Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust, located at the northern edge of the largest brakish water lake Chilika, in Odisha, has bagged this year’s India Responsible Tourism Awards under the category of ‘Best Wildlife Stay’. It is a community driven wildlife conservation endeavour.
Promoted by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), the trust won the award at a blissful ceremony held at Shangri-La Hotel in Delhi yesterday. Foundation India and Indian Grameen Services also won the gold award at the function.
To its credit, the eight-year-old trust is one of the three community-owned and maintained conservation trusts, which also won the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) last year itself.
Mangalajodi on the banks of the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia was used to be ruled by poachers once, but with continuous efforts and persuasions of conservationists it is now a desired bird destination hosting more than 3,00,000 birds in its marshy waters, especially in winters. It also represents a unique ecosystems, whose protection is epitomised by a sustainable lifestyle with a villagey settings. Scenic beauty of this village and its vast wetland attract a number of visitors each year.
The initiative of protecting the avian species has encouraged the arrival of migratory birds and thus become a favourite destination for bird watchers as well. Additionally its ecotourism has helped the local communities to fetch their livelihood.
Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust (Chilika Lake) as a winner beat the nominees like : Kaadumane Homestay (Near Dandeli), Shola Shack (Wayanad), The Bamboo Forest (Tadoba), and Tigress@Ghosri(Tadoba).
