Looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination in Inde? Visit Bhitarkanika National Park. Located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha, this remarkable reserve invites you to immerse yourself in nature and discover its unique flora and fauna.

History

Bhitarkanika National Park was established on September 16, 1998 within the core zone of the "Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary," founded in 1975. On August 12, 2002, it was designated under the Ramsar Convention. Today, it stands as India's second largest mangrove ecosystem.

Visiting Bhitarkanika National Park

Spanning Kendrapara district in Odisha, mangrove forests interweave with tidal creeks and mudflats to form this vast national park. Across its territory of approximately 672 km², the reserve boasts a diverse flora including sindari, thespia, casuarinas, and grassland species.

On the fauna side, Bhitarkanika provides prime habitat for leopards, fishing cats, jungle cats, hyenas, wild boar, deer, sambars, porcupines, chital, Indian pythons, rhesus monkeys, cobras, and saltwater crocodiles. The latter stands as one of the principal attractions of Bhitarkanika National Park. Indeed, it harbors one of India's largest populations of saltwater crocodiles, numbering around 1,671 individuals scattered across the sanctuary's rivers and streams. In 2014, approximately 3,000 saltwater crocodile hatchlings were produced annually during nesting season.

At Bhitarkanika National Park, you'll have the opportunity to observe an impressive array of bird species. The site welcomes roughly 320 avian species, including kingfishers, Asian open-bills, cormorants, darters, black ibis, and egrets. During monsoon season, nearly 120,000 migratory birds and 80,000 birds from various parts of Inde arrive at Bhitarkanika National Park to nest.

Opening Hours and Entry Fees

Bhitarkanika National Park is open to the public seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry tariffs are as follows:

• 20 Rs for Indian nationals
• 1,000 Rs for foreign visitors
• 50 Rs for still cameras
• 1,000 Rs for video cameras

Note: If the number of foreign visitors equals or exceeds 10, their entry fee is reduced to 200 Rs.

To reach Bhitarkanika National Park, you can travel by air or train. By air, the nearest airports to Bhitarkanika are Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar. By train, the closest stations are Bhadrak and Cuttack. From there, you can hire a taxi to reach the park.