Half a day tour to Chilika Lake in Odisha

a leg of a crab from the crab masala dish...

 An idea that stuck suddenly last evening and while we were all gathered to savor the taste of "Pampadi Chat" at the RC Das Lane in Silkcity, we decided to go to Chilika Dhaba to taste some sea food. What better a time than this can be when the school and colleges are closed and I am free and my friend Prasant Panda also agreed to come, because he had never been to the place after marriage.

As per our travel plan we were to begin from Berhampur by 1 in the afternoon, reach Chilika Dhaba by 3 PM, had Lunch and then visit to the Chilika Lake and back to Berhampur by 6 in the evening, But the scorching heat of the sun did not allow us to go out by the time and we left Berhampur delayed by an hour and half at 2:30 PM. The ride was pleasant because as soon as we have come out of our homes the temperature suddenly fell and the sky became dark with some clouds and the sun was no where to be seen.

National Highway 5

Necklace route near Bada Ghat at Khallikote

Trucks coming downhill from the Bada ghat at Khallikote

Thakurani Temple on the top of the Bada Ghat at Khallikote

Train passing by near the shore of the great Chilika
seen from the Bada Ghat Roads at Khallikote

The journey of about one and half hours was much pleasant than we thought of. We could not stop midway to take snaps of the beautiful sceneries around the long span of highways. But we stopped at the Bada Ghat near Khallikote and took some quick snaps before proceeding to Chilika Dhaba. The more we were becoming close to the Dhaba the more hungry we were all feeling. We reached Chilika Dhaba by 4 PM, an hour and half after we began from Home.

Mrs and Mr Dr Prasanta Panda on their Bike

Crab Masala looking at us

Chilli Prawn

Everyone On the Lunch table except me because I am holding the camera

Mamun and Mama enjoying the food

The devastating look of the table after the food is gone down our throats

The dhaba which usually remained too crowded was seemingly empty, because we had passed the time of lunch and we were too early for dinner. Somehow we were attended by one person from Dhaba who was more than happy to help us understand more about the delicacies and was pleasantly surprised when we informed him that we are fans of this Dhaba because it has been at one time chosen as the best Dhaba in India on the NDTV. He was happy and we ordered some Chilly Prawns, Crab Masala, Chicken Mughlai and Prawn Malai Curry along with our plates of rice and dal. Although our intention was not to spare much time for the rice and dal.

After half an hour we were more than satiated and our taste buds covered with the taste of the sea food, we rose from our chairs and moved to Chilika lake, The biggest saline water body in Asia. The Barkul Panth Nivas from where we were to move towards the jetty saw the area empty and there we met this gentle boatman who offered to take us on a quick ride on the waters of the lake for half an hour for a hundred and fifty rupees fee. We boarded the boat and there we were moving on the waters swaying from side to side and moving slowly on the waters we were taken to some distance and then he kept the boat on the water and informed us to enjoy the cool bridge. I took some quick snaps of the setting sun from the boat itself and then we returned to the banks.

This is me as shot by my friend Dr Prasanta Panda with
the setting sun in the back drop

The friendly boatman who took us on a boating ride on the waters of Chilika
seen seated infront of and against the setting sun

No one can stop them from talking and talking and talking....

The sun sets behind the eastern ghat mountains seen from the Chilika Lake
and in the front are the buildings of the Barkul Panth Nivas

 At the banks of the Chilika a new park is being built where the amenities were so many and we could not stop ourselves from enjoying a few moments there and so swings came into help. And we spared some time there and left for Berhampur by 6 PM in the evening and reached home at about 8 in the late evening riding slow and fast on the long highway path.

Mamun likes swings

This is a competition you see, how high one can go

I am no one to compete with, because I know I can go higher

Mamun is having good times in the park, Seen also is Dr Prasanta

And that made me compile this small write up, and I am wondering what was the best part of todays escapade, whether it was the journey, or the sea food or the boating on Chilika. I must admit though, I loved every moment of the day.

Description: Chilika Lake is the largest Saline water lake in Odisha in India.