Humble, Honest , Spectacular and Sacred state of Incredible India,
You ask for Wild Life, Nature, Culture, Architecture, Hermitage , History, Food .. Odisha reply with its natural humbleness and simplicity. The spread you get to enjoy is spectacular.
Me and my travel buddies as always started our journey with lots of Curiosity and were ready to embrace what present surprises this state has in Store for Us.
After enjoying Indian Railways "Hospitality" for almost 48 hours (Mumbai- Bhubaneshwar) we reached to B'shwar early Morning. The first thing we do after freshening up was to look for Breakfast, Surprisingly we god a lovely South Indian Spread near out Hotel and luckily our Gadiwala aka Driver timely informed us that its going to be a long Journey till our Next destination i. e. Bhitarkanika. So we took the Opportunity to Stuff more of what was available.
First stop En route Bhitarkanika was Centuries old Temple Complex of Lingaraja. Its in the vicinity of Bhubaneshwar. Lingaraja temple is from 11th Century though some says its there since 7th century. Its a Beautiful Temple having Main Temple where ShivLingam is placed with two halls namely Natya Mandia and Bhog Mandapa. Its a Beautiful temple of Typical Odisha Architecture.
Visit to Lingaraja Temple gave us positive start for our Odisha Exploration. Then we started towards Bitharkanika Sanctuary and National Park.
As we approached to our stay to Kendrapada we saw small procession where all villagers were following few males were Carrying some idol like things, dancing on drums and Manjira beats. We also Joined them and it goes without saying we were followed by children with there mischievous faces and comments for us. They were celebrating Lord Kartikeya's festivity followed by Kumar Pournima. That is the only information I could gather from locals as we were not able to understand there Local Language and they couldn't understand Ours. But this language inequality was not barrier for any of us to enjoy the festive Fun.
By lunch time we reached Estuarine Tourist Hut , Kendrapada for our stay while exploring Bitarkanika. They served us simple humble Odisi food Karela bhaja, Dalma, Begun Bhaja and of cource Lots of local rice and vegetables. They also served us delicious chutneys and pickles using local ingredients. Elephant Fruit Chutney was a pleasant and delicious surprise for me. So in all it was a Great beginning for Bitarkanika. After lunch our hotel manager took us to the village around.
We were as usual followed, guided and giggled upon our interactions by Villagers. The village was and typical example of Oriya Culture. Houses were made using mud, Bamboo while roofs were made of dried hey stags and coconut leafs. Walls were painted with simpler drawings like bullocks, peacocks, human. What I could notice was the cleanliness around the Villages maintained throughout . I hope Over tourism will not ruin its beauty. Walking and exploring we reached to the small jetty where local catch there fairies for travel from one island to other. It is also a sunset point for tourist. Sunset is my favourite time of the day. Sunset followed by delicious dinner at hotel was a perfect end for day one.
Early morning we got ready for our Boat Ride in Bitarkanika National Park. After finishing formalities as our boat enters the waterways made through rich and luscious Mangroves. Within few minutes of our boat ride we saw a baby of Salt water Crocodile basking on the bank and withing few meters there was a Huge Crocodile made its appearance on riverbank from nearby grassland. It was one of the adult male Crocodile from Bitharkanika. We also saw Water Monitor Lizards laying on Bank. Bitharkanika is a Ideal place to do birding of mangrove birds like Black Caped Kingfisher. Typical to the mangrove area this is a beautiful bird with usual kingfisher type beak and blue color having Black mark on Cape(Head).
After this great start we saw varieties of kingfishers like Rudy, Stork billed, Common, Small, White throat and My favorite Pied kingfisher. Variety of waders can be found here. Few of the birds we saw are Red Shanks, Eurasian Curlews, Pond Herons, Purple herons, Grey herons, Red wattled Lapwings, Sandpipers, Plovers and many more. Have attached a link of actual Flora and Fauna list by our Camp organisers of Oiko Essence .
In between Ride we got down for a small walk in Mangrove patch. It was a pleasant walk and the flora around was mixed like mangrove varieties, small shrubs , trees like acacia. We saw a huge roosting site of Open Billed storks. We also spotted waders like black winged Stilts along with there Babies. It was a ideal site to do photography. We also went to a small but busy dock while returning. As the sun started setting it was time to return to our Stay for lovely dinner and discussion withing group members about days experience. Sunsets, especially when you are sailing through open waters.
Next day after breakfast we started for Shri Jagganath Puri, one of a kind temple of brothers and sister namely lord Krishna, lord Balarama and sister Subhadra. Our this day turned out to be special when you came to know about Sri. Maga Nayak .
He is an expert of Odishas hermitage art of Pothicitra .Art of making painting on dry leaves Cotton Cloth and even on Tasser Silk piece using only vegetable or Natural Colors. Guru Maga Nayak is considered as Pioneer of Pothichita. He still practice and also teaches this Beautiful Art form. Charecters or events of Indian Mythology or Purana are carved on Dry palm leaf and then procedded with age old techniques and Painted.
Very humbly he sat with us for some friendly chatting where we came to know information of this art forms along with small demo serious. This man is blessed with Magical Hands. If you happen to visit Puri do spare one or two hours to the Heritage town of Raghurajpur and Nayak Patna. You will be amazed to the Charcoal painting and other such Art form. We obviously did shopping of few Art pieces and left for Puri to seek Blessings of Lord Jagganath.
It was almost an evening time as we reached Puri. This town is an important Pilgrimage place where you feel the presence of deity in its Soul. Jagannat Puri is one of the important religious place of Char Dham Yatra. The Historical religiously important and globally recognized Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) happens Here. The Idols of Lord Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra are carved in Wood and Idol of Jagganath is replaced every twelve or Nineteen Years. There are many Small temples in Mandir Complex. Do take the prasad you get here its a sweet as good Blessings . Late Night we reached Konark where we were looking forwards to take the first Ray of Sun in India.
Barley sleeping for 3-4 hrs we started at 4.30 am for Konrak Beach to whiteness the first Sunrise in India. To our surprise whole beach was full with tourists busy taking Selfies with Blank Sky and Sea Waves. Soon as eastern sky started changing into subtle shades of red and was getting darker as Sun started immersing from that beautiful Sky.
We all cheered to the first glimpse of Sun. I really enjoyed photographing this Sunrise event as this is very Rare occasion for me to wake up So early. Well, after some strolling on beach we went back for Typical Odia Breakfast of Chakuli (almost like Uttapam) and Dalma. Now after few rounds of Chakulis we were set to Visit the The SUN TEMPLE.
One of gems of India's rich Cultural, Historical, Architectural and Engineering monument is The SUN TEMPLE. The thought of making something like this is totally unimaginable.
As you enter the Complex the huge Nata Mandir welcomes you with its Beautiful Pillars carved with Ancient figures, Horses, Lions, Navagrahas etc. The there is The SUN TEMPLE built by King Narasimha I , in 13th century. It took almost 12 years and few hundreds of Artisans.
It is built in the Shape of Chariot of Lord Sun which has 24 wheels. each Wheel signifies 24 hrs of the day. On each wheel there are Carvings of symbolic Queen who is shown doing all rituals During the different hours of day.. Right from waking up, doing morning rituals, Worshiping, etc.
This Whole Sun Chariot is pulled by seven huge Horses carved in Sandstone. Right from the Location to its final cared stone whole thing is a Masterpiece. The One who thought the one who designed and those who executed must be gods own people.
Odisha in last two days has made feel Culturally rich and lucky to be a witness of its gob smacking heritage. Fully drenched in amazing Heritage Odisha , it was time to get back to the business. Lake Chilika was waiting for us to show its wonderful spread of natural beauty, Culture, Flora n Fauna.So now we all Set for Mangalajodi.
By lateafternoon we reached out Manglajodi Eco Tourism Camp our Stay for Chilika Lake. Evening was of course our favourite activity of strolling around Village and interacting with Local. Odisha being a Coastal state has abundance variety of sea food. The local fishmongers were happy to show us there fresh Catch.
Undoubtedly we were we were centre of Attraction for local and also a subjects to make fun in there Local Language. After Wonderful
Dinner we slept early as we were suppose to start our Day very Early for Lake Chilika.
No matter how good are your R &D skill , some places just through the curve Ball and take a wicket of your Perception. My wicket was taken by the Beautiful Sunrise while entering Chilika lake. This lake is a Paradise for Waders and Photographers. The credit to photography must go to those small boats of Forest department. Their skillful men silently take you through waters of Chilika. Though it was not "The Birding Season" our Birding list was quite lengthy.
Being a vast wetland it attracts many migratory birds. We could see Northern Pin tails, Brown headed Lapwing, Wood sandpiper, Whiskered Tern, Red Crested Pochard, open billed Storks to name the few.Besides them purple Moorhen, sandpipers, Great egrets, Wagtails, Jacanas, pond herons and Kingfishers were spotted by us.
Some of my favorite shots of Black winged Stilts and Open Billed storks are from Mangalajodi. As sun started setting the whole Lake was covered by Magical light along with humming sounds of hundreds of buffaloes returning home.
We could see those hundred of buffaloes making
there way through marshy muddy waters .
Mangalajodi turned out to be one the pleasant surprises of our Odisha Camp. With beautiful memories of great siting, Amazing landscaping, Delicious food, Full memory cards and above all that calm and happy Minds we wave Bye to Mangalajodi.
While returning to Bhubaneshwar we visited the famous Nandan Kanan Zoo. Its really a must visit spot. Variety of tigers like Royal Bengal ,White Tigers etc along with other wild mammals can be seen kept in Captivity according to there favorable habitat. It was a well spent Evening. Next day morning we were set to enjoy hospitality of Indian railways by Konark Express.
If I sum up my Odisha visit it will be like a perfectly balanced old Traditional delicacy which has
Bitterness of delicious Karela Bhaja to one of a kind sweetness of Chenna Poda .. this state has it all,
Few simple but Amazing delicacies, Naturally beautiful landscapes, huge water bodies like Chilika lake, Rich Herritage like Konark Sun Temple and Blessings of Shri Jagganath Puri ...
Its a experience to be experienced..
