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Odisha Part 4: Chilika – Experiencing the lake, in and out of season

My first visit to the Chilika Lake in Jan 2017 was for content for a resort. It was peak season, and I would have loved to stay near the lake, but the brief was to stay at Puri and cover areas that could be visited from Puri. And so, I did the usual touristy thing, taking a boat for half the day. Which is why, on my next visit to Odisha, if there was one thing I was clear about, it was that I wanted to stay near the lake, at least for a day, if not more. However, unlike my first visit, the second was in end of May, and the season was long ended. There would be no birds, I was warned by anyone and everyone I spoke to, including the people at the stays I was considering. But those who know me, know how stubborn I can be, and so I persisted. I eventually decided to stay at two of the Odisha eco-tourism resorts, at Mangalajodi and Rajhans, keen on experiencing the lake, even minus the birds. I had expected it to be hot, but as it turned out, the rains turned out to be even bigger spoilspo...
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I have always enjoyed travelling. When I was young, we always had to travel on a tight budget , so we always took the trains and buses, and stayed at simple lodgings where ever we went. In fact, we always tried to look for a relative or friend at whose house we could put up. it never seemed like an inconvenience to anyone, as that was what almost everyone did! As a result, my mother has a huge list of friends/relatives/acquaintances at various places, all of whom she actually knows quite well!
we usually went to temples, or my uncles' or aunts' places, but as there were so many of them, we went out for every single school vacation, and spent quite some time at each place.
today things are a lot different. with affluence has come more travel, that too with more comforts. Since my marriage i have been travelling almost 4 to 5 months in a year. many of my journeys are still spiritual, as we usually travel along with my in-laws, but once a year, my husband takes time out for a more tourist-like destination. we don't hesitate to take a vehicle where ever we go, but now time has become a major factor. where earlier we had all the time in the world, now we are running after our schedules everywhere. trips to any place, be it places or worship, or historical places, the urge is to see as many places as possible, so one usually compromises on the time we spend in one place.
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  1. GreentrekkumarSeptember 18, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Wondering whether this is your very first blog or not.!!!!

    You have started this little piece of writing with the lines "I have always enjoyed travelling" ..... and now after marriage, motherhood, miles n miles of bumpy roads and hundreds n hundreds of blogs later YOU HAVE GRADUATED TO EBOOKS (Kashi Yatra) for the benefit of other wanderlust souls.!!!!
    Congratulations.!!! You have been a great inspiration for me to write.!!

    Thanks.
    Greentrek Kumar

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anu ShankarSeptember 18, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    Thanks so much! I have come a long way since I wrote that first post more than 4 years ago. Since then, I have travelled quite a bit, though it has actually reduced in frequency thanks to my son's school schedule. However, more than anything, what has changed is the way I write... and that is thanks to readers like you who read and comment, and tell me what they like (or dont like!) thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GreentrekkumarSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Most welcome. The fact is I need to thank you since u have put the fire in me to write.!!!! Thanks a lot.!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anu ShankarSeptember 19, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    It feels so wonderful to hear that!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousDecember 12, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    Great post

    http://www.surjivan.com/

    ReplyDelete

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