CHILKA, a lake in Hindustan, at the N.E. extremity of the Northern Circars, which province it separates towards the sea from that of Cuttack. It is about 35 miles in length by 10 or 12 in breadth, and appears to have originated in a breach of the sea over a flat sandy shore. The border of sand, about a mile broad, which separates it from the sea, is not visible, so that the lake has the appearance of a deep bay. It is very shallow, and contains several inhabited islands. On the N.W. it is bounded by a ridge of mountains, forming a continuation of those which extend from the Mahanuddy to the Godavery river, and inclose the Northern Circars towards the continent. It is 40 miles S.W. of Cuttack. The lake communicates with the sea by a narrow outlet, in W. Lat. 19. 42. E. Long. 85. 40.