Chilika Lake in Odisha is one of the most gorgeous lakes in the country. Statistically, this is the second largest water lagoon in the world. The Chilika Lake also holds over 160 species of migratory birds in the migratory seasons. These are all about the natural beauty of Chilika Lake. But, there are more to Chilika Lake than many knows.
There is a folklore which describes who Chilika Lake was created in the 4th century. As per the legends, there was a pirate king named Raktabahu who wanted to attack the beautiful nearby city which is now known as Puri. He had a fleet of ships with him. Raktabahu was anchoring his ship cunningly because he wanted to avoid alarming the residences of the place about the impending danger that he possesses. But, to his dismay, somehow the local residences found about his arrival and they took all their belongings and escaped. When Raktabahu arrived at Puri, he saw that the city was abandoned. So, he became frustrated and started to curse the sea. The sea played a crucial role in deceiving and ending the tale of Raktabahu as all the ships of his fleet was drowned in the sea.
Many people who visit Chilika have said that they have seen a pirate looking man in the middle of the lake. The local people believe that the lake is haunted and those who died along with Raktabahu still haunts the place. The unsatisfied and unholy soul of Raktabahu and his men still resides inside the lake.
So, next time when you visit Chilika and see an apparition of a pirate standing in the middle of the lake, you should know that Raktabahu is there to welcome you.
