Bhitarkanika National Park Travel Guide

Bhitarkanika National Park (ଭିତରକନିକା ଜାତୀୟ ଉଦ୍ୟାନ) is a mangrove forest and wildlife reserve in Odisha's Kendrapara district, in the delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers. Visitors come to explore its tidal creeks by boat and to see estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles and a rich variety of birds in what is widely described as India's second-largest mangrove ecosystem after the Sundarbans.

What is Bhitarkanika and why visit?

Bhitarkanika's national park, notified in 1998 and about 145 sq km in area, sits within the larger Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary of about 672 sq km of mangrove forest and wetland. The wider Bhitarkanika Mangroves were designated a Ramsar Site on 19 August 2002, Odisha's second after Chilika. To the east, the Gahirmatha coast and marine sanctuary are a major mass-nesting ground for olive ridley turtles.

Bhitarkanika is one of India's main strongholds of the saltwater crocodile, alongside the Sundarbans and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The January 2024 census counted 1,811 crocodiles, up from 1,192 in 2000, as reported by Down To Earth. The Kendrapara district administration notes that more than 215 bird species, including winter migrants, have been recorded here.

What are the top things to do in Bhitarkanika?

• Boat safari through the creeks. The classic Bhitarkanika experience is a motorboat trip through the mangrove channels, watching for crocodiles basking on the mud banks, kingfishers and herons. Boats run from Chandbali and from the Khola–Gupti side.
• Dangmal. Dangmal, a forest camp deep inside the park, is one of the main tourist points. Dangmal can be reached by boat from Gupti through the Patsala river and Bhitarkanika creek, or from Chandbali.
• Nature camps. The forest department and Odisha Tourism list nature camps for overnight stays; book through the official ecotourism portal and confirm what is open in the current season.
• Birdwatching. Winter brings migratory waterbirds to the creeks and wetlands, while the mangroves hold resident species all year.

Getting off the boat is allowed only at designated points; never step close to the water's edge, as crocodiles can be anywhere along the banks.

When is the best time to visit Bhitarkanika?

• Closed: 1 May to 31 July every year, for the crocodile breeding and nesting season, when females guard nests aggressively. The park reopens on 1 August. During the closure, the Dangmal, Gupti and Khola tourist points are shut.
• November to February is the best time. Cool, sunny days bring crocodiles out to bask on exposed mud banks, and migratory birds are present. The annual crocodile census is held in January for the same reason.
• August to October is open but hot, humid and sometimes stormy, with high water that leaves fewer exposed banks.
• March and April are open but increasingly hot.

How do I reach Bhitarkanika?

There are two main approaches.

Via Chandbali (Bhadrak district, northern side). The Bhadrak district administration lists Chandbali as an entry point for boat trips into the park:

Via Rajnagar and Khola (Kendrapara district, southern side). According to the Kendrapara district administration, the park is reached by road from Rajnagar through the Khola check gate, about 30 km away, and Dangmal is reached from Gupti by boat.

• By air: The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar. Sources differ on the road distance: the Bhadrak district site gives 132 km to Chandbali, while the Kendrapara district site gives 155 km to the park.
• By rail: Bhadrak station (about 55 km from Chandbali) is the most convenient for the northern route; the Kendrapara district site lists Cuttack (about 135 km) for the southern route.
• By road: Buses connect Chandbali with Bhadrak, Balasore, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, and taxis are available.

What food should I try around Bhitarkanika?

Kendrapara district is famous for rasabali, a sweet of fried chhena discs soaked in thickened milk, offered at the Baladevjew temple in Kendrapara town; see rasabali. Along the coast, fish and prawn curries in the Odia style are everyday fare, and vegetarian meals with dalma are easy to find in Chandbali and Rajnagar.

Rules and etiquette

• Enter only with a valid permit and on authorised boats; check current fees and timings with the forest division or the official ecotourism portal.
• Do not trail your hands in the water, lean out of boats, or step off at undesignated spots.
• Do not feed animals, throw waste into the creeks, or play loud music.
• Respect the closure period; entry during the breeding season is not permitted.

Nearby places

• Gahirmatha, the olive ridley nesting coast east of the park; check with the forest department before planning a visit.
• Bhadrak and Kendrapara district pages.
• Chandipur, the tidal beach near Balasore.
• The Buddhist sites of the Diamond Triangle in Jajpur district.

Plan your visit

Plan at least one night near the park, at Chandbali or a nature camp, so that you can take an early-morning boat trip when crocodiles and birds are most visible. Keep the 1 May to 31 July closure in mind when booking. To combine Bhitarkanika with the Diamond Triangle or Chandipur, request a custom itinerary at /travel/plan.