Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary - Orissa - गाहिरमाथा कछुए अभयारण्य

Aqua fauna is what going to attract you to this sanctuary, the breeding center of the Giant Olive Ridley Turtles, who crossover the Pacific to come here and lay their eggs.

The Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is the largest breeding place of the turtles. Situated in the Kendrapara District of Orissa, it is also the home of the world famous Olive Ridley sea turtles. To reinforce its beauty, there is the long beach area which is becoming a major attraction. It is truly said that the Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is Orissa's future in tourism.

Spread over an area of over 1435 square kilometers, the Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is a picturesque place to visit for the nature lovers. It provides some the splendid scenic beauties of the turtles. The mouth of the Dhamra River is the breeding ground of the turtles here and is considered to be the largest breeding ground for the turtles. It is also declared as a world heritage site, which adds majesty to its beauty.

Wildlife in Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary

The Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary shows a great variety of flora and fauna. The major flora found in Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary includes Bel, Terminenalia, Zizphus Bija, Salaia, Kauriculata, Casia, Helicteres, Hiwar, Tendu, ,Palas, Dhawda, Sal, Babul, species, , Teak, hair, Bamboo, etc. The Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is famous for the giant Olive Ridleys, which travel from the Pacific Ocean to mate and lay eggs. The fauna in Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is also quite remarkable. The most commonly found species include Wild Boar, Barking deer, Bear, Leopard, Crocodile, Jungle Fowl, Samber, Hyaena, Wild Dog, Chinkara, Four-horned antelope, Wildbore, Sloth Bear, Blue Bull, etc.

Climate

The climate in Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is wet due to the proximity of the Bay of Bengal. It receives quite a bit of rainfall during the monsoons, which ranges form mid-June to September.

Best time to visit

The best Time to visit Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is from the month of October to the month of March. The climate during this period remains predictable and comfortable.

How to Reach

By Air

The nearest airport to Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is the Bhubaneswar airport which is at a distance of only 75 kilometers.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is the Bhadrak Railway Junction. It is located some 49 kilometers from the Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary.

By Road

The Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary is well connected to major cities of Orissa such as Bhuvaneswar, Bhawanipatna, Nowrangpur, Bhawanipatna and many more.

By Water

The Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary can be reached by waterways from Chandabali, Ragnagar, and Gupti.

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