Ganjam: Lakes, Turtles and Temples

Ganjam offers a range of ways to enjoy a trip centred on water, nature and culture. Chilika Lake stretches across the districts of Puri, Khurdha and Ganjam and is home to a wide variety of aquatic animals. At Tampara Lake, you can enjoy a leisurely boat ride. Other places include Buddhakhol, with its Shiva temples, and the Tara-Tarini Temple. Which of these aspects interests you most can be a useful guide when choosing a location for your holiday rental.

Lakes, ponds and an annual natural spectacle

Chilika Lake is an option for travellers interested in aquatic life. Its span across three districts makes it a geographical landmark that extends beyond Ganjam; at the same time, the district is one of the areas across which the lake stretches. Its wide variety of aquatic animals defines its character. Travellers who make nature a focus of their trip will find a different emphasis here than at Ganjam’s temples and cultural sites.

At Tampara Lake, a different kind of lake experience takes centre stage: visitors can enjoy a leisurely boat ride there. The lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Odisha. To get there, visitors can take an auto-rickshaw from Chatrapur to Tampara Lake.

Nirmaljhar is also shaped by water: a stream flows there year-round and is channelled into various ponds. This sets the place apart, as described, from both the large Chilika Lake and Tampara Lake, where a boat ride is a specific activity for visitors. The different water sites can therefore be considered according to your interests, without treating them as a single excursion destination.

Every year, endangered Olive Ridley turtles mass-nest at the Rushikulya estuary. During the nesting season, the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee has taken measures to protect the turtles. This conservation theme gives the region another distinctive feature. It is different from the lake experiences at Chilika and Tampara: here the focus is on turtles and their protection during the nesting season, not on a boat ride or a temple complex.

Temples and a hilltop site

On a hill in Buddhakhol stands a group of five temples dedicated to Shiva, known as Panchu Mahadeva. Buddhakhol is a scenic place frequently visited by tourists and picnickers. Those interested in temple complexes will find here a specific combination of religious dedication, a group of five temples and a hilltop setting. This focus for a visit is clearly different from the water-based activities at Tampara Lake.

Another cultural landmark is the Tara-Tarini Temple in Ganjam. It is one of two Adi Shakti Pithas in Odisha. The temple’s religious significance makes it a distinct consideration when planning a trip; together with Buddhakhol, it shows that Ganjam includes places of religious character as well as lakes and natural attractions.

Choose the right focus for your accommodation

If you are planning a trip with your family, the different interests of those travelling with you may be the deciding factor: a preference for a boat ride is different from an interest in temples or turtles. This way, your choice of holiday rental can reflect what you want to discover in Ganjam.

More destination pages: Brahmapur, Khordha, Kendujhar, Kendrapara, Gajapati, Jajpur, Cuttack, Sambalpur.

For the main travel overview: Odisha.