The Chilika lake in Odisha, Asia’s largest brackish water lake, was once part of the Bay of Bengal, a study by the marine archaeology department of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, has found.

How it was formed?

The process of the formation of the Chilika might have begun in the later part of the Pleistocene epoch, around 20,000 years ago. India’s peninsular river Mahanadi carried a heavy load of silt and dumped part of it at its delta. As the sediment-laden river met the Bay of Bengal, sand bars were formed near its mouth. These created a backflow of the sea water into the sluggish fresh water at the estuary, resulting in the huge brackish water lake.

Historical evidences:

=> Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy (150 CE) described Palur as an important port of Kalinga and referred to it as ‘Paloura’ (located near Chilika).

=> Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (7th century CE) recorded ‘Che-li-ta-lo-Ching’ as a flourishing port. This port was located at Chhatargarh on the banks of the Chilika.

=> The Brahmanda Purana (10th century CE approximately) says the Chilika was an important centre of trade and commerce, with ships sailing to Java, Malaya and Ceylon.

=> The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidas called the king of Kalinga ‘Madhodhipati’ or ‘Lord of the Ocean’.

About Chilika:

=> Chilika is 64 kilometres long in the north-south direction and 13.5 km wide in the east-west direction.

=> The sea connected with the lake near Satapada through a shallow and narrow channel.

=> The connecting channel was obstructed by shoals, sand spits and sandbars, thus restricting the outflow of water and also checking the tidal flow into the lake.

=> Chilika is Asia’s largest and world’s second largest lagoon.

=> It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent and is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals.

=> In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

=> Major attraction at Chilika is Irrawaddy dolphins which are often spotted off Satpada Island.

=> The large Nalabana Island (Forest of Reeds) covering about 16 sq km in the lagoon area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1987.

=> Kalijai Temple – Located on an island in the Chilika Lake.