The Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the south-west of Puri and widely spreads over an area of 1100 sq. km. In the 1970s, the sanctuary was declared as a site of global significance and is situated on one of the larger islands, lying scattered by the side of Chilika Lake in Odisha.

Flora and Fauna of Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary
This wildlife sanctuary is home to a wide variety of migratory birds such as flamingo, white bellied sea eagle, brahminy kite, spot-billed pelican, bar-headed goose, open-billed stork, spoonbill, brahimny duck, wigeon, pintail, shoveller, ibis, stilt, heron, egret, avocet, gull, tern and king fisher etc. Apart from residents and migratory birds, the Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to blackbuck, spotted deer, golden jackals, hyenas and many more. This wildlife sanctuary has about 225 species of fish and the thing that makes this sanctuary so unique are its dolphins and aquatic crustaceans such as lobsters, prawns, limbless lizards and large crabs.

One of the most famous tourist attractions near the Wildlife Sanctuary is the Kalijai Temple, devoted to Goddess Kalijai. Each fisherman prays at the Kalijai Temple before going on a fishing expedition at Chilka Lake.

Visiting Information on Chilika Wildlife Sactuary
The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar and is located at about 120 km away. And the closest railway station is at Balugaon.

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