A number of islands dot the expanse of the lake. Nalbana Island, because of its varied flora and fauna, forms the core of the Chilika sanctuary. Kalijai Island is home to the Goddess Kalijai, venerated by the local fisher folk. This island plays host to a huge fair on 'Makar Sankranti' held annually in the month of January. The large fishing community adds flavor to the lake with their traditional colorful sail boats bobbing expertly across the water, reminiscent of the ancient maritime heritage of Orissa. In fact, the fisher folk can be persuaded to take visitors on their boats

Chilika is worth visiting the year round, however, the winter months, when the air reverberates with the din of the birds, are the nicest times. Barkul, Rambha, Balugaon and Satpada are the bases for visiting Chilika, where boats can be hired

Best time to visit Chilka Lake Sanctuary -
Enjoy the unparalleled beauty and tranquility of Asia¿s largest brackish water lake between the months of September and April.

How to Reach

By Road : Both Barkul and Rambha, the nearest destinations to Chilka, are situated on National Highway 5.
Regular buses ply between Bhubaneswar and Berhampur, while stopping en route at Barkul and Rambha. Auto and cycle-rickshaws are available at both Barkul and Rambha to convey visitors to the lake.

By Rail : The nearest railhead is at Balugaon, on south-eastern railway which is directly connected to Kolkata, Puri, Hyderabad and Mumbai

By Air : Nearest airport is Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar, 105 km from Barkul and 135 km from Rambha.