Chilika

If you ever happen to catch a train from Kolkata to Chennai, Bombay and know where Orissa is then I wud suggest to keep your eyes glued to the window screen after crossing Balugaon Station coz soon enough you'll cross the largest salt water lagoon in Asia - Chilika lake, sprad across 1100 sq km covering 3 districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam. Believe me the sight is as breathtaking as a sneak peak of a snow covered mountain peak from a flight, early in the morning glow. The splendour has to be experienced to understand i'm not exaggerating. You can find some pics in my orkut album which I took from a moving train when going by Konark Express. It was dusk and there was hardly any line of distinction between sky and water, the horizon had disappeared. Far away I could see the sandbars and the Bay of Bengal in its majestic spread.

Chilika is famous for its tiger prawns which are mostly exported leaving precious few for th elocal population to relish. Dolphins and Sea Cows have also reportedly been spotted in Chilika but by now they must have fallen prey to the heavy fishing trawlers that are destroying most of the flora and fauna thats found in this habitat.

Lots has been written by Oriya poets like 'bhaktakabi' Madhusudan Rao, Gopabandhu Das (Raha raha khyane Vaspiya Sakata, dekhibi chilika charu chitrapata) and Radhanath Ray (major kavya composer) about Chilika and I had no idea about their works until an uncle of mine introduced me to the lines I have quoted above. The sheer beauty of the literary prowess of these erstwhile bearers of oriya heritage has directed me to do more research into their works. My poor grasp of the oriya script not withstanding I will make it a point to read some of their works especially on Chilika.

I have not had an opportunity to go for a boat ride on it but thats another item on my to-do list, will bear fruit soon enuff.