience of local skills and activities like boat making, bamboo works, pottery works and fish net making.
Birding is the thing to do in Mangalajodi. Watch Towers provide a good vantage point and offers a panoramic view of the wetland with a plethora of birds. Guided boat rides are the best to get as close as possible to the birds.
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