Odisha – VAGABOND IMAGES

Poetry in motion: Birds in flight at Mangalajodi

Upendra SwamiJanuary 29, 2019561 Views4

Mangalajodi has been an extraordinary experience for lot many reasons. Since my first visit to Chilika almost a decade ago, I was always keen to return to this place for another bird-watching stint. Then, had heard some extraordinary things about Mangalajodi- it being the poachers haven and then a turn-around which converted hunters to protectors. Finally, a big UN award coming its way, raised all the curiosity. It actually was first among the many accolades coming its way. On a misty winter morning a photographer tries to capture birds with his big lens while a Northern Pintail flies past him at Mangalajodi A femail northern pintail takes off as a boat approaches closer at Mangalajodi A female northern pintail takes off for a routine flight at Mangalajodi. They are migrat...

IndiaNews

A win for the green at Chilika

Upendra SwamiSeptember 13, 2018396 Views3

Its a win for the environmental cause. It is also a slap in face for all those who promote mindless fancy projects in name of tourist promotions. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been forced cancel the water aerodrome project at the Chilika lagoon following objections from various quarter. However in a face saver it has offered to develop the project in Odisha if the state government provides it with an alternative site. Chilika, the second largest brackish water lake in the world, covers Khurda, Puri and Ganjam districts of Odisha. Situated at the mouth of the Daya River, Chilika is rich in biodiversity and a major tourist attraction in the state. A colony of flamingos at Chilika AAI chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said: "Following a request from the state government...

IndiaInternational

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust wins UNWTO Award

Upendra SwamiJanuary 18, 2018547 Views1

Turismo de Portugal I.P (Portugal), Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust (India), Tryponyu (Indonesia) and SEGGITUR (Spain) are the winners of the 14th Edition of the UNWTO Awards for Innovation in Tourism. Fourteen projects among 128 applicants from 55 countries were selected as finalists of the 14th UNWTO Awards for Innovation in Tourism. Read: A unique effort at Mangalajodi gets nominated for the UNWTO Award Sanjib Sarangi of the Indian Grameen Services (IGS) and Reena from the Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust attended the award ceremony and were overjoyed with the announcement of the award. They accepted the award and unfurled the Indian Tricolour at the stage. Indian Grameen Services overlooks the Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust project. Mangalajodi Trust was the only Indian nomin...

India

A mission drives a unique collection

Upendra SwamiDecember 18, 2017288 Views0

‘It’s the newspaper number 3191,’ Shashanka said gleefully as I handed over to him the latest issue of my tabloid travel magazine- Awara Musafir. He had requested me to bring a copy for him before I left Delhi for Bhubaneswar. This is one of the ways he uses to enlarge his collection, by asking friends and well-wishers to get a copy of a newspaper for him from wherever in the world they go. A journalist, writer and social worker Shashanka Sekhar Dash is fondly known as ‘Paper Boy’ for his this very unusual hobby. What started just as a passing thought in 2001 slowly developed into a passionate hobby and now he has taken this as a journalist mission. At that time Shashanka was working with a small newspaper. He noticed that newspaper was printed in Delhi but there was no copy availab...

Just Me

A unique effort at Mangalajodi gets nominated for UNWTO award

Upendra SwamiNovember 30, 2017561 Views1

Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust of Manglajodi in Khurda district in Odisha has been nominated for United Nations World Tourism Award to be given early next year. It is only nominee from India in this year’s UNWTO awards. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announces the winners of the UNWTO Ulysses Prize and the UNWTO Ethics Award, as well as 14 finalists for the upcoming 14th Edition of the UNWTO Awards for Innovation in Tourism. The Awards Ceremony will be held next January 2018 in Madrid on the occasion of the International Tourism Fair, FITUR. The UNWTO Awards recognize inspirational individuals and projects for their innovative achievement as well as their invaluable dedication to developing and advocating sustainable tourism in line with the UNWTO Global Code of Et...

India

Winter play for migratory birds at Chilika

Upendra SwamiDecember 21, 20161498 Views10

Chilika is one of the milestone places in India. It is the largest brackish water lagoon. Now what is brackish water? It is the water which is saline or salty but not as salty as the sea water. It happens when the fresh water mixes with sea water. There are 52 rivers and rivulets that fall in the lake. Secondly, Chilika is also a lagoon, and it is not just largest coastal lagoon in India, it is also second largest lagoon in the world. As if it was not enough, it is the largest wintering ground for migratory water-birds anywhere in the Indian sub-continent. Chilika is spread in three districts of Odisha- Puri, Ganjam and Khurda. Puri side is mainly popular for Dolphin tours from Satpada. Satpada is around 50 kilometres from Puri. It is on northeast of Chilika lake. Tourists can book ...

IndiaPhotogallery

Raghurajpur : Home to Pattachitra painters

Upendra SwamiMarch 19, 2014946 Views2

It can be named in one of the most famous Indian villages. No where does one get to see such an assemblage of artworks in one single place, other than in this unique village situated in the state of Odisha in eastern India. As far as art is concerned, only thing that comes close in comparison are havelis of Nawalgarh in Rajasthan, India. Craft, painting and dance- all are knitted beautifully in cultural traditions of Raghurajpur. It also has the distinction of being the place where the traditional decoration called Patas, used under the throne of Lord Jagannath and on the three chariots during the annual Rath Yatra festival.Raghurajpur is located 14 km from Puri, an important pilgrimage destination, and 50 km from Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa. A village, which normally no tourist g

IndiaPhoto Of The DayPhotogallery

Photo of the day – Chandrabhaga

Upendra SwamiNovember 25, 2013556 Views0

Sun setting at one of the lesser known but very beautiful beach of Chandrabhaga, very close to UNESCO world Heritage site of Konark in Odisha, India. A silhouette of child playing at the beach. Konark and Chandrabhaga are just on a hour and half's drive from coastal temple town of Puri. ...

IndiaNews

500 crocodile hatched in Bhitarkanika

Upendra SwamiAugust 8, 2013921 Views0

Wildlife lovers are jubilant as babies of estuarine crocodiles have emerged out of the eggshells in and around the crocodile research farm in Bhitarkanika national park in Odisha's Kendrapara district. Over 500 crocodile hatchlings have so far broken out of the eggshells to make their way into water-bodies and water-inlets of Bhitarkanika national park. The rare natural phenomenon which is still in progress was watched by few ground-level forest staff. Forest personnel maintained safe distance from the nests as human interference turns the reptiles violent and aggressive. Fifty six crocodile nests were sighted in the wild this year by enumerators. Emergence of fledgling crocodiles sans mothers was a visual treat. Female crocodiles lay 50 to 60 eggs and the hatchlings usually emerge ...

AdventureIndiaNews

Bhitarkanika National Park reopens for tourists

Upendra SwamiAugust 1, 20131302 Views2

Nature lovers who long for savouring the warmth of congenial wetland spots in Bhitarkanika in Odisha's Kendrapara district would now have to take care of their purse. Visiting the mangrove-infested sites with a shoe-string budget has now become a thing of past. As Bhitarkanika National Park reopened for visitors on Thursday, 1st August 2013, authorities have effected a steep hike in boarding and lodging for tourists. The rise is manifold and likely to pinch the middle class and lower middle class visitors. Forest officials said that "For factors beyond our control, the hike was made for better maintenance of government-owned bungalows in Bhitarkanika. The park remained out of bound for tourists and visitors from May 31 till yesterday in view of nesting season of estuarine crocodile."...