Situated on an island in the Chilika Lake, Maa Kalijai temple is at a distance of 34 km from Chilika Lake. Maa Kalijai is the presiding deity of this place. The Goddess Kali is known as the first of the many subsidiary deities derived from the Dasmaha Vidyas. The local populace has an increased reverence for the deity, whose lore and legends have been approved.
Kalijai Island is well known and is the pilgrimage center as well for tourism. On the occasion of Makara Sankranti celebrated every year in the month of January, the island holds a grand fair. It is one of the temples, which are very popular with the natives of the Khordha District.
History of Maa Kalijai Temple
According to legends, a newly married girl (named Jaai) was to be accompanied by her father to meet her husband. Since the in-law’s house is on the island of Chilika Lake, they had to go by boat. Cyclones are very common along the coast of Odisha and owing to the huge cyclone that hit while they were on the boat, this boat capsized in Chilika Lake.
All the boatmen, as well as her father, were rescued except Jaai. After that incident, she was sought after, but they could not locate her. After the accidental death of the girl, people in the countryside started worshipping her as their Goddess and continued to do so ever thereafter, in her virgin aspect as Kali. And thus the name was conferred upon that place.
Useful Travel Information
By means of a boat, the Kalijai temple can be reached from many points around, the most popular being Balugaon and Barkul.
The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Kalijai, said to be a manifestation of Goddess Kali, who is venerated as the presiding protector of the lake and its adjoining areas. The Kalijai Temple and the island draw tourists to Odisha. The serene beauty of Chilika Lake and the spiritual aura of the temple itself have made the temple stand out for numerous pilgrims and tourists alike.
The journey to the island on a boat is an enjoyable experience with scenic views of the lake, migratory birds, and dolphins, which are known to abound in Chilika. The island can be visited the whole year through, although winter is considered to be the best season because of its nice weather and the abundance of migratory birds. Kalijai Temple symbolizes devotion, harmoniously melding nature, and spiritualism, presenting a choice to pilgrims and lovers of nature alike.
The boat must be seaworthy and should have life jackets. It is better to hire boats that are large and more stable, especially on a windy day.
Chilika Lake is prone to sudden changes in weather, which especially occur during the monsoon. Always check weather forecasts before sailing by boat.
Tourist Facilities, Transportation, Tourist Attractions, How to Reach, Accessibility
Entry Time
Maa Kalijai Temple’s open timings are Everyday Morning 7 am to Evening 6 pm
Best Time to visit
The best time to visit Maa Kalijai Temple is all time of the year
The Closest Bus Stand from Kalijai Temple
The Closest Bus stand is Barkul, which is located around 8 KM distance from Maa Kalijai Temple
The Closest Railway Station
The Closest Railway Station is Chilika, which is located around 03 KM distance from Maa Kalijai Temple
The Closest Airport
The Closest Airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, which is located around 105 KM distance from Maa Kalijai Temple
