Nature enthusiasts travelling to the Bhitarkanika National Park can now experience its lush beauty from a very unique vantage point. The mangrove skywalk/skybridge offers visitors a different view of the beautiful scenery of the national park along with its rich wildlife. The visitors will be able to experience this from a height of 15 feet above ground on the skywalk.
After the nesting season of crocodiles comes to an end, the park is going to reopen on August 1, 2024, with this newfound feature of skywalk. The skywalk is built by the Forest Department in the Dangamala area which is also the entrance to the National Park through roadways. The Dangamala area is also the nesting ground of the crocodiles.
Starting from the Meta Mangrove Nursery, the skywalk is built of wood and leads to the open field where deer gather. The skywalk is about 600 metres long. Keeping the safety of visitors in mind, the Forest Department has notified that only 20 people will be allowed on the skywalk at a time.
The Bhitarkanika National Park, also known as India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem, is home to a large variety of flora and fauna, including the saltwater crocodile, Indian python, black ibis, wild boar, rhesus monkey, chital, darter, cobra, monitor lizard, Olive Ridley turtles. The new skybridge will not only offer a breathtaking view but also is an effort to minimize the impact of visitors on the fragile environment promoting eco-tourism..
