Mangalajodi: Once in a Lifetime Destination
Mangalajodi : Once in a lifetime destination for bird lovers
********************************************
The tagline of Odisha tourism is” The best kept secret of India”. After visiting this place called ‘ Mangalajodi’ , one will be sure about the reason behind such a tagline. A visit to Mangalajodi reveals an artistic creation sort of a scene before your eyes. A little fisher boat cruising gradually through the wetlands, finding its way through reeds and wild grasses, becomes noticeable in the distant horizon. Nature lovers like you sitting on this delicately crossing boat , getting a brief glimpse of the close by chirping birds…. Just imagine…🤔🤔☺️😍
Though the place is relatively unexplored, but there lies overflowing natural beauty and exotic , virgin territories are yet to be discovered. It is a very lovely small town, which has become a paradise for a wide range of birds. It is situated on the banks of the north eastern Chilika lake, around 5 km from Tangi and around 70 Kms from the state capital Bhubaneshwar.Chilika is also renowned as the largest brackish water lagoon in whole Asia . Lake Chilika offers an ideal home and climate to migratory birds.
One can get that rare opportunity to listen to different voices of different surrounding birds, sometimes in chorus and sometimes simple exchange of language in the form of Chirps,Quacks, Calls, Whistles, mimics & trills that echoes various accounts of correspondence among them.
Mangalajodi: Best Example of Community
Participation in Tourism
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Mangalajodi once was ill famous as a poachers’ village. But now a days ,a drastic change in approach of villagers towards bird conservation is being seen , which gives hope to nature lovers.Winter in Mangalajodi witnesses the highest gathering of around 10 Lakhs resident and migratory birds taken together .
It was because of heavy gradual siltation, the only one natural sea mouth of Chilika was getting closed and the pH value and salinity of Chilika water was dropping down and in turn , it was putting heavy pressure on the dwindling bio diversities of Chilika. That is why the Chilika Development Authority dug up another sea mouth to give a fresh life . The Chilika Development Authority and the state forest department jointly conducted several workshops to sensitise people regarding the impending dying consequences…Sensing danger for their survival, the villagers turned protectors of the landscape and of the winged species particularly. The illegal poaching and trading of exotic avian meat came to an end.
Information on everything about the migratory birds like their distinctive looks and features, their feeding and breeding patterns, their migrating propensities during a particular period of the year and so on made the Mangalajodi village people brilliant eco-guides for sightseers and presently all families of Mangalajodi village are procuring their livelihood through certain means reliant upon nature tourism.
They are serving the travellers as birder watchers, boatmen and eco-guides. The local villagers additionally watch the marshlands since securing the birds isn’t just equivalent to securing their livelihoods yet in addition their ethical obligation.
Strategic location of Chilika
Chilika lies in the Central Asian Flyway for birds and is a significant stopover site for migratory birds from the Arctic and Sub-Arctic areas during their onward and return migration along the east coast.
Mangalajodi freshwater wetland and Nalabana Island which form part of the Chilika lake have been identified as Important Bird Areas (IBA).Nalabana is the biggest breeding ground of flamingos in the entire world.
Considering Chilika’s importance as a significant assemblage site for migratory birds and the enormous populace of birds it upholds , Chilika has been perceived as a wetland of global significance under the Ramsar convention( held in Iran in 1981) and it has been ever remembered as an important Ramsar Site of India.
One place but different sobriquets
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
The place has now become one of the most popular tourist attractions for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts from across the globe.This place has very well earned the sobriquet “Birds Paradise” and hence the “Birdwatchers’ paradise” as well.It is the only place in India where large flocks of different species of colourful birds can be seen from close proximity of boat and hence can be photographed too. Hence the entire place is slowly gaining ground as an upcoming “Photographer’s Paradise” . Watching all those colourful and varied winged visitors here is an experience to remember for the lifetime. A number of bird species that visit the village have been recognised as rare and endangered, and even some of these are on the verge of extinction.The occasional chirping of birds enchants everyone when a kind of pin drop silence rules over the surrounding and suddenly you will discover yourself in a world of birds all around, which in turn will fill your heart with myriad emotions.
Chilika Bird Festival Becoming a Most awaited Event
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
It is because of the growing popularity of the place among birds and birders as well , the government of Odisha ( Odisha Tourism and Chilika Development Authority in particular )started Chilika Bird Festival in the year 2018 and now the most sought-after event in the month of January every year attracts bird lovers, photographers, and ornithologists from all over the world.The CDA also arranges escorted tour to Nalabana during the three days long Birds Festival. One can see a plenty of Northern Pintail (a duck variety) and during the winter season, their number crosses 3,00,000.That is why, the best time to visit Mangalajodi is from November to February. The vegetation in the area consists of Typha angustata and Phragmites karka. Wide abundance of plankton and algae kind of foods chiefly attract these flying beauties assuring them of safe shelter and food.
Northern Pintails in Mangalajodi
Pc: Wikipedia
A purple swamphen in Mangalajodi
Pc: Wikipedia
A grey headed Lapwing in Mangalajodi
Pc: Wikipedia
A garganey
Pc: Wikipedia
A Shoveler in Mangalajodi
Pc: Wikipedia
An Indian pond heron in Mangalajodi
Pc: Wikipedia
More than 200 species of birds are recorded in Mangalajodi during winters. Lakhs of Pintails ( the name is self-explanatory..it is because of it’s sharp pin like tailend), Rudy Shelducks, Sandpipers, Ruffs, Terns, Plovers,rare Grey-headed Lapwings, Gulls,Skulkers like Ruddy-breasted Crakes, Baillon’s Crakes, Slaty-breasted Rails and the Greater Painted Snipes ,Black-tailed Godwits, Oriental Pratincoles and the Pacific Golden Plovers etc. A variety of Raptors (having hook like beaks and sharp talons )are also seen hunting in different parts of Mangalajodi.
Accommodation is plentily available in Bhubaneswar for the daytrippers and some modest resorts have also started functioning in Mangalajodi itself.
Some of the birds that I could identify on my own
——————-
Great Egret:Beak is black in breeding plumage and yellow in non breeding plumage
Ruddy Shelduck: Grows up to 67 cm.Lives in freshwater wetland. Breeding male has black neckband
Whiskered Tern: Grows up to 25cm. In breeding plumage,white cheeks contrast with black cap and grey underparts. In no breeding and juvenile plumage, from whitewinged ,grey rump concolorous with back and tail and different head pattern…Seen in inland and coastal waters…
Black winged stilt…grows up to 35-40cm. Has a slender appearance, long pinkish legs,fine straight beak and white head with variable amount of black…winter winged visitor to Odisha
Black winged stilt…grows up to 35-40cm. Has a slender appearance, long pinkish legs,fine straight beak and white head with variable amount of black…winter winged visitor to Odisha
Marsh sandpiper
Glossy Ibis…grows up to 55-65cm. Has fine down curved beak. Breeding adult has deep chestnut body grossed with purple and green. Non breeding adult is little dull and has white streaking on dark brown head and neck.
This fascinating winged winter visitor is called ‘Ruff’…Has long neck, small head, short and slightly down curved beak and yellowish or orange legs….Has variable plumages…
This water buffalo was almost submerged under mud….but when our boat approached, this buffalo invested all it’s efforts to come out of it….But just after getting back to solid landmass,it turned around and gave an annoyed look at me….as if it is saying…” Who are you all tresspassers encroaching my territory???”
See the reflection of this great egret in water…
This Shelduck is just having a flight
The egret watching the herd of buffaloes
Staying inside this gently traversing boat, I could take photos from the close proximity of birds….I took photos through my cell phone, that’s why the photo quality is little poor, please bear with the inconvenience.
The official rate of hiring a boat for a couple of hours , was Rs1200/-( little bargain is possible when the inflow of tourists is not substantial). The price includes a directory of birds ( just to refer during the birdwatching) commonly seen in Mangalajodi and a binacular.
How to Reach Mangalajodi
Via Road-Mangalajodi is around 70 km. south-west of Bhubaneswar off NH16. It is around five km. southeast of Tangi town ( which comes on the way to Berhampur from Bhubaneshwar) in the Khurda district of Odisha. Guests can get off at Chandpur and take an auto to Mangalajodi. Regular bus service exists from Bhubaneswar to Tangi.Otherwise luxury tourists can recruit a taxi from Bhubaneswar.
Via Train-It is 30 km. from Khurda Road rail route station. The closest railhead is Kalupada Ghat on the Southeastern Railway Howrah-Chennai line.
Closest Airport-Bhubaneswar (Biju Patnaik International Airport)
Conclusion: After paying several visits to Mangalajodi and it’s adjoining villages , one thing I became very sure about is that community led tourism is utterly needed so as to minimise the adverse Socio-Cultural and Environmental impacts of tourism . In other words, community participation is absolutely needed for the ultimate success and a prolonged life of a destination….. Please never forget to share your thoughts in this regard. If at all you would like to get notified of a new content , then please never forget to click the follow button.
Dr. Manoj Mishra
lunarsecstasy@gmail.com
2 Comments
It looks so peaceful, relaxing and inviting, like paradise on Earth. It would be a privilege to be there at least once in a life time. Pure untouched nature with birds living carefree and singing their art songs.
Very true..Each time I find something new over there. Truly blissful…