Orissa Tribal Tour

12 Nights/ 13 Days

Private car round trip: Kolkata - Bhubneshwar - Ratnagiri - Baliguda - Rayagada - Jeypore - Taptapani - Chilka - Puri - Konark - Bhubneshwar - Kolkata/Delhi

Day 1 - Arrive Kolkata (Calcutta)

Arrival to Kolkata airport in morning. Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Kolkata is the capital of state West Bengal and third largest metropolis with over 17 millions inhabitants. Afternoon go for half day city excursion. Kolkata is also the homeland of mother Teresa and her worldwide well-known missionary, by which also the city Kalkutta became worldwide well known. There are many sights in Kalkutta and some well-known streets. Visit Park Street , Marine museum. The newest sight is the suspension bridge construction over the Hooghly River. Also, visit the Victoria Memorial, a memory of the British reign in Kolkata. A French author named Kolkata the "city of the joy".

Day 2 - Kolkata - Bhubneshwar

Morning after breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Bhubneshwar. Arrival and transfer to hotel. Afterwards go for city excursion. With a population of round 700,000 was Bhubneshwar once the capital of Kalinga. The city is well known for its temples and cathedral, especially the many temples in the Orissi style. Although there stood 7000 temples earlier, there are only 500 today, but only 12 are interesting, for example the large Linga temple. It is one of the magnificent temples of India. During the city excursion, you see different temples, the museum and the Tribal Research Centre. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 3 - Excursion to Ratnagiri and Udaigiri

In morning, you undertake an excursion to Ratnagiri and to the Lalitgiri excavation sites. 90 km northeast of Bhubaneswar lie the separated hills of Assia Range , Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri. These hills have the ruins of the unique Buddhist monasteries of the world. In the afternoon visit of the caves of Udaygiri. The hills of Udaygiri are 7 km from Bhubaneswar and are an important place in the archeological story of India. There are 18 caves, of which Hathigumpha (the elephant cave) is the most important. The caves here are embellished with statues, tiles and picture series that represent love stories and war legends. The other caves represent Jain legends, myths and icons.

Day 4 - Bhubaneshwar - Baliguda

After breakfast, drive to Baliguda. A long trip to Baliguda (350 km), on the way stop in some tribal villages. In Baliguda stay in very simple Lodge. Here we experience the atmosphere of the tribal areas for the first time. Overnight stay in Baliguda.

Day 5 - Baliguda - Belghar - Kothagargh - Rayagada

We are in the tribal area of the Kondh. This tribe consists of 3 sub-categories, the Desai Kondh, Kutia Kondh and Dongria Kondh. The Kondh preserved until today its old age customs and traditions, they are of small growth, the faces of the women are covered with tattoos. Trip after Belghar, here tribal villages of the Kutia Kondh and the weekly market of Kothagarh. Further drive to Rayagada. Arrival and transfer to simple lodge.

Day 6 - Rayagada - Jeypore

Trip to Chatikona (40 Km), to visit the colorful market of the Dongria Kondh. The men of the Dongria Kondh have long hair; the women wear lot of jewellery like earrings and nose ring, necklace and hair needles. Further drive to Jeypore. Arrival and transfer to hotel.

Day 7 - Jeypore - Onukadeli - Lamptaput - Jeypore

Mornings visit the Bonda-market in Onukadeli. The Bonda are the most primitive and most interesting tribe in Orissa. They speak their own language, live in the inaccessible mountain areas, and barter is yet always usual. The members of this tribe are scantily dressed; the women have bald shaved heads. Then visit of Lamptaput, a village of the Gadaba tribe, whose women wear colourful Saris. If yet time remains, trip to Gupteswar, here live the tribe of the Dhurubas, one of the oldest in Orissa, the persons with their extremely strong upper part body, wide noses and curly hairs remind of Africans. Late afternoon drive back to Jeypore for overnight stay.

Day 8 - Jeypore - Taptapani

After breakfast, drive to Taptapani. On the way visit Jagannath Temple and Tribal Museum at Koraput (This Jagannath Temple is the copy of the original one in Puri, built in 1972. Here Non Hindus are allowed inside the Temple and all activities are similar to Jagannath Temple of Puri). Further drive to Taptapani. Arrival and transfer to hotel.

Day 9 - Taptapani - Puri

We leave the eastern Ghats and reach the coastal area of Orissa. We go 15 km along the largest lagoon of the world, the Chilka-lake, a paradise and home of migratory birds. Further drive to Puri. Arrival and transfer to beach hotel. The beach of Puri invites you for relaxing and bathing. Puri is however, not only a popular beach destination of Indian, but rather also one of the four holiest pilgrimage places of India.

Day 10 - Chilka - Puri

In morning after breakfast, excursion to Konarak (30 km along the coast), and here visit the suns-temple with the vehicle of the sun God Surya. Afternoon go for Puri excursion. Visit Jagannath Temple (30 m high) on the blue hill, the white Pagode, that we are allowed to admire from outside only. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 11 - Puri

Day at leisure at the beach.

Day 12 - Puri

Day at leisure at the beach.

Day 13 - Puri - Bhubneshwar - Kolkata / Delhi

Today drive to Bhubneshwar airport for flight to Kolkata or Delhi. Arrival and transfer to international airport for onward journey.