I went to chilka lake in dec 2001 with my family. I had gone to satpada which is 50 km from puri. I took my own car or one can hire one, the road is not very good but not much traffic. the lake has an accomodation by otdc which can be booked even at puri. one can cruise the lake by hiring a motorboat available easily and the money depends on the time rented out for. the boat takes u to the place where the lake falls into the sea and the beach there is beutiful but the cake is taken by sightings of dolphins in the lake on your way. one can also visit a place to see lots and lots of migratory birds.