Ganjam: Lakes, Temples and Turtles

Lakes, a stream, temples and an annual natural event offer different reasons to visit Ganjam. To plan your trip, it helps to first decide what interests you most: are you primarily interested in bodies of water and wildlife, religious sites, or both? Each destination offers a distinct point of interest.

Lakes, a Stream and a Boat Ride

Chilika Lake stretches across the districts of Puri, Khurdha and Ganjam and is home to a wide variety of aquatic animals. Tampara Lake offers a different experience: it is one of Odisha’s largest freshwater lakes, and visitors can enjoy a leisurely boat ride there. The comparison helps you decide what to focus on: Chilika stands out for spanning several districts and its variety of aquatic animals, while Tampara is notable as a freshwater lake where you can take a boat ride. Before your visit, check whether boat rides are currently available.

Visitors can take an auto-rickshaw from Chatrapur to Tampara Lake. As transport arrangements can change, check this option before your visit.

At Nirmaljhar, the focus is not a lake but a stream that flows year-round and feeds several ponds. This adds a different kind of waterscape to the area’s lakes: the stream’s course into the ponds is the defining feature here. If you want to experience water not only as a lake but also as a stream and ponds, you can take this distinction into account when choosing your natural attractions.

Turtles at Rushikulya

Every year, endangered olive ridley turtles nest en masse at the mouth of the Rushikulya River. This gives Ganjam’s wildlife a seasonal focus, while the stream at Nirmaljhar flows year-round. The Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee has taken measures to protect the turtles during nesting season. As protection measures can change, check the latest guidance before planning a trip around nesting season.

Temples and Religious Sites

In Buddhakhol, a group of five temples dedicated to Shiva stands on a hill. The group is known as Panchu Mahadeva. Buddhakhol is scenically beautiful and is frequently visited by tourists and picnickers. For visitors interested in temples dedicated to Shiva, the group offers a specific point of interest.

The Tara-Tarini Temple in Ganjam is one of Odisha’s two Adi Shakti Peethas. For a religious visit, these offer two distinct points of reference: Tara-Tarini’s designation as an Adi Shakti Peetha and the dedication of the five temples at Buddhakhol to Shiva.

Planning Your Stay

If you’re looking for hotels in Ganjam, first decide which reasons for travelling matter to you: waterscapes, wildlife, religious sites, or a combination of these. Then choose your base according to the destinations you actually want to visit, and factor the available travel options into your plans.

Discover more destinations: Brahmapur, Cuttack, Koraput, Khordha, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Bargarh, Jajpur.

See the main travel overview: Odisha.