Odisha: A Breakfast Island in the Middle of a Lagoon

There are some important ruins whose splendour has not faded with time. One such place, Sanakuda Island, is nestled in the bosom of a lagoon in Odisha, where many histories remain dipped.

There are several such spots in the shape of islands with interesting names and nomenclatures.

Having breakfast on an island inside a lagoon, when the early sun peeps through the misty horizon, creating ripples on the blue water, is an unforgettable experience.

Located in Rambha Bay, between Badakuda and Somolo Island, this island is obviously a creation of nature, which humans made best possible use of as a place where the ruins of a history offer solace.  

It is said that it was the British officers of that time who carved this unique pear-shaped structure of the island, otherwise known as Sanakuda Island.      

And it was the King of Khalikote who built a bungalow on the island, which at present is in a broken-down condition.

However, the grace of the island lasted long, at least when Thomas Snodgrass, then the Collector of Ganjam, used this bungalow for frequent stays and even for official works. 

The island was full of greenery, serenading to the hovering stillness.

The flora of the island is quite interesting, with a number of interesting rare plants. There’s a hillock with huge hanging rocks. The island is covered with herbs, shrubs, trees and creepers. The granite rocks are here are remnants of the Eastern Ghats.

Some of the huge rocks are white because of folic acid from the droppings of birds. During winter, a large number of migratory birds descend on this island.

A short sail from the hillock takes one to a cottage-shaped structure, where a conical projection protrudes from one side with sharpness of spear.

This is where the then colonial officers used to land early morning and enjoy their breakfast.  

The structure, which was nearing dilapidation, was repaired and painted in the late 1990s and now is an attraction for many visitors.

Honeymoon Island  

Neighbouring the breakfast island is another history hidden in the mist of curiosity.

It’s another island situated in the Rambha Bay near Sankuda Island, 5 kilometers away from Rambha Jetty. It is called Barkuda Island.

Britishers used this land for picnics. It is surrounded by clear waters and natural habitats. The water is so clear that one can see a luxuriant bed of sea grass.

Long ago, in 1917, two nature lovers, Anandale and Kemp, who spent almost two years studying the dynamics of the lake, had recorded the existence of a limbless lizard in this area, an endemic species.

Later, it was named as Barkudia Insularis. The lizard looks like a large earthworm and lives in the subsoil and probably feeds on small arthropods.

The writer is an Odisha-based freelance journalist.