Nalbana Bird Sanctuary, Bird sanctuary in Chilika Lake, India
Nalbana Bird Sanctuary is a protected area within Chilika Lake, Asia's largest lagoon, spanning approximately 15 square kilometers of marshland. The island consists mainly of reeds and aquatic vegetation that attract over one million migratory birds each year.
Protection for this area started with India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which safeguarded larger portions of Chilika Lake. The site received formal sanctuary status in 1987 and was later recognized as a Ramsar wetland.
The name Nalbana comes from the Odia language and means "weed-covered island," reflecting the natural vegetation found here. You can see how local fishermen and bird watchers use this space as part of their daily lives.
The site is open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM with no entry fee. Visitors typically arrive via Bhubaneswar airport and then travel by boat to reach the sanctuary.
During monsoon season, the entire sanctuary submerges underwater and resurfaces as water levels drop. This regular disappearing and reappearing makes the place an ever-shifting ecosystem for the birds.
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