Expert Guides and Geographic Insights for the Chilika Lake Protected Area in Odisha

Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon and a Ramsar-recognized haven for migratory birds and Irrawaddy dolphins.

Chilika Lake

Chilika Lake is a vast brackish lagoon set along the eastern shore of India, where the Mahanadi river system meets the Bay of Bengal in Odisha. It is an ephemeral, shallow waterbody whose salinity changes with the seasons, ranging from freshwater in the river-fed north to near-oceanic levels near the tidal mouth in the south. The result is a transitional ecosystem that supports a unique mix of marine, brackish, and freshwater species within a single system. The lagoon is bordered by the Eastern Ghats on its western and southern sides and enclosed on the east by a long barrier beach that has slowly grown through littoral drift over thousands of years. Inside its pear-shaped basin are numerous islands, channels, and mudflats that change shape with the monsoons. The waters of Chilika are crossed by 52 rivers and tributaries, including the Bhargavi, Daya, Malaguni, and Luna, which together supply most of the freshwater inflow that drives its productivity. Ecologically, Chilika is one of Asia's most important coastal wetlands. It has been recognized under the Ramsar Convention since 1981, qualifies as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site, and is widely regarded as one of the best-managed Ramsar sites in the region. The lake's combination of rich biodiversity, scenic islands, and cultural significance makes it both a globally important conservation site and a defining landscape of coastal Odisha, supporting traditional fisheries, pilgrimage sites, and a deep-rooted maritime heritage that stretches back to ancient trade with Southeast Asia.