Tour on the route of the nomadic tribes of Orissa

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Welcome to CALCUTTA

  Welcome at the airport by our guide and driver, then transfer to the hotel where your rooms are available from noon. Breakfast at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit of the city of Calcutta with your guide. Walk on the Maidan, a large green space in the city center, to arrive in front of the Victoria Memorial, which houses a vast collection of relics from the Raj (closed on Mondays). A little further east, you will discover St. Paul's Cathedral, one of the most important churches in India. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  CALCUTTA

  After breakfast, start with a walk on the impressive Howrah Bridge, then take one of the stairs leading to the flower market. Continue towards Howrah, where the Botanical Garden was created in 1786 on the west bank of the river. At Delhousie Square, you will discover beautiful Victorian-style buildings, including the one housing the government of Bengal. Finally, in the central Chowringhee district, visit the Indian Museum, a beautiful colonial building featuring unique sculpture collections, notably some stunning Gandhara statuary (closed on Mondays). Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  CALCUTTA / BHUBANESWAR

  After breakfast, transfer to Calcutta airport to take the flight to Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, is one of the most fascinating religious metropolises in India. This former capital of the Kalinga kingdom once had 7,000 shrines built between the 8th and 13th centuries. Among the oldest, you will discover true gems such as the Parasumeshwara or the Mukteshwara. The Lingaraja, a marvel of 11th-century elegance, forbidden to non-Hindus, can be admired from the top of a nearby platform. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  BHUBANESWAR / PURI

  After breakfast, departure for Puri. Stop en route to visit the Dhauli stupa to discover Ashoka's edicts, then visit the tantric temple of Chausath Yogini (9th century). Then, the road continues to Puri, a small seaside resort and one of the holy cities of India (4 hours drive for the day). Stroll through the bazaar set up in the evening on the beach. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  PURI / KONARAK / PURI

  After breakfast, enjoy a day dedicated to discovering this pilgrimage city devoted to Jagannath, an avatar of Vishnu or Krishna, the favorite deity of the Oriyas. Stroll through a potters' quarter. Excursion to Konarak and visit of the sumptuous sanctuary dedicated to the Sun god. In the evening, you attend the dance festival in the marvelous temple of Konarak. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  PURI / RAGHURAJPUR / GOPALPUR

  After breakfast, departure towards Gopalpur (5h). Walk in the listed village of Raghurajpur, whose houses are covered with charming naive wall frescoes and where the art of engraving on palm leaf is perpetuated. Then, the visit continues to Lake Chilika for a boat ride to discover the migratory birds that inhabit the region. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  GOPALPUR / RAYAGADA

  After breakfast, departure towards Rayagada (5h drive in total), in the heart of the tribal region of Orissa. On the way, discovery of the silk weaving workshops in Berhampur, then the hot springs of Taptapani, highly prized by the inhabitants of the region. A few stops are planned in hamlets of the Saura ethnic group, one of the oldest in India. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  RAYAGADA / BISAMKATAK / RAYAGADA

  Breakfast, then enjoy a day dedicated to the great Desia Kond market of Bisamkatak, about 2 hours' drive through the hills. The markets of Orissa are always festive, an opportunity for members of the same ethnic group to meet and exchange. On the way back, you will stop in a copper artisans' village. In the afternoon, you will visit Desia Kond villages. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  RAYAGADA / CHHATIKONA / JEYPORE

  Breakfast, then visit to the large Chhatikona market, a gathering place for the Dongria Kondh tribe, one of the two oldest tribes in Orissa. The Dongrias come down from the forests and hills where they live to sell or trade the fruits of gathering and hunting. The Dongria are considered by the local inhabitants as the protectors of the rivers and forests. Please note, photography is currently not allowed among the Dongrias; make sure to follow your guide's instructions carefully. Return to the hotel for lunch, then drive to Jeypore. On the way, you will admire the work of artisans specialized in wood, who craft baskets and hampers. (5 hours of driving in total.) Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  JEYPORE / ONKUDELLI / JEYPORE

  Breakfast, then enjoy a day dedicated to Onkudelli, where every Thursday a market is held attended by the Bondas, whose clothing style is the most emblematic of Orissa. Please note, photography is currently not allowed among the Bondas; make sure to follow your guides' instructions carefully. After the market, stroll through some Gabada hamlets. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 11

  JEYPORE / KUNDULI / JAGDALPUR

  After breakfast, departure for an excursion to Kunduli for its Friday market, held by the Paroja ethnic group. Then, visit to the surrounding Sanaparoja villages. Return to the hotel for lunch, then departure towards Jagdalpur (5h). Stop en route in the weaving villages of Kotpad, and at the weekly Bhatra market. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  JAGDALPUR

  After breakfast, you have a day excursion to Kanger Valley National Park, a true paradise for nature lovers. Walk through the sal and teak forests. Discover the Kutumsar caves, with their magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, then the Tiratgarh waterfalls. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 13

  JAGDALPUR / KONDAGAON / KANKER

  After breakfast, drive to the town of Kanker (4h), in a region of virgin forests where many tribal populations live. Today, we invite you to a dance performance by the Maria ethnic group, the famous "Bison Horn Dance". This group has chosen to live in dense forests, far from modern civilization, in order to best preserve its traditions. In the afternoon, excursion to Kondagaon to observe the artisans specializing in lost-wax casting. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 14

  Kanker / Raipur / Calcutta

  After breakfast, visit of Kanker and its beautiful temples. Transfer to Raipur for your domestic flight to Calcutta. Return to your country. End of our services.