[Continued from Visit to Puri, Bhubaneswar and Chilika (Part - 3)] In afternoon, we went to Ruchira restaurant and had lunch. In the evening we went to Swargadwar market for shopping. There we bought some Punjabis, towels for us and our relatives too. The next day we went to the OTDC booking counter. There we booked seats for the Chilika tour. The tour was on the next day. As we did not want to tire ourselves before the journey, we went back to our hotel.
The day after we woke up early at 06:00 am. Our tour was scheduled to commence at 07:30. So we quickly got ourselves ready and went down. Then we took an auto and headed straight to Pantha Niwas. On reaching we saw that our bus had just came there to pick up the passengers. Then our coach guide for this tour checked our tickets as the previous guide had done in the previous tour. But this time all punctuality of OTDC seemed to be lost. Many passengers had not turned up and so our bus had to wait for them. Some came but others still did not came after 20 mins of waiting. So atlast our bus started its journey. Our first destination was Alarnath Temple. There we had to walk for about 10 minutes to reach the temple from where our bus was parked. On reaching the temple we found that there were many people. So we had to wait in a queue to be able to see Lord Alarnath. But time was running out. So we were getting anxious. Atlast we got darshan of Lord Alarnath. After that we reached the main road almost running. We ate breakfast of Dosa and Idli at a small restaurant beside the road. Then we reached the place where our bus was standing. But though it was time but still most people had not come back. So again waiting. After waiting for about 10 minutes outside the bus, the driver came and boarded the bus and switched on the A/C. So we also boarded the bus. But still one of the passengers did not came back. Atlast our bus started. Our next stop was Dahikhia.
As we neared Dahikhia, our coach guide told us that it was this place where Lord Jagannath had ate curd from Manika. Actually Dahikhia is the name of a bridge. There is also a small temple beside the road near the bridge. Our guide asked whether we wanted to stop there and get down or directly go to Chilika. All of us said that we will go to Chilika directly. We reached Chilika at around 10:00 am. Our guide told us to go to OTDC Pantha Nivas, Chilika. There we had to place our order for food. We ordered Prawn Thali. Each Prawn thali costs Rs. 120/-. We were given a slip. Then our coach guide told us to follow him. After walking for some time we reached the boat jetty. It was summer and a sunny day. We were wearing hats which we had hired from a shop on the way. After waiting for some time our guide showed us which boat to board. He told us that ladies, old men and children will sit on the seats whereas the young men will seat on wooden planks beside the seats.
We got on the boat. The boat started moving. All boats that ply on the waters of Chilika are motorboats. But no steamers or launches ply in Chilika. Our boat was moving with a good speed. Suddenly someone shouted 'Dolphin!' The boat driver slowed down the boat. I was looking here and there eagerly to see the dolphins. I was ready with my camera to take pictures of the dolphins. But unfortunately though I was able to see many dolphins but I failed to capture photos of any of them. They were so swift and far away from the boat that we were hardly able to see their whole body. Our boat stayed there for about 20 minutes. Then it started moving towards Rajhans island. After a long time we reached the sea mouth. But we had to see the sea mouth from a great distance as the boat could not go further. Atlast we reached Rajhans island. This whole island was covered with sand. And in the blazing sun it was really hard to walk on the hot sand. But somehow I managed to walk to Classic beach, the main attraction of Rajhans island. The beach was quite good. After that I came back to the place where our boat had anchored. A shed was there. I sat there and drank green coconut water. Then we got on the boat again.
After travelling back to the jetty from where we had started, we went to see the Chilika Development Authority Visitor Centre. There we saw a short film on Chilika. Also there was an aquarium. We saw skeletons of dolphins and sharks. Then we went to Panthanivas to have lunch. The food was not very good. The size of the prawns were small compared to the high price of the thali. After that we boarded our bus and headed back to Puri.
From Howrah station, 12837 Howrah-Puri Express departs from Howrah at
22:50 hrs and reaches Puri at 07:30 hrs. 18409 Howrah Puri Sri Jagannath
Express leaves Howrah at 19:00 hrs and reaches Puri at 04:50 hrs. 12821
Dhauli Express leaves Howrah at 06:00 hrs and reaches Puri at 14:30
hrs.
Nearest Airport - Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar
 |
| Alarnath Temple |
Dahikhia Bridge
As we neared Dahikhia, our coach guide told us that it was this place where Lord Jagannath had ate curd from Manika. Actually Dahikhia is the name of a bridge. There is also a small temple beside the road near the bridge. Our guide asked whether we wanted to stop there and get down or directly go to Chilika. All of us said that we will go to Chilika directly. We reached Chilika at around 10:00 am. Our guide told us to go to OTDC Pantha Nivas, Chilika. There we had to place our order for food. We ordered Prawn Thali. Each Prawn thali costs Rs. 120/-. We were given a slip. Then our coach guide told us to follow him. After walking for some time we reached the boat jetty. It was summer and a sunny day. We were wearing hats which we had hired from a shop on the way. After waiting for some time our guide showed us which boat to board. He told us that ladies, old men and children will sit on the seats whereas the young men will seat on wooden planks beside the seats.
Chilika Lake
We got on the boat. The boat started moving. All boats that ply on the waters of Chilika are motorboats. But no steamers or launches ply in Chilika. Our boat was moving with a good speed. Suddenly someone shouted 'Dolphin!' The boat driver slowed down the boat. I was looking here and there eagerly to see the dolphins. I was ready with my camera to take pictures of the dolphins. But unfortunately though I was able to see many dolphins but I failed to capture photos of any of them. They were so swift and far away from the boat that we were hardly able to see their whole body. Our boat stayed there for about 20 minutes. Then it started moving towards Rajhans island. After a long time we reached the sea mouth. But we had to see the sea mouth from a great distance as the boat could not go further. Atlast we reached Rajhans island. This whole island was covered with sand. And in the blazing sun it was really hard to walk on the hot sand. But somehow I managed to walk to Classic beach, the main attraction of Rajhans island. The beach was quite good. After that I came back to the place where our boat had anchored. A shed was there. I sat there and drank green coconut water. Then we got on the boat again.
Classic Beach
After travelling back to the jetty from where we had started, we went to see the Chilika Development Authority Visitor Centre. There we saw a short film on Chilika. Also there was an aquarium. We saw skeletons of dolphins and sharks. Then we went to Panthanivas to have lunch. The food was not very good. The size of the prawns were small compared to the high price of the thali. After that we boarded our bus and headed back to Puri.
Continued to Visit to Puri, Bhubaneswar and Chilika (Part - 5)
How to Reach :
Nearest Airport - Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar
Where to Stay :
There are many hotels and holiday homes in Puri. Some of the hotels are listed below.
1. Puri Hotel
2. Pulin Puri Hotel
3. Hotel Sonali
4. Hotel Park
5. Hotel Swapnapuri
6. Toshali Sands
7. Hotel Swarg
8. Fort Mahodadhi
Places of Interest :
The main attraction of Puri is the Jagannath temple. It is also famous for its sea beach. Other attractions include the Gundicha mandir, Chakra Tirtha temple and Shri Lokenath temple. You can also visit the Lingaraj Temple, Konark Temple, Nandankanan Zoo, Chilika lake and Bhubaneswar.
For more information, please contact :
The Managing Director
OTDC Head Office
Panthanivas (Old Block)
Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar-751014
Odisha, India
There are many hotels and holiday homes in Puri. Some of the hotels are listed below.
1. Puri Hotel
2. Pulin Puri Hotel
3. Hotel Sonali
4. Hotel Park
5. Hotel Swapnapuri
6. Toshali Sands
7. Hotel Swarg
8. Fort Mahodadhi
Places of Interest :
The main attraction of Puri is the Jagannath temple. It is also famous for its sea beach. Other attractions include the Gundicha mandir, Chakra Tirtha temple and Shri Lokenath temple. You can also visit the Lingaraj Temple, Konark Temple, Nandankanan Zoo, Chilika lake and Bhubaneswar.
For more information, please contact :
The Managing Director
OTDC Head Office
Panthanivas (Old Block)
Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar-751014
Odisha, India
No comments:
Post a Comment