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Chilika in Winters
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I have been thinking of writing my travel experiences in the blog, however its been long that I got time to pen down. Thought of starting in 2013 to share my experience so that friends can get benefit (if anyone wants) else it will be available in the blog for me to revisit when I retire and cherish the experience. As I know the time passes by, my memories are fading away. I am writing in a hope to refer whenever I visit to these places for another time and will ensure I enjoy the places which I thought I could have, but missed due to lack of time.
Visiting Coastal Orissa came to my mind in May 2012, while I read through an article of Siberian Birds visiting India and followed by an experience in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo National Park). Being an Oriya the natural thought came to me about to pay a visit to Chilika. I always saw it from a distance as a kid, with a dream in my eye to return one day with more love. The moment I think of Chilika, I remembered the great poet of Gopobandhu Das who wrote the poem " Kalijai Re Sandhya (Evening at Kalijai)", and it was in my courses in school. So most of the people from my generation will remember this poem, I still sing it while we play Antakshri (Kata dhari dheere nauri naa deichi meli).
First part of my coastal visit was Chilika, and please remember best time to visit is between November to February. When the migratory of birds come to their own Chilika. This reminds me of a chapter in the 10th standard of Orissa state board. Unfortunately I never read it, only listened it while I was in 5th standard and the tuition teacher was teaching the 10th standard seniors...and probably with the attraction towards the birds or the water (still not sure) I had better hold of the 10th Standard Chapter "Migration of Birds" better then the students who were supposed to remember.
I took one week off from office to start my journey, I always preferred Train so is this trip. I always get time for myself to peep through the window glass. While in train I generally prefer reading books, Listening to Music and the major portion looking outside the window in a hope of getting some glimpse of something new. I loved speaking to different people in train but seems like the interest died with age and shifted its focus towards spending time with myself, understanding and enjoying my dreams. It sounded funny in multiple occasions where I have told people that one of my interest area is day dreaming. It gave me lot of strength and confidence. Its normal to be late for BBSR (Bhubaneswar) Rajdhani by 5-6 hours in winters. Finally after traveling for 30 Hours reached at 11PM.
Morning 5.30 AM was the time we were supposed to start the journey to Chilika, however could manage to push by 6.30 PM. I was more fascinated to see the migration birds and was in a hurry to reach there and see those beautiful visitors across the border. I literally jumped mentally from the moving car to run towards the water. There were boats at the banks which took people to ferry around "
Chadei Haga Pahad (Bird Shit rocks)" and "
Kalijai Temple". I curiously asked a person where do I book boat for going to "
Nala Bana" ? Which I gathered information as part of my research before the trip.
Answer was a shocker to me " you need Forest Department Approval/clearance" to go there. I thought he was saying so that he can pull out some more money from me. I was careful and behaved as if I am a regular visitor here (
laughs). When others also gave the same impression and information, I realized that my research and plan did not had something of getting a clearance from the forest department. I knew it was free visit earlier, however with increase in hunting there is a permission required to visit. I tried my best to see if any
Jugad (alternative arrangement) can be done. It was useless effort and applied all my energy for a glimpse of those Siberian visitors.I promised myself to get permission next time from Bhubaneswar before visiting Chilika.
I was happy that all the security and screening would conserve the birds for next generation to have a view, else the current pace at which poachers are hunting they will only be seen in Photos and few albums. I felt like helpless in one hand and felt more charged up to come next time with proper prior permission.
This is one of the reason why I thought I would write a blog so that who ever visit Chilika for migration birds, please check for prior permission so that you do not get disappointment as I was. Took a small boat trip to enjoy the water and surroundings. By the time these got over, I was dam hungry and Crab curry was waiting at
Chilika Dhaba. (to be Contd.... in a hope to take out some time to write about Konark, Chandra Bhaga and Puri visit the next day....)
