Chilika Lake is Asia’s largest brackish-water lagoon, covering more than 1,000 km² behind a sand barrier on the coast south of Puri. It was India’s first wetland listed under the Ramsar Convention (1981), and it is one of the few places where you can see the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin.
From November to February the lagoon receives hundreds of thousands of migratory birds from Central Asia and beyond, especially around Nalabana island and the village of Mangalajodi. The rest of the year, fishing villages, islands and a huge, quiet sky make it a restful escape from the temple circuit.
Top things to do at Chilika Lake
Look for dolphins from Satapada
Boats leave Satapada, at the Puri end of the lake, for the channel near the sea mouth where Irrawaddy dolphins are regularly seen. Use the licensed cooperative or OTDC boats and ask the crew to keep their distance from the animals.
Birdwatch in winter
Mangalajodi, at the northern end, is a community-run birding site where former hunters now guide visitors by boat through the reeds. Nalabana Bird Sanctuary lies in the middle of the lake.
Visit Kalijai Island
The small temple of the goddess Kalijai sits on an island reached by boat from Barkul or Balugaon, on the western shore along the Chennai highway.
How to get to Chilika Lake
- Satapada (for dolphins): about 50 km from Puri, 1–1.5 hours by road.
- Barkul/Balugaon (for Kalijai): about 100 km south-west of Bhubaneswar on the highway, around 2 hours; Balugaon also has a railway station.
- On a tour: Chilika boat trips from Puri or Bhubaneswar take care of transport and boats.
Insider tips
- Dolphin sightings are most reliable in the calm morning; the sea mouth crossing can be choppy in the afternoon.
- Bring sun protection — there is no shade on the boats.
- Seafood is the local speciality: Chilika crab and prawns are served at shacks near the jetties.
- For birds, go between December and February, early in the morning.
Best tours & tickets for Chilika Lake
These experiences are the easiest way to see Chilika Lake with a guide and transport sorted:
Private day trip Puri: Chilika Lake Boat Trip with Dolphin Spotting
A full day out from Puri to Chilika, the vast lagoon south of the city. You take a boat out to look for the lake’s rare Irrawaddy dolphins, stop at the island shrine of Kalijai and eat fresh lake seafood before heading back.
- Boat ride on Asia’s largest brackish-water lagoon
- Watch for Irrawaddy dolphins
- Kalijai Island and a seafood lunch by the lake
Day trip Bhubaneswar: Chilika Lake Boat Cruise and Dolphin Spotting
The Chilika day trip for travellers based in Bhubaneswar rather than Puri: transport to the lagoon, a boat cruise and the chance to see Irrawaddy dolphins, back in the city by evening.
- Round trip from Bhubaneswar to Chilika
- Boat cruise on the lagoon
- Dolphin spotting
Multi-day tour Puri: 2-Day Guided Tour with Konark and Chilika Lake
A two-day loop from Puri that joins the coast’s two big day trips — Konark to the north and Chilika to the south — with time in Puri itself. Good if you are staying by the sea and want both without organising transport twice.
- Konark Sun Temple
- Chilika Lake by boat
- Puri’s temples and beach
