wildlife sanctuary
Bhitarkanika National Park
Kendrapara district
Full day, or an overnight stay near the park entrance for an early boat safari
Coastal Odisha
Bhitarkanika
India's second-largest mangrove ecosystem, reached only by boat, and home to saltwater crocodiles and the Gahirmatha turtle rookery.
Bhitarkanika's mangrove creeks are accessible only by boat, threading past saltwater crocodile basking sites, water monitor lizards and dense mangrove stands unlike any other Odisha landscape. Nearby Gahirmatha beach hosts one of the world's largest olive ridley turtle mass-nesting sites.
It requires more logistical planning than most Odisha wildlife destinations — permits, boat timings tied to tides, and limited accommodation inside the buffer zone — but rewards visitors with a genuinely distinct ecosystem.
Why visit
- India's second-largest mangrove forest, navigable only by boat
- Saltwater crocodile sightings, including some very large individuals
- Gahirmatha's mass olive ridley turtle nesting, seasonally
- Dense birdlife along the mangrove creeks
Things to do
- Boat safari through the mangrove creeks
- Crocodile sighting stops at known basking points
- Seasonal visit to Gahirmatha for turtle nesting (where access permits)
- Birdwatching along the creek edges
By road
About 140 km from Bhubaneswar to the Khola boat jetty, roughly 3.5 hours.
From Bhubaneswar
140 km to the jetty, around 3.5 hours; boat entry adds further time.
Gallery
Bhitarkanika in pictures
Points of interest
Attractions in and around Bhitarkanika
Plan your journey
Tour packages covering Bhitarkanika
3 Days / 2 Nightswildlife · nature · photography
Bhitarkanika Wildlife Tour
Bhubaneswar — Bhitarkanika — Kendrapara
- Boat safari through mangrove creeks
- Saltwater crocodile sightings at Dangamal
- Bird sanctuary at Bagagahana
comfort itineraryView itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nightswildlife · nature
Odisha Wildlife & Nature Circuit
Bhubaneswar — Baripada — Similipal — Bhitarkanika — Satkosia — Chilika
- Two nights inside the Similipal landscape with Barehipani and Joranda falls
- Mangrove boat safari in Bhitarkanika, home to large saltwater crocodiles
- Mahanadi gorge boating at Satkosia
comfort itineraryView itinerary
Cabs & transport
Cabs and transport for Bhitarkanika
Outstation Cab from Odisha
Sedan, SUV or Tempo Traveller with chauffeur
- Capacity
- 3 – 17 passengers depending on vehicle chosen
- Luggage
- One large bag per passenger, more with a roof carrier
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
SUV Cab Hire in Odisha
Mahindra Scorpio, Toyota Fortuner or equivalent
- Capacity
- 4 – 6 passengers
- Luggage
- 3 – 4 large bags
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Read before you go
Travel guides for Bhitarkanika
Wildlife · 9 min read
Odisha Wildlife Guide: Similipal, Bhitarkanika and Satkosia
Similipal National Park's tiger reserve, Bhitarkanika's saltwater crocodile habitat and Satkosia's gorge sanctuary are Odisha's three principal wildlife destinations, each with government-controlled opening and permit rules.
Safety · 7 min read
Odisha Travel Safety Guide: Cyclones, Beaches and Wildlife Zones
Cyclone season along Odisha's coast runs roughly June to October, sea-bathing should be limited to lifeguard-patrolled zones, and wildlife reserves and tribal areas carry their own specific rules that are worth knowing in advance.
FAQs
Bhitarkanika travel questions
Continue exploring
Destinations near Bhitarkanika
Coastal Odisha
Kendrapara
The district town and practical staging point for Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha, with its own delta wetlands.
ExploreCoastal Odisha
Paradeep
A working port town at the mouth of the Mahanadi delta, a practical gateway toward Bhitarkanika rather than a leisure beach stop.
Explore
Coastal Odisha
Puri
Jagannath Dham — one of India's four cardinal Hindu pilgrimage seats, anchored by a working fishing-town beach.
Explore
Coastal Odisha
Konark
The UNESCO-listed Sun Temple, a 13th-century stone chariot and the high point of Kalinga architecture, set in a small coastal town.
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