The new tag line of Odisha Tourism is ‘India’s Best Kept Secret’ and that’s so apt. There is so much to explore and experience in Odisha.
Winter is a great time to visit Odisha. Because its green everywhere. The temperature is soothing & the sun is healing. You get perfect conditions to travel. And I decided to travel to Mangalajodi!
Now where on this Earth is Mangalajodi?
Mangalajodi is in Odisha, 68 kms from Bhubaneswar, approximately 1 Hr 37 min via NH16. The nearest airport and railway station is Bhubaneswar. From Bhubaneswar you can book a cab/taxi.
Why is Mangalajodi, Odisha driving attention of tourists and travelers?
Well, at Mangalajodi, it’s action time buddy. Pack your camera and binocular. After all you are heading to one of the best birding paradise of India- The Mangalajodi. Mangalajodi invites professional and amateur bird photographers from all across India and globe. It’s an absolute paradise for Bird lovers and nature lovers. Trust me, the experience out there is incredible.
Once you reach Mangalajodi- what next?
1. Park your car/ bike in the parking area.
2. Book a boat; guide & a boat man for 1200/- for atleast a 90 min to 120 min boat ride in the wetland.
3. Every booking gets a Binocular and a handbook on migratory birds to refer live.
Can you stay at Mangalajodi?
Yes! ofcourse!
Go to the link below.
www.mangalajodiecotourism.com
Note: Mangalajodi is actually a small village, which is located north-east to Chilika lake. It hosts a marsh wet land spread across widely which becomes a perfect breeding, feeding & nesting habitat for migratory birds.
Now lets get back to my trip!
Weekends at Mangalajodi witness more visitors for obvious reasons, so I decided to pick a weekday. I woke up to a bright n blue winter morning. Few things, which I picked, was my Nikon Dslr with zoom lens, tripod, my black puma cap, sunglass, sunscreen lotion, smartphone gimbal DJI osmo3, 2 bottle of water, some almonds and chips to snack on the boat.
What’s the best time to boat ride at Mangalajodi ?
This question in particular is pretty crucial, because if you are planning to do bird photography, the ideal time are
• 8.30am to 11am
• 2.30pm to 5pm
Please avoid 11.30am to 2pm if you are interested to do bird photography. At 12 noon the sun overhead spoils the pictures. You also find more birds in the morning and later in the afternoon, which is why photography enthusiasts prefer the above timings.
However, lot of people enjoy boat ride in the wetlands, which is also a unique experience in itself. And for a boat ride, anytime is a good time.
Coming back to my trip!
I started at 12.30pm from Master canteen square Bhubaneswar for Mangalajodi. I took exactly 2Hr to reach. The national highway NH 16 is pretty wide and less crowded after you cross Khurda. The roads somewhere in the midway will also ask you to stop-click and go. Which is why I took 2 hrs.
I booked a boat and took my belongings to the boat. Make sure before you start to cruise in the wetland, get your camera with your zoom lens ready to shoot. Believe me, you will have birds everywhere.
Note: Mangalajodi in winters is visited by almost 150 species of migratory birds and 50 species of regional birds. So you better be ready with your camera. Enabling a sports mode in your camera is a wise thing to do.
I got my Camera ready with the zoom lens tuck, ready to shoot the guests from abroad at Mangalajodi- the Birds Paradise.
What delights you the most at Mangalajodi?
➢ It’s the beauty of the birds, the music in their chirping, elegance of their flight, dodges, the way they perch, the air battles, the escapes, the hunting, the poses, the flocking, the parade and the noise of your shutter!
Note: Keep some extra memory cards and battery to keep the action going.
Trust me, if you enjoy photography, the 2hrs of boat ride will appear too less. Every boat has a guide to help you identify foreign and residential birds. You can refer to a handbook on Birds, which is kept in every boat, written by the Bird Man Of India- The great Salim Ali.
3pm to 5 pm is a fantastic time to shoot the birds. And i was happy to be right on time as planned. The sun helped me with some amazing portraits and silhouettes. I would suggest you to click as much portraits and landscape shots while boating into the wetland. And then when you return, the sun-down will give you some picture perfect silhouettes.
The boatman at Mangalajodi will not rush you into the marshy wetland. They will go slow without disturbing the birds around. Only then you get a chance to reach closer to the birds. Only then you get a chance to click them properly.
So be patient, be Calm & silent, don’t move much, allow the birds to flock and fly. Allow the birds to enjoy your stay.
My boat ride ended in 2 hrs and in those 2 hrs, i came closer to nature and I fell in love with these birds. Every winters these birds come to stay at Mangalajodi. They come in huge numbers.
Which part of the year is the best time to visit Mangalajodi?
November to February it is! When are you coming?
Hey! You don't need to be a good photographer to come to Mangalajodi. The peaceful boat ride snaking through the marsh wetland will made me happy.
All you need to do is ...
Just be a witness to the nature around with birds parading in the sky out of joy.
Just be a witness to the fisherman boating back from work with the sundown.
Just be thankful to nature for gifting us such beautiful paradises
Being there at mangalajodi was extremely fulfilling and heartfelt.I clicked all the above pictures. And i have tonnes left in my hard drive. But i still wish to have clicked more. This urge has surely given me a 2nd invite.
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