A Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site

India has a new name that has been added to the tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Anu guesses?

Well, it is the famous Chilka Lake.

Located near Satapada in Odisha, Chilka Lake is the largest inland salt water lagoon in Asia. It is called ‘The Paradise on Earth’ for bird watchers and nature lovers. The pear shaped lake is studded with small islands including the most charming Honeymoon Island and the Breakfast Island. Many fisheries and salt pans are also around its shore.

Considered as one of the world’s largest breeding grounds of flamingos, you can find them around the lagoon’s coastline. Chilka Lake is filled with bird species that you can easily spot like geese, white bellied sea eagle, jacana and purple moorhen. Being the largest wintering ground for migratory species, birds from Southeast and Central Asia, the Himalayas, parts of Russia and Mongolia fly down to this to-be UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Apart from being a bird sanctuary, Chilka Lake is the home to rare species of fish and marine creatures like Irrawaddy dolphins. Being richly famous for the presence of aquatic wildlife, one can also spot exotic wildlife over here. This includes the blackbuck, golden jackals, spotted deer and hyenas.

Chilka Lake is favourably known for its beautiful sunrise and dynamic sunset views. A popular destination for eco-tourism in Odisha, the lake holds a rich floral system with abundance of aquatic and non-aquatic plants, some being rare and endangered as well.

Visit Chilka Lake between November and February to know why it is added as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site!