Chilika Lake to get its first Eco Luxury Resort by 2016 end

After getting environmental clearance, Swosti Group has set afoot the exercise of creating an
international standard luxury resort at Chilika Lake which is probably India’s hottest
bio-diversity destination and draws high-end tourists from both India and abroad. Presently, quality accommodation is a serious issue around Chilika Lake (country’s largest coastal lagoon) also has plenty of other attractions in its surrounding…

JK MOHANTYChilika Lake in Odisha, India’s largest coastal lagoon, may have been an eco-tourism hotspot for quite long drawing thousands of visitors every year. But the lack of quality accommodation facilities in and around the location has always been considered to be a major bane for augmenting the footfall. Swosti Group, Bhubaneswar-based hospitality and travel company, however, is now set to change the scene a bit by putting up a luxury resort property. The property to be branded as “Swosti Chilika Resort” will be set up at Pathura village between Barkul and Rambha along the Chilika lake and the company has already received necessary environmental approval. “Large number of bird lovers are coming to this area to enjoy the natural beauty but there is no such star category hotel at this tourist hotspot. Being in the travel trade for last 30 years, we are fully aware of the tourism potential of Chilika Lake as we handle many tourists everyday to that area and a resort of International quality is badly required to fill-up the requirement of both high-end domestic and foreign tourists visiting the area,” J K Mohanty, Managing Director, Swosti Group told TourismFirst. Swosti Group currently operates two hotels and a resort property, including Hotel Swosti (59 keys) and Swosti Premium (140 keys), the largest hotel in Odisha. The third property, Swosti Palm Resort (20 keys) is a beach-front resort located at Gopalpur-on-Sea.

A newspaper report pegs the proposed investment in the Chilika Lake Resort project to the tune of Rs 80 crore. The construction work at the site started last month and it is likely to conclude by the end of the next year. According to Mohanty, the company is sparing no efforts in ensuring that it creates a defining resort at the famous lake which apart from filling up the requirement of both high-end domestic and foreign nature enthusiasts tourists should also help in boosting the brand image of Odisha. And, therefore, it has roped in one of the top-notch architects to plan and execute the project. “We have engaged one of the most renowned International Architectural Firm from Thailand for putting up this resort with 70 keys which will comprise Presidential suite, Villas, Quad Villas, Hotel Block, SPA Villas, and Pool Villas,” Mohanty said. As per details available with TourismFirst, Swosti Group is aiming for a holistic development of the resort which should offer plenty of activities particularly in the water sports segment. These include water scooters, facilities for water surfing, boating facilities around 26 Islands, boat restaurants, Lake side open air tandoor restaurant, etc. In addition, the architects have also been asked to provision for a mini golf course in the nine-acre property. Other features would include Yoga Centre, Herbal Gardens, International standard lush green landscaping of the entire campus, Business Centre, Horse riding facility, and Badminton & Tennis Court. “To make the stay of our guests more experiential, we will also offer bicycle tours and village tours. Additionally this luxury resort will also have a section for conference and big lawn for marriage facilities,” said Mohanty.

Chilika Lake is one of the major attractions for high-end domestic as well as international tourists coming to Odisha. It is the largest brackish water lake in Asia, with estuarine character that sprawls along the east coast. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent and considered to be one of the major hotspots of biodiversity in the country. Chilika Lake has the distinction of being named Destination Flyways by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on 21 January 2014. The lagoon was named so for its sustainable and resilient destination for migratory birds.

Chilika is a dream lagoon stretching over 1100 Sq.Km. is one of largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl and is a great attraction for the tourists for fishing, bird watching and boating. In winter Chilika aflutter with thousands of indigenous and migratory birds of many varieties from far and near – even from the distant Siberia.

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