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Gopalpur Beach:Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

Introduction

Odisha is blessed with around 482 kilometers of coastline and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.Added to their seductive beauty is a vast hinter land of antiquities and holy shrines Chilika, Asia's largest brackish water lake, not only provides a haven for millions of birds, but is also one of the few places in India where one can view dolphins.Some of the popular beaches are detailed below.

Gopalpur Beach

Hardly 16 kilometers from Berhampur, the beach retreat of Southern Odisha, happens to be the tiny town of Gopalpur on the Bay of Bengal. Enjoying the reputation of being a popular Beach Resort of Odisha, the deep and clear blue water instantly provoke those who are good swimmers. The temptation of bathing here is irresistible. Not-so-good swimmers take the hands of the Nolias (local fishermen who help bathers) and enjoy a pleasant bath. White surf splashing on the golden sands makes Gopalpur-on-Sea as one of the finest beaches on the eastern coast. A fascinating haunt for avid beach combers, it is a splendid retreat. Watching the life on the beach is also exciting. The fishermen pulling their catch or mending their nets add local color.

Beautiful objects made of seashells available in abundance are worth buying souvenirs for decorating a drawing room or giving some one a present. Sand sculptures here and, there made by some local artists are a feast to the eyes. Mouth watering sea foods, especially fish from the deep sea, satisfies the hungry stomach. Green-coconuts quench the thirst.

Intense heat of the summer is temperate by the sea breeze in the fantastic quietness of the beach amidst palm, coconut and casuarinas. Gopalpur was once buzzing with maritime activities which Odisha is known for ages. It was one of the outlets through which early settlers of South East Asia sailed off. It was a famous and popular seaport during the British Rule till about 1942 when it ceased to operate due to the Second World War and separation from Burma (now Myanmar). The crumbling walls and pillars and the light house stand witness to the past port. Remains of several bungalows and mansions belonging to the European merchants give the place a colonial look. A modern port is being developed here to revive the lost glory. A trip to Gopalpur-on-sea is a rewarding experience of sun and sea, fun and frolic.

Celebrations of 65th Republic Day at Swosti Premium

Celebrations of 65th Republic Day at Swosti Premium

Swosti Premium Hotel Bhubaneswar

Senior BJP Leader Mr.L.K Advani  & BJP leader Mr.Rajnath Singh who came to attend the Royal Wedding Party of daughter of Mr. Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo at Swosti Premium.

Odisha Chief Minister Mr.Naveen Patnaik today inaugurates annual e-Odisha summit

Odisha Chief Minister Mr.Naveen Patnaik today inaugurates annual e-Odisha summit at Hotel Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar

Speaking at the e-Odisha summit CM Patnaik said that, “The IT sector is today at the top of my Government’s agenda and Odisha has been in forefront in the IT revolution in our country in past 20 odd years. Four major IT players like Infosys, TCS, WIPRO and Mahindra Satyam have established their development centres at Bhubaneswar. The IT experts from the State have been very encouraging with the State registering an expert of more than Rs.l900 crore during the year 2012-13.”

He further added that, “The State Government is committed for creating an open environment to attract investment from IT/ESDM industries and foreign investors. In order to promote such investments, IT special Economic Zones (SEZ) have been established at Infocity and the second one is being established at Infovalley in Bhubaneswar.”

At the end, he congratulated the Department of IT and OCAC for organizing this annual e-Odisha summit at Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar, expecting meaningful discussion during the day on blend of ICT industry with governance processes so as to make government more efficient, effective and transparent.

Chilika Lagoon Named 'Destination Flyways' By United Nations World Tourism Organization

Bhubaneswar:

Odisha's Chilika lagoon, which is a hotspot for biodiversity, has been named 'destination flyways' by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) following its inclusion in a list of eight such sites worldwide.

Official sources said the lagoon was so named for its sustainable and resilient destination for migratory birds.

The UN's body arm, under the project “Destination Flyways”, will help Chilika Development Authority (CDA) develop strategies for protection of migratory birds through creation of innovative tourism and livelihood products with funding support from Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany.

The UN body’s arm on tourism and biodiversity would assist in development and implementation of strategies and projects linking sustainable tourism and livelihood resources.

Chilika is the only site to be selected from Asia by the UNWTO and was recommended by six international agencies such as Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity, Convention of Migratory Species, Ramsar Convention Secretariat, World Heritage and Man and the Biosphere Programmes of UNESCO.

The UNWTO has constituted a mission team for Chilika in January, which is being headed by Virginia Trapa and Dr Taej Mundkur. The team met top brass of Union Ministry of Tourism and Odisha Tourism Department during its visit to Chilika last week. They also held discussion with CDA’s Chief Executive on the management of the lagoon.
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Bhubaneswar Treated to Royal Wedding

Janata Maidan infront of hotel swosti premium there was resplendent on Tuesday as Udaipur 'prince'Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar and Patnagarh 'princess'Nivritti Kumari Singhdeo tied the proverbial knot.

Dignitaries from all walks of life and royal personalities from different states descended on the city to attend the high-profile wedding.

As excited people waited with bated breath to watch the much-talked about royal wedding, Lakshyaraj, accompanied by Union power minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, appeared in a vintage car.

Both wore princely attire complete with swords on their waists. Bollywood actor Chandrachur Singh, politician Suresh Kalmadi and southern army commander Lt General Ashok Singh, among other luminaries, attended the gala.

It was a treat to watch Anarkali, the richly caparisoned elephant that the groom rode to reach the wedding mandap after a Rolls Royce vintage car dropped him at the entrance of Janata Maidan. The elephant was transported to Bhubaneswar from Udaipur in a truck. Three mahouts accompanied the jumbo.

"It was a unique experience to attend the royal wedding in which people of various erstwhile kingdoms turned up in royal attire complete with turbans and swords," said a local invitee. "The bride looked very pretty. The wedding was conducted in traditional style. The food was delicious," he said.

During a pre-wedding function at a seaside hotel in Puri on Monday, the royal guests had a lucky escape after a makeshift tent reportedly collapsed near them. While the family members of the royal couple denied that anyone was injured, hotel staffers said three of the guests suffered minor injuries.

Lakshyaraj's family is expected to throw a post-wedding party at the same seaside hotel in Puri on Wednesday morning.

After the function, the relatives of both families will return to Bhubaneswar to attend the wedding reception of the newly-weds in the evening.

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Two New Airlines to Start Operation in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR:

Two new airlines - one for the domestic and another for the international circuit - are soon going to start operations from Biju Patnaik Airport.

While Go Air will start domestic operations from Bhubaneswar to Mumbai and Bangalore in May, Air Asia is slated to start international operations in March. This was decided during meetings of the representatives of 20 fliers at the AAI Kolkata regional office on January 20.

"The airlines have to seek permission from the ministry of civil aviation to start the operations. We have discussed all modalities including the services to be provided by us to the fliers," said by airport director.

Air Asia will fly to Kuala Lumpur from here. "Both the airlines have Boeing aircraft, which can accommodate more than 150 passengers. Go Air will help us resume services to Bangalore, which was stopped after Jet Airways withdrew in October," said the airport director.

The airport director had written to at least 20 airlines to gather at the regional office of AAI on January 20 to expedite international operations. The representatives of the airlines, who attended the meeting, were from Fly Dubai, Air India, Spice Jet, Thai Airways, Go Air, Indigo, Silk Air, Air Asia (India), Air India Express, Fly Emirates, Air Arabia, Sri Lankan airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Gulf Airlines, Etihad Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air Costa and ABC Airways.

"The response of the airlines was positive. We expect some more airlines to be interested in running operations from here by February. The reduction of value added tax (VAT) on air turbine fuel (ATF) from 20 per cent to five per cent impressed the airline operators," said an airport official.

Of the 20 airlines invited to the meeting, five will run domestic flights. Among the international carriers, Qatar Airways, Silk Air, Air Arabia and Fly Dubai had evinced interest in starting international operations from Bhubaneswar.
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UNWTO Selects Chilika as Global Site

A major birding site of India, Chilika has been selected by United National World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) as one of the eight global sites for development of sustainable tourism and livelihood of local community to maintain its status as a destination for the migratory birds.

Under the project “Destination Flyways”, the UN arm will help Chilika Development Authority (CDA) develop strategies for protection of migratory birds through creation of innovative tourism and livelihood products with funding support from Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany.

Sites in Germany, Senegal, Egypt, Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea and China along four major flyways including the East-Atlantic, West-Asian-East African, Central Asian and East Asian Australasian have also been narrowed down by UNWTO under the initiative.

Chilika, the only site in Asia to be selected, was strongly recommended by six international agencies such as Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity, Convention of Migratory Species, Ramsar Convention Secretariat, World Heritage and Man and the Biosphere Programmes of UNESCO.

The UN body’s arm on tourism and bio-diversity will assist in development and implementation of strategies and projects linking sustainable tourism and livelihood resources.

A mission team of UNWTO led by Virginia Trapa and Dr Taej Mundkur met top brass of Union Ministry of Tourism and State Tourism Department last week. They also visited Chilika where they held discussion with CDA’s Chief Executive Ajit Patnaik on the management of the lagoon.

The mission team also interacted with reformed bird hunters who are conducting the tourists for bird watching at Mangalajodi, Patnaik said. They took stock of the tourism scenario and met the boatmen’s association at Barkul as well as Rambha before visiting Nalabana Bird Sanctuary.

“The team appreciated the conservation measures undertaken by CDA and the initiatives for promotion of community-based ecotourism in and around the lagoon. This would boost the image of the lake and promote responsible tourism. The lake would also be connected to global network and branding,” Patnaik said.

Currently, the CDA is developing a ecotourism master plan under the World Bank-aided Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project. This season, about 7.19 lakh birds thronged the 1100-sq km lagoon.

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PURI::Places to Visit in Puri

Places to Visit in Puri

Tourist attractions, Puri covers the major places of interest that are situated in the town of Puri. Many tourists from across the country of India visit this town of Orissa to have a glimpse of the tourist attractions of Puri. These tourist destinations of Puri contribute heavily to the tourism industry of Orissa. There are a number of Puri temples, which constitute one of the main attractions at Puri. All these temples are visited by innumerable tourists, particularly by the people who are ardent devotees of the religion of Hinduism. Some of the most commonly visited temples at Puri are the Jagannath Temple, the Gundicha Ghar Temple, Konark Temple, the Loknath Temple and the Ardhasani Temple. All these temples have their individual identities. There are quite a few maths in this town of Puri. Some of the commonly visited maths of the town are the Suna Goswami Math, the Jagannath Ballav Math and the Govardhana Math.

Atharnala Bridge

Atharnala Bridge is one of the most well known places of interest in Puri. The tourists who travel to Puri generally do not miss to visit the Atharnala Bridge, as it is one of the tourist attractions of the place that bears testimony of the history of the region.

Loknath Temple

Loknath Temple is one of the most well known places of interest in the town of Puri. Puri houses quite a few temples, which are quite popular among the tourists who come to visit this place of India. The Loknath Temple of Puri has been put up to pay homage to Lord Shiva. Therefore, this temple of Puri is also referred to as the Shiva temple of the region.

Suna Goswami Math

The Suna Goswami Math is one of the most popular attractions for the visitors to the city. There are a number of maths at this place of India and the Suna Goswami Math is one of the most famous maths of the region. A couple of festivals associated with the religion of Hinduism are celebrated at the Suna Goswami Math of Puri. Some of the most important festivals that are celebrated at this math of Orissa are the Banaklagi, the Chandan Yatra, the Agni Utsava and the Snana Purnima.

Puri Temples

There are a number of Puri temples, which constitute one of the main attractions of the town. All these temples are visited by innumerable tourists, particularly by the people who are ardent devotees of the religion of Hinduism. Some of the most commonly visited temples at Puri are the Jagannath Temple, the Gundicha Ghar Temple, the Loknath Temple and the Ardhasani Temple. All these temples have their individual identities.

Swargadwar

The Swargadwar is one of the most significant places of attraction for the tourists who come to visit the popular tourist spot of Puri. This place is often visited by many people due to the mythical stories that are related to the place. According to popular belief, a person who breathes his last at this place gets the privilege of being transported to the heaven directly. It is also widely believed that such a person easily attains complete salvation.

Bauli Matha

Bauli Matha is one of the very famous Sikh pilgrimages in Puri. The matha is situated just 3.5 kilometers away from the main hub of Puri and is easily accessible through bus or car from Puri. The place is known for its exotic locale and serene environment. This place is an ideal for relaxation.

Gundicha Ghar Temple

Gundicha Ghar Temple, Puri is one of the most important tourist attractions that are located in the town of Puri. There are a couple of temples in the town and this temple is one of the most well known temples of the place. To visit this temple of Puri, one has to travel to the town. The airport closest to Puri is situated in the city of Bhubaneswar.

Maths in Puri

There are a number of maths in Puri, which are quite popular among the visitors to the town. Each of the maths at Puri has an individual character and holds a lot of importance to the people of the Hindu community who have got a religious affinity.

Puri Ashram

Puri ashram offers enlightenment on spiritual and religious issues. There are various ashrams in Puri. Out of them, four are linked with the rituals of Jagannath Temple. They are Pandu Ashram, Parasara Ashram, Angira Ashram and Markandeya Ashram.

Jagannath Temple

The Jagannath Temple, Puri is one of the most renowned places of interest that are situated in the town of Puri. There are a number of temples in the town, which form one of the major attractions of the place. The Jagannath Temple of Puri is one of the most popular temples of the place.

Jagannath Ballav Math

Jagannath Ballav Math is one of the most renowned places of attraction for the visitors to the town of Puri. There are quite a few maths in the popular tourist destination of Puri. The Jagannath Ballav Math is one of the most reputed maths of the region.

Konark

The Sun Temple situated at Konark is one of the most famous temples in the Indian state of Orissa. Since, Konark is situated in Orissa; it forms one of the three points of the so-called "Golden Triangle of Tourism". The other two spots are the temple city of Bhubaneshwar and Lord Jagannath's home, Puri.

Ardhasani Temple

Ardhasani Temple, Puri is one of the most well known attractions for the tourists in the town. The main structure of the temple is not very big. The temple is completely whitewashed. It is located at a distance of only 3 kms away from the Jagannath Temple, which is another very important temple of the region.

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Rare Bird Spotted in Odisha for First Time

For the first time in the State, rare species of migratory waterfowl has been spotted in Balasore district during a census by the Forest department that concluded on Friday. The rare bird, Common Merganser, was sighted at Laxmipada Chada on Subarnarekha river mouth.

Common Merganser is a migratory bird of duck family having a size of around 58 cm to 72 cm and weight of 1 kg to 2.1 kg. Normally, male birds are slightly larger than females. Like other species in the genus Mergus, it has a crest of longer head feathers, but these usually lie smoothly rounded behind the head, not normally forming an erect crest.

As many as 27 Common Merganger birds in a group were detected on Subarnarekha river mouth on Thursday. The birds which were found here were of 66 cm long. Balasore DFO Harsha Bardhan Udgata said this migratory bird usually resides in Ladakh, Mangolia, Pakistan and Tibet.

“During winter, they fly to North Indian rivers, lakes and fast flowing streams, but have never visited Odisha. However, it was sighted for the first time during census operation of Asian waterfowl in wetlands of Balasore division conducted near seashore by a team of ornithologists led by Gahar Abbedin of Bhubaneswar,” Udgata said. The male bird has black head and back with metallic green purple gloss, thin neck, pointed red bill and red leg on its grayish white body. The female has rufous head with single pointed crest.

Besides the DFO, other members of the census team were Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) Anup Kumar Nayak, honourary wildlife warden Jayanta Chandra Mardaraj, wildlife activists Biswajit Mohanty, Ranjit Pattnaik, Prasant Mardaraj, forest rangers Ajay Kumar Das and PK Mallick.

The identification of bird has been confirmed by famous ornithologist of Odisha UN Dev and Bibhas Pandab of Dehra Dun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The bird is well known as a good fish hunter and due to severe cold experienced in northern India, the birds might have migrated to Odisha in search of food.

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Poachers Kill 25 Migratory Birds In Chilika Lake

Bhubaneswar:Despite security cover over migratory birds at Chilika lake, about 80 kilometre from here, poachers have killed at least 25 of the species from Nalabana bird sanctuary area. Forest officials seized 25 dead migratory birds and arrested two persons in this connection yesterday, said the range officer of Balugaon Forest Division.

The birds were seized from Majhi Ora village at the bank of Chilika lake. The arrested duo, identified as Debaraj Behera (40) and Dukhishyam Behera (42) of Mangalajodi village under Tangi police station limits, were later forwarded to the court, said Sethi. The state government has banned entry into 15.53 sqkm area of the Nalabana bird sanctuary during winter when lakhs of migratory birds land in the lagoon. Besides Nalabana, migratory birds also gather at other parts of the lagoon. Officials said that they have set up at least 70 anti-poaching camps across 1100 square kilometre area of the Chilika lagoon.
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Annual Crocodile Breeding Season Gathers Pace

The annual breeding season of estuarine crocodiles has picked up pace with wildlife personnel spotting 28 nesting sites of these reptiles in Orissa’s Bhitarkanika National Park.

The nesting process would go on for two months more and there is every likelihood that more nesting spots would be sighted in the coming days, said wildlife officials.

On the other hand, the reptiles are showing visible signs of turning violent over acts of human interference into their nesting corridors.

“The crocodiles are found turning restive during nesting period and human interference near the nests invites their wrath. Mother crocs maintain vigil near the nest and the reptiles retaliate and pounce on human trespassers,” said,Divisional Forest Officer. At present the national park is out of bounds for the tourists and visitors in view of the croc-nesting season. Since May 15, prohibition has been imposed and it would remain effective till July 31 after the completion of annual breeding activity of these animals.

But the settlers of villages very close to the national park often intrude into the croc-infested water bodies inviting danger for themselves.

“This year two human deaths due to crocodile attack have been reported. Since the start of reptiles’ breeding season, we have also received two official reports of rocodiles attacking locals near Khola and Gupti creeks within the Bhitarkanika National Park,” he said.

The DFO said there were three other similar incidents, though unconfirmed. The victims were either fishing or collecting crabs from the water bodies within the national park.

Human activity of this nature is prohibited within the 145 square-kilometre park area. Thus the offenders injured by the crocs are not going to be covered under compensation package earmarked for animal attack victims.

The nesting sites were sighted by the wildlife enumerators of the forest department along the innumerable nullahs, creeks and water inlets in the Bhitarkanika river system, an ideal habitat for saltwater crocodiles, sources said.

The figure on the number of nests might further increase as the counting process of the estuarine nests was continuing. Last year 56 nesting sites had been spotted. More sighting of croc nesting sites is expected in the coming days. Female crocs lay around 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge from the nest after an incubation period of 70 to 80 days. An estimated 700 crocodile hatchlings were sighted emerging from the nesting sites last year.

Wildlife staffs are maintaining vigil on the nesting sites so that crocodile eggs were not devoured by predators like snakes, wild jackals and wild dogs found abundantly in the mangrove forest.

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Odisha Bhitarkanika: Nature’s Paradise

Bhitarkanika with its lush green mangroves, the fiery crocodiles, migrating birds and turtles, water tracks, the ever beautiful nature surely invites the visitors from all walks of life to spend time leisurely as well as think and explore the beauty of nature. Represented by the 3 protected areas “The Bhitarkanika National Park”, The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary” and “The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary”, it is always a place for nature lovers, scholars, scientists and tourists. 

Located in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, Bhitarkanika is surrounded with Mangrove Forests criss-crossed with streams and mud planes. In 1975 Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (BKWS) was established to conserve the rich biodiversity and the pristine beauty in the Brahmani-Baitarani (Dhamra) deltaic region of coastal Odisha. Later the Sanctuary was designated as Bhitarkanika National Park in the year 1988. Yet again in the year 2002 it was re-designated as the Ramsar site or The Wetland of International importance. Even steps are being taken to include it in the World Heritage Site List.

Bhitarkanika river system has few giant saltwater crocodiles. The length of these crocodiles is around 20ft. The nesting behavior of mother Saltwater crocodile is different from other two Indian Crocodilian species. She builds up a small mountain in a secluded place by collecting available nesting material which includes aquatic fern species (Acrostischum aureum), Hental (Phonix paludosa), etc. Then the nesting mother crocodile actively guards her nests for about 70-75 days, till the young crocodiles hatch out for moving into the creeks. The un-disturbed river bank is the favoured basking spot for Saltwater crocodiles. An abode for the highly poisonous snake, King Cobra, Bhitarkanika is one of the few

Bhitarkanika mangrove forests provide an abode for the deadly poisonous snake, King cobra. This is one of the few locales in the country where a good population of King cobras are seen.

With Monsoon water birds flock Bagagahan, a place closer to the famous Sujhajore creek. It is an amazing view to observe 50,000 birds including the new ones chirping and flying. Then, one needs to steal his view for the rare spotted deer’s who have got adjusted to the climatic prevailing conditions of this ecosystem. With a increase in their population they can be found around the Crocodile Research Centre at Dangmal as well as along the river banks.

The best times to see these spotted deer’s are either in the morning or in during sunset along the river banks.
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Odisha awaits Lighthouse Tourism after Maharashtra

Department of Lighthouse and Lightship under the Ministry of Shipping has decided to convert 15 out of 182 lighthouses in India into tourism spots as the first phase of ‘development of lighthouses for tourism’ project.

Lighthouses in Odisha which are under this project are Gopalpur-on-Sea, Chandrabhaga and False Point in Jagatsinghpur district near Paradip port.

Further, Union Tourism Ministry also wants to make the lighthouses more appealing by renovating the surroundings with landscape, conservation work, developing comforts for visitors, solar power electrification and other fun activities for the tourists.

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1644 salt-water crocodiles in Bhitarkanika: Census

KENDRAPADA: 

The population of salt-water crocodiles at the Bhitarkanika National Park and its nearby areas has dropped marginally this year, the annual reptile census revealed. Forest officials counted 1,644 salt water crocodiles recently whereas last year, they had sighted five more.

"Last year, we sighted 486 hatchlings, 356 yearlings, 395 juveniles, 128 sub-adults, 284 adults including four giant crocodiles measuring more than 20 feet. This year, during the four-day census from January 4 to 8, we spotted 1,644 crocodiles - 504 hatchlings, 387 yearlings, 307 juveniles, 142 sub-adults, 304 adults including four giant ones. The number of hatchlings and yearlings dropped this year, but the number of sub-adults and adults increased. Baby crocodiles often fall prey to predators in the wild, for which their numbers might have dropped slightly," said by the divisional forest officer.

"We have also sighted around 15 albino crocodiles during the census," added divisional forest officer.

Herpetologist Dr Kar, who is also the former crocodile research officer of forest and wildlife department, led the 20-member team in the reptile census.

"In 1975, the ministry of forest and environment, in collaboration with UNDP, had started crocodile breeding and rearing in Dangamala within Bhitarkanika. Thanks to the success of the project, the crocodile population started increasing in the creeks, river and other water bodies of the park and its nearby areas," Herpetologist Mr Kar said.

For villagers within the park and its adjoining areas, however, crocodiles are a cause for concern. "Crocodiles of Bhitarkanika have killed at least 45 people and injured 70 in the last 10 years. The reptiles often enter nearby rivers and creeks and attack riverside villagers," a local villager said.

According to Divisional Forest Officer, "Locals are not allowed to enter into the rivers, creeks and other water bodies of Bhitarkanika as the areas are infested with estuarine crocodiles. Many villagers enter the water and invite trouble," .

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Source:India Times

CLIMATE CHANGE SENDS AWAY WINGED VISITORS FROM CHILIKA

A change in the climate ushered in by monster storm Phailin appeared to have sent migratory birds away from Chilika lagoon this winter as their number has fallen by more than 1.5 lakh compared to the previous season.

At least 7.19 lakh birds were enumerated during the annual enumeration, which concluded on Sunday at the 1,100 sq km brackish water lagoon, a major winter birding site of the country. In 2013, their number stood at 8.77 lakh.

This winter, the Chilika Wildlife Division sources said, at least 158 species of birds thronged the lagoon, 99 of them were migratory, while the rest were resident and terrestrial. Last year’s enumeration had found 180 species, out of which 112 were migratory in nature.

The very severe cyclonic storm Phailin, which was followed by rains in October, is believed to have made the waterbirds susceptible to changes in their migratory sojourn. When wind direction changes, the individual birds fail to complete their migratory journey. Since the peak season was affected by the uncharacteristic changes in climate such as rain and poor visibility during the winter onset, the birds are believed to have been displaced from their migratory route as well as trajectory.

However, the heartening news was Nalabana Sanctuary remained the main destination of the birds where more than half of the birds visiting Chilika congregated. The census teams found at least 4,15,135 birds in Nalabana, compared to 3,46,877 in 2013 and 3,18,108 the year before. The submersible island measures about 15.45 sq km. In fact, barely 15 days ago, the mudflats of the sanctuary had dried up exposing cracks, but the huge congregation suggests that the birds have a safer haven in the sanctuary.

Some of the major species that were sighted by the census teams included Eurasian Wigeons, Pintails and Gadwalls while the Greylag Goose and Barheaded Goose showed a decline in number. So did the wader species. The number of magnificent Flamingoes was found to be about 200 this year. Last year, at least 2,000 of them had arrived in two different phases.

Over 20 teams, featuring wildlife officials, bird watchers, local community members with expertise, voluntary organisations and officials of Bombay National History Society carried out the enumeration that had started on Saturday.

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Source : Indian Express

Hotel Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar::The Place You have Forever Missed!!!

Address::-P-1, Jaydev Vihar, Near Infocity, Bhubaneswar 751013, Orissa, India

OVERVIEW:

Hotel Swosti Premium , Bhubaneswar, comes under the Swosti Group, the largest hotel chain of Orissa. The hotel is known as an essence of comfort and leisure and a branded hospitality icon on both national and international stage. The hotel is first and the only ISO 9001-2000 accredited hotel in Bhubaneswar. It has got a number of national as well as international awards in the last twenty years it served in the hotel and tourism sector. Situated in the heart of the temple city, just 9 kms away from the airport, and can be spotted at P-1, Jaydev Vihar in Bhubaneswar.

FACILITIES:

The hotel provides air-conditioned luxurious rooms and suites,lavish banquet facility and well-equipped big conference halls, restaurants,health centre and swimming pool, etc.

TARIFF/PACKAGES:
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TAIWAN TOURISTS DENIED ENTRY INTO ODISHA’S BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK

A team of 13 tourists from Taiwan including two senior political leaders was allegedly humiliated and denied entry into the Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapada district because of their nationality.

On December 21 the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary authorities categorically said Taiwanese citizens were not allowed into the park but they could not substantiate the reason of such strange restriction. They did not produce any such order or restriction in writing. The shocked tourists requested the park authorities to allow them entry but to no avail.

The forest department has started an inquiry. Rajnagar divisional forest officer said "I have received the complaint. An inquiry is on to verify the charges” .He refuted any such restriction on Taiwanese nationals and also said by Rajnagar divisional forest officer "I am trying to find out why they were denied entry. I learnt the foreigners did not possess entry permission from the district superintendent of police. This might have been the cause of denial to the park”.

Odisha tour operators' association reacted sharply. "The government has never asked tour operators to take permission from the local SP to take foreigners inside the park. Such rule is applicable only for entering tribal areas”.

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ODISHA TOURISM BADLY AFFECTED AFTER PHAILIN

NEW DELHI: Cyclone Phailin and the subsequent flooding that hit Odisha last week have left its tourism sector devastated with large-scale cancellations by domestic and foreign tourists, industry stakeholders said.

The Odisha government earns almost Rs.1, 000 crore/ Rs 10 billion annually from the tourism industry, according to Mohanty. Cyclone Phailin hit the state during its peak tourist season that spans from October to March.

"Phailin has caused great devastation. The hotels and resorts on the beaches of Puri and Gopalpur have been damaged quite a bit by the cyclone. Reconstruction has already started," J K Mohanty, chairman of the Odisha Hotel Association, told IANS on phone. "We have residential conference bookings for entire October. We have seen at least 50 per cent of them getting cancelled as people panicked," added J K Mohanty, who is also chairman and managing director of Swosti Group, a premium hotel chain in the state.

The cyclone had its landfall Oct 12. Prior to its arrival, the state government had issued a directive to all

hoteliers to vacate their beach properties. Mohanty said most of the hotels followed this direction and this saved many lives.

Odisha is well-known among tourists for the Jagannath Temple in Puri, beach tourism, wildlife, eco and cultural tourism.

The most-flocked places in the state include the Golden Triangle of Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar. Other attractions are the Chilka Lake, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Chandipur, Dhauli and Sambalpur. Environmentalists say, Chilka Lake has suffered considerable damage and its regeneration will take a number of years.

ODISHA GUIDELINE FOR SCHOOL PICNIC TRIPS

With the onset of winter and festive season, the Odisha government on Saturday issued a guideline for the conduct of safe trips for school students across the State.

“The District Education Officers will ensure that the guideline is followed, while schools undertake exposure trips and picnics for students,” School and Mass Education Secretary Usha Padhee said.

The guideline says drivers of buses carrying children must have valid licenses and should not be habitual alcohol users; buses should not run at high speed; vehicles must not be overloaded and students should not be allowed to occupy seats in the driver’s cabin. In a bid to ensure the safety of girl students, the guideline states that women teachers must accompany the team and night travel should be avoided.

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Odisha Tourism:High on Potential, Low on Ranking

Low spending on tourism sector, inadequate marketing campaign and a host of factors such as low air connectivity have pulled Odisha’s tourism sector down the ladder. A latest survey puts Odisha at number 19 among all the States in the country.

Despite having great potential for spiritual, natural, heritage and tribal tourism, the State has not made much of a move because of its low priority to the sector. The total expenditure - both revenue and capital - when compared to the State expenditure works out to a measly 0.03 per cent, says the State Ranking Survey 2013, carried out by the Indian arm of New York-based consulting firm Hospitality Valuation Services (HVS).

Going by the report, States such as Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland spend a better share of their budget on tourism sector whereas Odisha’s rank seems to be slipping down. In the 2011 survey, the State ranked 15 but has dropped to 19th position this year.

On the contrary, national average spending on tourism has gone up from 0.10 per cent in 2008-09 to 0.18 per cent in 2012-13. Inadequate spending apart, the State also ranks low when it comes to availability of branded rooms which is an indicator of economic potential, tourism demand and anticipated business potential while the brands’ choices “reflect the State’s perceived economic position and hospitality competitiveness.”

Odisha, according to the survey, just has 307 branded rooms which puts the availability of branded rooms per sq km at 0.2. On that head, it stands at No 20 among the States.

Similarly, the State does not count much when it comes to marketing its destinations. Assessing the effectiveness of its marketing campaign on the basis of traffic to the official website of the State Government, the survey ranks it at 15th spot which is a slip of three spots over the last survey in 2011. 

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ODISHA TOURISM: HEADING TOWARDS TOURISM REVIVAL

In a bid to put the state on the global tourism map, panellists at the ‘Odisha Tourism Annual Conclave 2013’ suggested measures for improvement at the policy level. They opined that Odisha needs to aggressively promote its tourist offerings in the domestic and international markets, adopt a tourist-friendly approach and lift the ban on tourists visiting tribal areas.

The Odisha government needs to develop new tourist destinations, except Bhubaneswar-Puri-Konark, to give a boost to the tourism industry, opined Ashok Ch Panda, MLA, (Ekamra) Bhubaneswar while addressing the ‘Odisha Tourism Annual Conclave 2013’ held on December 2 organised by the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO). At the Conclave, hoteliers, travel and tour operators, specialists in forest and Ecotourism, media delegates, officials from the Tourism and Forest and Environment departments participated in brain storming sessions and group discussions to deliberate on ways to increase tourist footfall in Odisha. Besides Panda, Tathagat Satpathy, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Maheswar Mohanty, Minister for Tourism, Govt. of Odisha; Principal Secretary Tourism, Odisha; and J K Mohanty, Chairman, HRAO and IATO Odisha Chapter, attended the Conclave.

Panda thanked Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Govt. of Odisha, for releasing a grant of Rs 50 crore to construct a four-lane road connecting Dhauligiri with Khandagiri, bypassing Bhubaneswar, which will reduce the distance between two heritage sites. During his speech, Satpathy laid emphasis on imparting training to hospitality professionals so that tourists have a pleasant experience during their stay in Odisha. He said that tourist-friendly staff is the need of the hour, which can send a strong message to tourists across the globe. Satpathy highlighted that countries like Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc., have more tourist inflow because of unprecedented warmth and hospitality of their citizens and employees in the tourism sector. He also laid stress on impeccable cleanliness across major tourism hubs. Mohanty agreed on the need to change people’s mindset to attract tourists. Many countries have attracted tourists due to cleanliness at their destinations as well as friendly behaviour. People of Odisha have to change their attitude, he stated. Mohanty admitted that Odisha’s share in addition of rooms was little compared to its counterparts across the country. He said that investments will be prioritised in developing beaches, Buddhist sites and the Golden Triangle, and in tourism infrastructure.

The way ahead

A presentation on the new Tourism Policy was made by P K Chand, Finance Controller, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). It was recommended that the Policy must be sent to all the district-level collectors and officials of all departments so that there would be quick decisions in solving tourism-related problems. It was proposed to appoint a senior-level Nodal Officer, for faster implementation of the new Tourism Policy, who would coordinate with all other departments and district level officials. The Nodal Officer could also act as a convener of the meetings of the State Tourism Advisory Board, of which the Chief Secretary is the Chairman.

Although Odisha has reduced tax on fuel charges, international airlines who have applied for regulatory approval to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Govt. of India are yet to receive clearance to launch flights to the state. Panelists suggested that the Odisha government takes up this matter with the MoCA.

Dilip Satpathy, Bureau Chief, Business Standard, said that out of the Rs 65,000 crore budget of the Govt. of Odisha, the allocation for tourism is only Rs 65 crore, compared to states like Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa, etc., which spend more than Rs 300 crore in advertising through electronic and social media, print, roadshows within India and abroad, and brand ambassadors. Odisha should also start aggressively marketing its rich tourism potential. The government must consider and take steps for online marketing of Odisha tourism and hotels, and build infrastructure to attract high-spending Indian tourists, he said. Vivek Patnaik, IAS (Retd), former Tourism Secretary, Govt. of Odisha, suggested that importance be given to the Rural Tourism and how it can create employment and generate revenue. Rural Tourism is one area that Odisha has so far neglected, he added.

Visit Odisha campaign

Odisha Tourism has already started the ‘Visit Odisha’ campaign and roadshows have been conducted at Varanasi, Hyderabad, Goa, Cambodia and Thailand. Panellists suggested that Odisha should conduct roadshows round the year like Kerala. However, to create a brand image, it is necessary to produce a 12-15-minute film through a professional advertisement company projecting the rich tourism potential of Odisha. Also, panellists were of the view that short films of 30 seconds each on important tourists should be produced with a brand ambassador, which could be screened in the national media regularly.

It was proposed to request the state government to permit HRAO to start the Odisha Travel Mart jointly with the Tourism Department annually for aggressive promotion.

It was recommended that to create a balance between the tourist demand to visit forest areas and respecting the Forest Act. The panellists suggested requesting the Odisha government to hand over all tourism-related projects and infrastructure from the Forest Department to the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC), which could monitor and allow restricted tourism projects in these areas on Public-Private Partnership mode.

In view of the growing problems, especially on Puri beach and other temple areas, it was proposed to start a Tourist Police Wing under the Home Department with special training imparted to the police personnel to behave friendly and stop harassment of tourists at railway stations, taxi stands, beaches, temples, etc. It was proposed to request the Chief Secretary to take up this issue with the Home and Police departments.

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Source:Travel Biz Monitor

BEACHES OF ODISHA: THE PLACE YOU HAVE FOREVER MISSED!!!

PURI--CHANDRABHAGA--CHANDIPUR
Odisha (earlier known as Orissa) is a state on the Indian subcontinent's east coast, by the Bay of Bengal. It is surrounded by the states of West Bengal to the north-east and in the east, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and north-west and Andhra Pradesh to the south. It is the modern name of the ancient kingdom ofKalinga, which was invaded by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 261 BCE. Warmly embraced by the Eastern Ghats at the eastern coast of India, Odisha is home to the striking sand beaches with golden sands caressing its shores like pearls on the surface of ocean.

PLACES OF INTEREST

PURI BEACHES

How to Get

The nearest railhead is Puri, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of the state capital of Bhubaneshwar. It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the original Char Dham pilgrimages, of which the other legs are Dwarka, Badrinath and Rameshwaram.

Serenity at Chandipur Beach
Situated on the Bay of Bengal and is approximately 16 kilometers from the Baleswar Railway Station. The beach is unique in that the water recedes from 1 to 4 kilometers during the ebb tide. Due to the unique circumstances, the beach supports bio-diversity. Horseshoe crab is also found here on the beach towards Mirzapur, the nearby fishing market.

Chandrabhaga Beach

Chandrabhaga is situated three km east of the Sun temple of Konark and 30 km from Puri. Chandrabhaga is rich in her marine resources. A large colony of fishermen from Andhra Pradesh beside the dried river mouth represents the typical tribal life of India. The place is renowned for beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

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Buddhist Conference Beginning February One

Buddhist Conference beginning February 1 at famous Buddhist site Udayagiri in Jajpur district.

The delegates will visit Buddhist sites Ratnagiri, Lalitagiri, Langudi, Kaima and other places of Jajpur district during their stay at Udayagiri.

Many Buddhist scholars of other states and countries are unaware of the rich Buddhist heritage of Odisha and this conference will be useful for them.

Udayagiri was excavated in 1986. It forms a golden triangle of Buddhist monuments

with Ratnagiri and Lalitagiri.

The objective of the conference will be to promote Buddhist heritage, art and philosophy. Many eminent Buddhist scholars from China, the US, Myanmar, Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Bhutan will attend the festival.

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Golden Triangle Odisha (Orissa) & Chilika Lake Tours

Bhubaneswar-Dhauli-Pipil-Konark-Puri-Raghurajpur-Gopalpur-Khandagiri

Day 01:

Arrival and transfer from Airport/Railways station to Hotel Swosti Premium and half day visit of Bhubaneswar.

Day 02:

Morning drive to puri enroute visit Dhauli, pipil and konark( Sun Temple).Afternoon visit of Lord Jagannath Temple.

Day 03:

Morning Drive to Gopalpur enroute visit Raghurajpur

(Traditional Painting Village), stay in Swosti Palm Resort, Gopalpur-on-sea.

Day 04:

Morning excursion to Chilika and back to Gopalpur enroute and stay overnight in Swosti Palm Resort.

Day 05:

Morning drive to Bhubaneswar enroute visit textile village at Olashingha and kandagiri and udya giri caves and come back to Hotel Swosti Premium, Stay overnight to depart for their homes in the next day morning.