Situated in : Orissa
Location : 190 km from Bhubaneswar.
Coverage Area : 170-sq-kms
Main Attractions : Estuarine Crocodile and Pacific Ridley Sea Turtles
Best Time To Visit : Mid-October To Mid-March
Accommodation : Forest Rest Houses and Tourist Cottages
Arrival Information :

• Nearest Railway : The nearest railhead is situated at Cuttack and Bhadrak.

• Nearest Airport : The nearest airport is situated at Bhubaneswar.

• Nearby Cities : Kendrapada, Konark, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar

This park is located between Chandipur and Paradeep, on the coast at Gahirmatha Beach, 125km from Bhubaneswar. This is the nesting place of over 200,000 Olive Ridley marine turtles, which come to the mouth of the Brahmini River each year during February and March to lay their eggs. Some come from as far away as South America and Australia. They come onto the shore and bury their eggs, then return to the sea and swim home halfway around the world. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1975 to protect the estuarine crocodile and turtles.

The turtles nest for three or four days. Visitors can inquire at the OTDC tourist office in Bhubaneswar to find out when the turtles will arrive. The turtles don’t seem disturbed that people are watching.

Out of the seventy-two species of Mangroves identified in the whole world, about sixty-three species are found in Bhitarkanika. Exocaeria, Rhizophora, Avicinia, , Soneratia, Heriteria and Phoenix are a few of to name.

Where to Stay There are almost no facilities here. The only convenient way to come see the turtle nesting is by taxi. There are Forest Rest Houses in Dangamal and Chandbali. There are rooms for Rs 150 at the Ray Lodge.