Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhitarkanika National Park - Crocodile Sanctuary
Rajnagar, Kendrapara
About this place
Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 and national park in 1998, Bhitarkanika spans 672 sq km of pristine mangrove forests in Odisha's Kendrapara district. The park is globally unique in that 10% of adults exceed 6 m length, with legendary crocodile 'Kalia' recorded at 24 feet—India's largest. The sanctuary is home to 215 bird species, including eight varieties of kingfishers and migratory birds from Europe and Central Asia.
Why it matters
Wildlife sanctuary in 1975, national park in 1998; largest crocodile sanctuary in India
1975 (Wildlife Sanctuary); 1998 (National Park)
couple friendlyfamily friendlygroup friendlykid friendlysolo friendlyinstagrammableoffbeatwinter bestforestoutdoorrivermigratory birds
Getting there
Nearest railway
Bhadrak RS (75 km)
Nearest airport
Biju Patnaik Intl Airport, Bhubaneswar (150 km)
By road
Moderate — road to Chandbali/Gupti (2 hrs from Bhubaneswar); last section boat only
Plan your visit
8:00 AM – 5:00 PMClosed: None (seasonally closed May 1–Jul 31)
6–48 hours needed
₹100 entry
November-February (winter season, cool weather 10-25°C, optimal wildlife visibility)
Low
Kid friendly Photo spot 9/10