Bhitarkanika, India’s Largest Mangrove Forest, is preparing to host a three-day Mahotsav. One of the most important Ramsar sites in India, Bhitarkanika National Park, will be hosting Bhitarkanika Mahotsav after two long years. The three-day festival will take place in the village of Nalitapatia, just outside the national park. The aim behind this is to promote the mangrove forest, the national park, and the village.
Bhitarkanika Mahotsav Aims To Promote
The Bhitarkanika Mahotsav will be held in the village of Nalitapatia, which is only 6 kilometres from the Bhitarkanika National Park. It will promote the national park as well as the wetland areas. The festival will be hosted from March 10 to March 12. It is held in partnership between the District Administration, the Tourism Department, and the Odisha Forest Department. People who are looking for an offbeat experience must surely go for it.
The Mahotsav was held in 2020 for the very first time and later discontinued for two years due to the pandemic. This festival will also help increase foot traffic in the national park. After the Sunderbans, Bhitarkanika is the second-largest mangrove ecosystem.
One of the primary aims of #BhitarkanikaMahotsav 2020 was to aware and engage the young school and college students of the entire Kendrapara district regarding Bhitarkanika’s unique biodiversity and the importance it holds. pic.twitter.com/qM5P9hNOYO
— Bhitarkanika Mahotsav (@BhitarkanikaM) February 18, 2020
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Bhitarkanika National Park Is Part Of Bhitarkanika Sanctuary
In the Odisha region of Kendrapara is Bhitarkanika National Park. Mostly a wetland and a mangrove woodland make up the national park. In August 2002, it was designated as a Ramsar site. The saltwater crocodile, Indian python, king cobra, and more than 215 kinds of resident and migratory birds all call Bhitarkanika National Park home. It comprises rivers, backwaters, mudflats, mangrove forests, and estuaries.
Bhitarkanika National Park is a part of Bhitarkanika Sanctuary, which is spread over 672 square kilometres. While visiting here, you can also try a small detour to Gahirmatha. Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary, which is only 35 km away, is one of the most significant Olive Ridley turtle nesting locations in the world. The flocking of these turtles during the month of February end from Gahirmatha and Rushikulya is a sight you must not miss.
So are you visiting this Mahotsav? Let us know below!
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia commons
First Published: February 24, 2023 1:24 PM