If you ever find yourself in the holy city of Puri in Odisha on the eastern coast of India, you may wonder if it is possible to visit the world-famous Chilika Lake as well. Chilika Lake is a brackish water lake that is the largest of its kind in Asia. It is home to many migratory birds flying in from other nations worldwide. Fret not, because making a road trip from Puri to Chilika Lake is easy and also fun! The routes for this road trip are very straightforward, and Chilika Lake is not too far away from Puri, making it the perfect day road trip you have had on your checklist for a long time!
Puri to Chilika Lake Road Trip – One For the Memories
Image Credit: Government of Odisha for Wikipedia
Driving from Puri to Chilika Lake is a straightforward road trip with just one route. Besides this, it is perfect for a one-day trip, and you will have a lot of time to explore the lake when you reach the place. The primary route to Chilika Lake from Puri is the NH 316 highway. The NH 316 highway starts at Bhubaneswar and bypasses the central city of Puri, eventually leading to Satapada at the banks of the Chilika Lake. All you have to do is exit Puri City onto Highway NH 316 and follow the route to Satapada. The route will take you through Gorual, Palanka, Brahmagiri, Bhubanpur, Arakhakuda, Panasapada and Satapada. The overall road distance for this route is about 48.3 km. The driving time between Puri and Chilika Lake is 1 hour and 24 minutes.
Total distance: 48.3 km by road
Total Driving Time: About 1 and a half hours
Also Read: Places To Visit In Bhubaneswar
Things To Do In Chilika Lake
Image Credit: Krupasindhu Muduli for Wikipedia
There are a whole lot of things that you can do once you reach Chilika Lake. Some of the things you can do in Chilika Lake include:
Go For A Long Boat Ride: While at Satapada, you will see many piers where motorboats can be seen docking. You can take a motorboat ride to explore the waters of Chilika Lake and enjoy a serene boat ride across this majestic lake.
Catch A Glimpse Of The Irrawaddy Dolphins: The Irrawaddy dolphins are a concentrated and large population native to Chilika Lake. While going on a boat ride across Chilika Lake, it is easy to spot a school of Irrawaddy dolphins approaching the water’s surface to get some fresh air. It is easy to spot the nose of the dolphin or the dorsal fin of the otherwise shy Irrawaddy dolphin at Chilika Lake.
Enjoy The Seafood At The Lake: Right from the Chilika crab, a wide variety of seawater fish are available at the lake to eat. Many seafood shacks are located at Satapada and on many of the islands on Chilika Lake that make lip-smacking local seafood delicacies. You can enjoy the fisherman’s catch of the day while you are at one of these shacks.
Visit the Islands On Chilika Lake: While you are at Chilika Lake, you can also hire a motorboat to take you to some of the different islands in the midst of It. Some of these islands include Honeymooners Island and Kalijai Island, which have a small Kali temple.
Go Bird spotting: If you hire a local guide and a motorboat, the guide can help you spot various species of birds, such as Pelicans and flamingoes.
Itinerary For Puri To Chilika Lake Road Trip
Image Credit: Rangan Datta for Wikipedia
Here’s an itinerary that you can follow for your Puri to Chilika Road trip:
8 AM: Start from Puri and take NH 316 to depart towards Brahmagiri-Satapada. This drive will take you about one and a half hours by road.
9:30 AM: Reach Chilika lake. Go to Satapada and arrange for a boat ride to explore different islands. Islands to explore include Breakfast, Badakuda, Kalijai Island, Honeymoon, Birds Island, Krushnaprasada, Kanthapantha, Somolo, Nuapara, Nalabana, and Sanakuda.
Duration: 2 and a half hours
12:00 PM: Grab some local fish delicacies for lunch and get a flavourful taste of local cuisine. You can also try some of the Chilika Lake Crab, a local delicacy.
Duration: 1 hour
1:00 PM: Drive to Nalabana Bird Sanctuary, Chilika Lake, Khordha District
Duration: 1 and half hours
2:30 PM: Drive to the nearby Nalabana Bird Sanctuary. This bird sanctuary is a designated Ramsar site. It is where several species of migratory birds rest and feed on their migratory journey. Different bird species, including flamingos, herons, pelicans, and more, can be spotted.
Duration: 3 hours
4:00 PM: Drive back to Satapada from Nalabana Bird Sanctuary.
5:30 PM—6:30 PM: Reach Satapada. Step back, sip on a few cups of chai and snacks, and enjoy the pure and beautiful sunset over the majestic Chilika Lake as the day turns into night.
6:30 PM: Depart from Chilika Lake and return to Puri.
8:00 PM: Arrive at Puri.
Related Post: Things To Do In Puri
How To Reach
Chilika Lake is a famous tourist draw because it is Asia’s largest brackish water lake and is therefore well connected to the rest of India by Rail, Road and Air. Here’s how you can reach Chilika Lake:
By Road: Take the highway NH 316 from Bhubaneswar or Puri. You can drive or take a bus from Konark to Pipili, from which you are connected to NH 316. Then, you can take the road to Satapada, which is on the banks of Chilika Lake. NH 316 does not have any tolls on the highway.
By Air: Chilika Lake does not have an airport. However, the nearest airport is in Bhubaneswar, where you can drive to Satapada or take a bus. You can also hire a private taxi at the airport, which will remain with you throughout your exploration of Chilika Lake.
By Rail: The nearest Railhead to Chilika Lake is Puri, where you can drive down or take public transport to Satapada. Many connecting buses from Puri drive down to Satapada and vice versa. Bhubaneswar is another railway station well-connected to the rest of India and close to Chilika Lake.
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Visiting Chilika Lake is indeed an adventure in itself. It is one of the most sought-after natural tourist destinations in Odisha, on the east coast of India. Plan your trip to Puri and go from Puri to Bhubaneswar to enjoy the magical waters of Chilika Lake.
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Cover Image Source: Government of Odisha for Wikipedia
Frequently Asked Questions About Puri To Chilika Lake
How long does it take to do a road trip from Puri to Chilika Lake?
Puri to Chilika lake roadtrip can easily be completed in a day. The drive from Puri to Chilika Lake is only about one and half hours long, and you will easily get to spend atleast 5-6 hours at Chilika Lake to explore the lake and do a variety of things.
What kind of dolphins are found at Chillika Lake?
The Chilika lake is home to the slow-swimming Irrawaddy dolphin. The dolphins are black in colour and are flat-nosed, and schools of these dolphins can often be seen swimming in Chilika Lake, coming up to the surface to take air. You can easily spot their nose or their dorsal fin while you are boating at Chilika Lake.
What are the things to do at Chilika Lake?
While at Chilika Lake there are a large number of things you can do right from taking a boat ride, exploring all the islands on Chilika Lake, trying to spot the Irrawaddy dolphins, exploring the cuisines of the area such as a variety of fishes and crabs, as well as trying to spot various different migratory birds such as the heron, flamingos and the pelican.
What is the best season to do a road trip from Puri to Chilika Lake?
The best season to do a road trip from Puri to Chilika Lake would be the winter months from November to February. This is because the waters of the Chilika Lake are less muddy after the rainfalls of the monsoons and the weather is perfect, without being too hot.
How far is the Nalabana bird sanctuary from Chilika Lake?
The Nalabana bird sanctuary is about 50 km from Satapada. It will take you about 2 hours to drive to Nalabana Bird Sanctuary from Satapada, but it is well worth the visit.
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