In Chilika Lake, on an island, sits the Kalijai Temple. It is thought to be the Goddess Kalijai’s residence. In reality, Goddess Kalijai is Kali, the origin and first “Mahavidya” of the “Dasmahavidyas.” The god is highly respected by the people in the area, and stories and folklore from the area attest to this. Both pilgrims and tourists find the island to be a great place to visit. An enormous gala fair is conducted annually in January in conjunction with the Makar Sankranti holiday.
In the Kalijai Island region, the locals used to hear their cries. However, the sisters’ nighttime cries stopped when the temple was built, which indicated some fortunate and hallowed causes behind it. Barkul provides easy access to the area. This place is fascinating because flocks of peacocks roam around and mingle with the believers. Before going out into the deep sea, fisherman used to visit the temple, but these days it’s just another tourist destination.