By Smithha Patnaik
A tryst with the queen of nature, Chilika lagoon, always unfolds novelties of several kinds. Be it the flora or fauna those constitute the core of its multiplicity, but the visitors sometimes miss many other aspects those once had their relevance almost a century back.
While cruising through in a motorised boat from the Barakul Panthaniwas of the Orisha Tourism, an hour before the Sun set it is always a mixed splendour of beauty that is difficult to describe in words.
The Sun, like a crimson globe in the west was on the decline, the wind speed was on the rise and the rolling of water underneath was creating the turbulence to our boat as we were heading towards a spot called Breakfast Island that was sparsely visible like a pyramid.
Bathing in the golden rays of the setting sun the sparkles in the water were creating an ethereal myth. Out boat was rocking a bit as we could notice the shape of our designated sight getting clearer.
Weathering the huge tides splashing at the foothill of a hillock there stood a 30 X 24 X 18 structure headed by a tall pillar made of coral and cement. Which is small and for someone to have thought of raising a structure there at a kind of confluence for the early morning relaxation is indeed amazing.
Historians have different interpretations but the structure itself can make anyone to assume that it was a kind of mini rest place where, perhaps, the nature loving rulers of that time, the Britishers, chose to spend the mornings with a tea and snacks.
So the name was given as Breakfast Island or Breakfast Bungalow. Getting into the structure makes one feel that it was like a witness to a crumbling heritage which has been renovated few years back by the State Tourism department.
Inside there was space for relaxing and enjoy the millions of pearls produced by the silvery light of the rising sun bubbling against the vast water stretch, as if, kissing the horizon in the far east.
If the evening we spent there can be so magical, then it was easy to imagine the synthesis that the spot can offer in a bright morning for any nature lover.
(Dr. Smithha Pattnaik is an educationist and nature lover)
