Essentials:
My trip was arranged by Grass Routes of Puri. A boutique eco-tourism specialist. Claire and Pulok Mohanty has built up quite a reputation of delivering quality tourism experience to offbeat destinations. You will find them at www.grassroutes.com The package they offered included transportation to and from Puri, Pole boat for 3 hrs, Services of an excellent guide and packed breakfast including a thermos of hot tea. The package included the added bonus in the shape of my Driver Bhanja. His knowledge of history of Odisha was phenomenal. We had interesting conversation all thru our drive. He can be contacted at +91 94396 93867. If he is free he will be glad to drive you around in his Tata Indigo car.
The trip is doable on your own as well. Arrange your own transport to reach Mangalajodi and then hire a boat and a guide at the Jetty. The jetty from where the boats leave is about 1 km along the embankment road from the edge of Mangalajodi village. There are always several Pole Boats waiting for custom. Bargain, carefully walk down the slippery steps to the water’s edge and cast away!
Distances:
Mangalajodi is 80 kms from Puri, 70 kms from Bhubaneswar (nearest airport and a convenient rail station where all express trains stop) and 50 kms from Khurda Road (another convenient rail station). Taxis are freely available from airport, rail stations and hotels at all these towns. You can also make the trip by Auto Rickshaw from Khurda Road rail station.
Accommodation:
There are several eco-tourism resorts at Mangalajodi. Basic, clean, safe with home cooked Indian food. Nothing luxurious. They will arrange boat tours and walking birding treks. I have not stayed at any of these places so I cannot comment. I found these two through Google…
http://www.mangalajodiecotourism.com/index.php
http://www.odishaecotourism.com/godwit-eco-cottage.html
Costs: I paid Rs 5,500/- to Grass Routes for the entire package. If you want to do it on your own then the roundtrip of 160 kms from Puri to Mangaljodi by taxi car would be Rs 2,500/- (USD 35) including 4 hours wait while you go boating. Pole Boat charges with a guide for 3 hrs would be Rs 1,500 (USD 25). A good guide is a must. Factor in another Rs 500 (USD 8) for tea and some light brunch on the way back.
Paddy-field Pippit
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Pheasant-tailed Jacanah
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Cinnamon Bittern
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Blue-tailed Bee-eater
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Intermediate Egret
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Pied Kingfisher
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Purple Moorhen
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Purple Heron with a big Tyngra catch
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Juvenile Red-wattled Lapwing (Click to enlarge)
Mangalajodi Wetlands,
Odisha, India, 17 June 2016.
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Purple Heron with a big Tyngra catch
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Butterfly
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