THROUGH TIDES AND MANGROVES

TWO NIGHTS ONA CATAMARAN ACROSS THE BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK REGION IN ODISHA

- ANTARAA CHATTERJEE

WE WERE SAILING INTO the depths of the Bhitarkanika National Park, the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in the country after the Sundarbans. Our eight-seater jetty navigated through the murky waters of the Khoda creek, and I was perched at the edge with my binoculars. "Madam, look! That is a huge one!" Ghanshyam pointed out, possibly for the sixth time. Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha is known to have the highest density of saltwater crocodiles in India, so great spottings were not hard to come across.

Since the catamaran could not enter the creeks, we took the jetty to explore them and go deeper inside the mangrove park on the Khoda River and other tributaries of the Brahmani River. The MV Mahanadi catamaran from Antara Cruises was my abode for a couple of days, moored at Dangamal in the middle of Odisha's Bhitarkanika National Park region. The journey to Bhitarkanika was an opportunity to witness the park in all its glory. As we sailed along, we saw a few more crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks, their eyes unblinking and watchful.

PROTECTORS OF THE LAND