3 Best Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks in Orissa (Odisha)

At a distance of 143 km from Cuttack, and 167 km from Bhubaneswar, Bhitarkanika National Park is a national park situated in the Kendrapara district of Odisha. It is one of the largest national parks in India, and among the top places to visit as part of Cuttack packages.

Bhitarkanika National Park is one of a kind that sprawls over 672 sq. km and boasts of rich marine vegetation, salt tolerant varieties of trees and plants, rivers and creeks. It used to be the hunting grounds of the erstwhile King of Kanika. It was designated as national park in the year 1998 and obtained the status of a Ramsar site in 2002. It is the second Ramsar site of Odisha after the Chilika Lake. The national park and wildlife sanctuary is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Pathsala.

It is surrounded by Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, and Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary, which is the nesting ground for hundreds of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. Home to some of the rarest species in the world both flora and fauna, the sanctuary is mainly known for its species of reptiles especially white crocodile that can grow up to 23 feet. The Salt Water Crocodile is the apex predator of the region. Besides it, the park is home to numerous reptiles like the water monitor lizard, pythons to name a few. Bhitarkanika is also home to numerous animals like the deer, hyenas, wild boar etc.

Another attraction of the region is ...

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At a distance of 44 km from Puri, Chilika Lake is Asia's biggest inland salt water lagoon situated near Satapada in Odisha. Located at the mouth of the Daya River, Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India and also the second largest salt water lagoon in the world after the New Caledonian barrier reef in New Caledonia.

The lake is studded with small islands including the most charming Honeymoon Island and the Breakfast Island. Spreads across 1,100 sq. km, the pear shaped lake extends from Bhusandpur in Puri district in the North to Rambha-Malud in Ganjam district in the South, separated from the Bay of Bengal by a 60 km long narrow strip of marshy islands and sand-flats. The lake is an ecosystem with large fishery resources. It sustains more than 150,000 fisher-folk living in 132 villages on the shore and islands. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The lake also acts as one of the most supportive ecosystems in the name of Chilika Lake Sanctuary. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. Birds from 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. White bellied sea eagles, graylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, herons and flamingos are among the many species which make the lake a bird watcher's delight. Chilika, in fact, is ...

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At a distance of 17 km from Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Nandankanan Zoological Park is a zoo and botanical garden lies in the vicinity of Kanjia Lake in Bhubaneswar. It is one of the biggest and largest zoo parks in India and also one of the famous Bhubaneswar Tourist Places.

Spread over an area of 400 hectares, Nandankanan was established in 1960 and declared as a sanctuary and zoo in 1979. It became the first zoo in India to join World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2009. This reserve area is being stretched across the area of 4.37 sq. km where the protected area is of 3.62 sq. km. Nandankanan, literally meaning 'The Garden of Heavens', includes the 134-acres Kanjia Lake. Due to its rare offerings and serene setting, the park has been now emerged as a much sought after picnic destination for both locals as well as tourists.

Located in the greenish environment of Chandaka Forest, Nandankanan is world renowned for its white tigers. Today, the park has more than 34 white tigers in its vicinity. The park is also houses 67 varieties of mammals, 18 varieties of reptiles and 81 species of birds. The animals that are frequently seen in the park are Asiatic lion, lion-tailed macaque, Indian crocodiles, nilgiri langur, Indian pangolin, Himalayan black bear, mouse deer, rhesus macaque, black buck and more. Some of the popular birds that can be seen here are white peacock, blue & yellow macaw, open billed stork, green winged macaw etc.

The zoo is also a home ...

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