| Kolkata-Bhubaneshwar-Baliguda-Rayagada-Jeypore-Taptapani-Puri
BEST SEASON – October to March
Orissa has 62 distinct tribal groups, making it the largest collection of tribal people in a single state in the country. Each of these tribal groups have their own indigenous customs and continue to practice them even today. Orissa is also home to one of India’s ancient civilizations . (Tribal visits need to start on a Monday due to fixed days of various tribal markets) |
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Day 1 and 2 - Arrive Kolkata. Stay at the Oberoi Grand. Sightseeing including Victoria Memorial, Birla Planetarium, Indian Museum, Jain Temple, Botanical Gardens. Excursion to Belur Math and Dakshineshwar Kali Temple.
Day 3 and 4 – Fly to Bhubaneshwar. Stay at Hotel Mayfair Lagoon
The ancient city of Bhubaneswar is also known as the Temple City of eastern India. With 600 temples in its treasure, the city is probably the only city in the world that presents a veritable over-view of the stages of development of Hindu religious architecture. |
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Sightseeing including Lingaraja Temple, Mukateswara Temple, Rajarani Temple and Vaital Temple. (Foreigners are NOT allowed inside the temples, viewing will be done from outside).
Excursion to Khandagiri & Udaigiri caves – visit the twin hills of Khandagiri which means "broken hill" and Udaigiri means "hill of the sunrise." These two hills rise 40m above the surrounding lateritic and infertile plain. Twin hills honey-combed with Jain caves that reveal the sculptural art of the 2nd century BC . Khandagiri has 19 caves and Udaigiri has 44 caves. |
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Day 5 – Drive to Baliguda –(about 5 hours) (This has to be on a Monday). Stay at Hotel Santosh Bhavan. En-route visit weavers village at Itamati and some of the typical Orissan villages.
Day 6 – Drive to Rayagada (about 4 hours) (Tuesday). Stay at Hotel Sai International. Enroute visit Barakhamba and Belghar area to visit the different villages of tattoo faced Desia Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribe, once famous for the human sacrifice. Also visit the Kotagarh tribal market before proceeding to Rayagada. |
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Day 7, 8 and 9 – Drive to Jeypore (about 5 hours) ) (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), Stay at Hotel Hello Jeyopure.
Enroute visit Chatikona (40 km) to witness the interesting & colourful weekly market of the Dongaria Kondh tribes. Trek/walk to few villages of the primitive Dongria Kondh , this day the interesting ornamental tribes come down from their mountain side known as Niayamgiri hill range. This is a unique opportunity to witness them before they come and mix with other community in the market, you can see them coming down with different kinds of fruits, animal etc.Enjoy free time in the market.. En route also visit some tribal villages of Desia Kondh and Paraja tribes. |
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Excursion to Anukadeli (about 3 hours) (Thursday).
Visit the home of the approximately 6000 members of the fierce Bondas (naked people). They live in the remote hills and keep themselves isolated. They grow rice by shifting cultivation and keep domesticated cows and goats. They can only be seen when they come to trade at the local market, Therefore the visit needs to be timed to coincide with the weekly market day on Thursday. The Bonda women are noticeable by their bead necklaces, striking brass and silver necklets and their shaved heads decorated with plaits of Palmyra leaves. |
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Also see the colorful Godabas who are noticeable for their Big Neck rings. As a part of their tradition, the rings are only removed after their death. Also see the Paraja tribe who are the biggest in their number in all the tribal groups
Drive onward to Gupteshwar, visit the Gupteshwar cave (It was believed that lord Rama during his exile days worshiped Lord Shiva here). En route visit a few Dhuruba tribal villages, expert in their Bamboo works.
Excursion to Kunduli (about 3 hours) (Friday)
Witness the biggest colourful tribal weekly market of Sanaparoja and Mali tribes in Kunduli via Sunabeda. Proceed to Nandapur to visit village of Sanaparoja tribes, also villages Khilus. Saana Padar, Bda Padar (with optional short trekking). |
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Day 10 – Drive to Taptapani (about 6 hours) (Saturday). Stay at Hotel Panthoni Bas
En route visit some Bada Paraja villages. Bada Paraja are well dressed and more ornamental in the body. Also visit some Saora Villages. Later drive down to Taptapani. If anywhere nature reveals its enigmatic charisma, it is here in Taptapani, an exotic world of wonder. Enjoy the nature close to your heart and carry the memory years to come. |
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Day 11 and 12 – Drive to Puri via Chilka Lake (about 6 hours) (Sunday). Stay at Hotel Mayfair Beach Resort.
En route visit Chandragiri to see a Tibetan refugee camp.
Chandragiri is a Tibetan village inside the heart of Orissa. During the Chinese Aggression of Tibet in 1959, these Tibetan refugees crossed over to India along with the Dalai Lama and were allotted this spot. They built cottages and camps and a monastery resembling what they had left in Tibet. The beautiful houses and well maintained gardens reflect the economic independence of the residents. |
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Drive on to Chilka Lake through scenic countryside and attractive villages. Chilka lies in the heart of coastal Orissa. The pear-shaped lake, spread over 1,100 sq km, is Asia's largest inland salt-water lagoon. It is dotted with small islands and has an impressive array of bird life, both native and migrant. White bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, herons and flamingos are among the many species which make the lake a bird watcher's delight. Chilka, in fact, is home to one of the world's largest breeding colonies of flamingoes.
Enjoy a cruise around the lake before proceeding to Puri. Situated on the eastern coast of Orissa, Puri is famous for its historic antiquities, religious sanctuaries, architectural grandeur, sea scope beauty and a moderate climate. It holds a wealth of attraction for the visitors. It boasts of a continuous history from the 3rd Century B.C. to the present day and its unique monuments like those of Lord Jagannath at Puri, the Sun God at Konarak, are famous in the world. |
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Sightseeing of Puri, including the magnificent Temple of Lord Jagannath, (Foreigners are NOT allowed inside the temple, viewing will be done from outside)
Excursion to the artist’s village of Raghurajpur,which specializes in pattrachitrs - an art using vivid colors painted on palm leaves. You will also see the ancient art of palm leaf etching which, in the 16th century, was used to illustrate manuscripts. It was this technique which helped shape the Oriya script to its present rounded form.
Optional excursion to the fishing village of the Nolia community, or simply relax on the beach. |
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Day 12 - Drive to Bhubaneshwar, enroute visit the famous ‘Sun Temple’ at Konarak, designed in the shape of a colossal chariot,
The massive structure, now sits in solitary splendour surrounded by drifting sand. Today it is located two km from the sea, but originally the ocean came almost up to its base. Until fairly recent times, in fact, the temple was close enough to the shore to be used as a navigational point by European sailors, who referred to it as the 'Black Pagoda'.
Continue to Bhubaneshwar for flight to onward destination – Kolkata, Mumbai or Delhi
OPTION - visit East India – Darjeeling, Sikkim, stay at a Tea Estate or extend your stay to any other part of India.
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