Mangalajodi & Vetnai
- Chuti Chuti
- Aug 13, 2015
- 3 min read
ABOUT THE PLACE VETNAI If you want to pronounce “Orissa” and “Black-Bucks” together, the only word is “Vetnai”. It is a small village in Ganjam district, near Berhampur town.Situated in the slopes of the Eastern Ghat mountain range, Vetnai is a relatively less known hamlet in the Ganjam district of Orissa. The village is gradually gaining popularity because of the 350 Black Bucks that roam freely in and around the village. Amidst the hillocks of Eastern Ghat Mountains, the lush green paddy fields and verdant grasslands the Black Bucks rove carefree not in one's and two's but in hundreds. Spending a day or two can be an exciting idea.
MANGALAJODI
Monglajori Bird Sanctuary, where you can view Whistling-duck, Asian Openbill, Purple Swamphen, Grey-headed Lapwing and Cotton Pygmy-goose and numerous other local and migratory birds.
Things to do in Vetnai:
The major thing to be done in Bhetnai is sightseeing and watching the Black bucks playing around in open valleys and grasslands. You can also visit the nearby Monglajori Bird Sanctuary to view rare birds some beautiful butterflies. A trip to the Chilka Lake, to enjoy its serene beauty and playful dolphins can also be on your cards. Watch it all yourself as well as capture every moment in your camera. You can also try the popular Oriya sweet ‘Chana Poda,’ which is baked yogurt.
How to reach Vetnai:
Vetnai can be reached from both Berhampore, which is 50 km and from Balugaon, which is 75 km from the destination. However, you should choose the route through Balugaon if you want to visit Monglajori first and then Vetnai. However, if you travel by rail, then you have to come via Berhampore that has a railway station. From Berhampore there are regular bus services that can take you to Aska as well as Vetnai.
Best time to visit Vetnai: The ideal time to visit Vetnai is during the winter season.
Lodging and dining facilities at Vetnai: Although Vetnai doesn’t have accommodation facilities for its tourists, good hotels are available in Balugaon. Even many comfort and budget hotels are available in the nearby town of Berhampore. Dining facilities come attached with the hotels of Balugaon and Berhampore.
GETTING READY FOR THIS EXPEDITION
Telephoto lenses – preferably above 300 mm
Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash. Carry battery charger. Carry extra pack of camera batteries Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop Carry a bean bag to stabilize your gears while shooting from safari vehicle Carry a big towel / cloth to protect your gear from dust Carry a big cloth / bandanna / scarf to protect you from the dust Body Warmer for the chilly early mornings. Sun screens are very important It is advisable to carry basic first aid along with you. Please carry Odomos to keep you protected from mosquito bites. Carry a pair of good binoculars
Suggestive Itinerary
Day 1. - after over night train journey reach Bhubaneswar / Balugaon station,hire a car to take you to Manglajodi resort. Enjoy the morning and evening boat ride for birding. Over night stay. (Breakfast/lunch/dinner)
Day 2. - Enjoy the morning and evening boat ride for birding. Over night stay. (Breakfast/lunch/dinner).
Day 3. – After breakfast go to Vetnai for photography of black bucks. Then evening drop to Bhubaneswar station for onwards journey. (Breakfast/lunch)
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