
Day 02: Bhubaneshwar
Breakfast at hotel, full day city & temple tour of Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneshwar: The capital of orrissa, known as the temple town due to its many temples in extravagant, Orissan architectural into old and new parts. Lingaraja Temple, the great temple of the city, Bindusagar, the ‘Ocean Drop’ tank is said to contain water from every holy stream. Sidharanya, the grove of perfect Beings, is a cluster of about 20 smaller temples, including some of the most important in Bhubaneshwar. 11 meters high, Mukteshwar Temple is finely detailed with some excellent carvings, but unfortunately much of it is defaced.
Afternoon excursion to Udaigiri and Khandagiri Caves. Udaigiri or Sunrise Hill has the most interesting caves scattered at various levels up the hill. All the caves are numbered. At the base of the hill, two storey Rani ka Naur, both the levels have eight entrances and the cave is extensively carved. Chota Hathi Gumpa with carvings of elephants coming out from behind a tree. Jaya Vijaya cave is double storeyed , the Swargapuri, the Hathi Gumpa or Elephant cave. Ganesh Gumpa, which is a almost directly above the Rani ka Naur. The carvings here tell the same tale as in the lower level cave but are better drawn. Retrace your steps to the Pavana Gumpa. Cave of Purification and the small Sarpa Gumpa or ‘ Serpent Cave’. Overnight in Bhubaneshwar
Day 03: Bhubaneshwar – Konark – Puri
Breakfast at hotel and proceed to Puri.
Enroute visiting Konark Sun Temple. Situated on the coast, site consists of little more than the mighty temple and a handful of shops, stalls and palaces to stay. The temple of Sun God was constructed in the 13th century. It has been in ruins for centuries but until the early 1900
’s it was simply an interesting ruin of impressive size. Then the debris and sand was clared from around the temple base and the sheer magnitude of its architect’s imagination was revealed. The entire temple was conceived as a chariot for the sun God, Surya. Around the base of the temple there are 24 gigantic, carved stone wheels, seven mighty horses haul at the temple and the immense structure is covered with carvings, sculptures, figures. If the temple was completed it would have soared to 70 meters high . Three images of Surya still stand and are designed to catch the sun at dawn, at noon and at sunset.
Also visit ASI museum & Chandrabhaga beach in Konark
On arrival check in at hotels. Evening is free for personal activities. Overnight in Puri.
Day 04: Puri - Chilika lake (at Satpada) – Puri (90kms both way)
Breakfast at hotel, visit the Jagannath temple (Non Hindus are not allowed),
Jagannath Temple: A visit to Puri is incomplete without a visit to the Jagannath temple, one of the four sacred dhams in the Hindu religion. The magnificent temple is dedicated to the Lord of the Universe. Built in the 12th century, it is considered to be one of the tallest (65m) temples in India. Modeled along the Kalinga style of architecture, the temple consists of the Jagmohanor hall and the Deul or the main shrine, in front. The Nata Mandir and the Bhoga Mandir were built much later in the 14th and 15th century, in the classic Orissa style. Gundicha Ghar: The Gundicha Ghar having been the house of Lord Krishna’s aunt, Gundicha is another important site to visit in Puri. It is believed that, the Lord stays here for 9 days during the famous Rath yatra or chariot-pulling festival of Puri. On the day of the Rath Yatra, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are ceremoniously taken around in gorgeously decorated wooden raths (chariot) all the way from the Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple where they are welcomed by their aunt by feeding them padoapitha (rice cakes).
Chilika lake:
is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. The lake is an ecosystem with large fishery resources. It sustains more than 150,000 fisher–folk living in 132 villages on the sho
re and islands. Excursion to visit Chilika lake (at Satpada), boat cruise inside the lake, get a chance to see the Dolphins The lagoon hosts over 160 species of birds in the peak migratory season. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here. These birds travel great distances, but it must be stressed, that the migratory birds probably follow much longer routes than the straight lines, possibly up to 12,000 km, to reach Chilika River.
Day 05: Puri - Taptapani (240 kms)
Assistance on arrival-transfer and later proceeds to Taptapani. Enroute stop over for photography as per the wish of your group members. Check in at the hill resort and planning for short visit to the nearest tribal villages along with visiting the Kandhonidevi temple at sulpheric spring.
Overnight at hotel Panthanivas in Taptapani.
Day 06: Taptapani-Rayagada(220kms):
After breakfast drive to Rayagada, Enroute visit tribal villages. Arrive and check in at hotel, evening free.
Overnight at hotel in Rayagada.
Day 07: Rayagada
Breakfast at hotel, visit Saura tribal villages. Rayagada is a district of meadows, forests, waterfalls and terraced valleys, peopled by colourful tribes and many primitive Tribal Groups. The scenic beauty and heritage on the land is an unexplored paradise. The systematic relationship between men and nature is a feast to the eyes of an outsider. It has its own appeal for the lap of nature. Among the adivasis, (tribes living in forests from old ages) Saura Tribes of Orissa is the most important one that concerns with the sacrifice of the buffalo. The animal is slaughtered during the festivals related with the cycle of agriculture, and its blood and flesh are spread around the fields with the purpose of increasing the fertility and opulence of the crops. The buffalo is ritually killed during the funeral rites also, where it is considered the necessary psychopomp, leading the soul of the dead on the right path to the realm of the ancestors. As it is well known, the Sauras did not sacrifice any human victims. When in the 19th century the Khonds performed the human sacrifice, the Sauras usually sent representatives of their Tribes to the bloodshed ritual. They came back to their own villages with some pieces of the human victim of the Khonds, with the purpose of blessing their fields.
After visiting this area back to our hotel
Overnight at hotel in Rayagada.
Day 08: Rayagada - Chatikona - Jeypore (230 kms)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Bisamkatak, 50km to visit the weekly market (must be Wednesday) of Dongoria Kondha &
Desi Kondha at Chatikona, Dongaria come down with their forest produce to sell/ barter with non tribes is an interesting event to watch. The Kondhs are of a Dravidian origin and speak Kuvi language. They practice elaborate birth, marriage and death rituals. Visit the Kondh tribe and their villages- they love music and dance and spend their time merrily. They compose their own songs on love, marriage ceremony, harvesting and nature. The Kondh women wear two pieces of cloths, one around the waist to the knees and the other for upper portion of the body. The Kondh society is replete with festivities. Later you will have transfer to Jeypore; Jeypore is the commercial nerve centre of Koraput district and has all such facilities to serve as the convenient base for visiting the places of interest in and around. Nature has showered its bounty on the undivided Koraput district with untrammeled joy. This district abounds in meadows, forests, waterfalls, terraced valleys and darting springs. This land of abundance is home to Orissa's vast tribal population. A real paradise for the nature-lover, Koraput offers an additional benefit to the visitor of first hand meeting with its ancient civilization.
On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel in Jaypore.
Day 09: Jeypore - Onukunduli - Jeypore (160kms both Ways):
After early breakfast drive to Onukunduli the most interesting market (must be Thursday) of Bondas/gaddabas/Didayees later visit Ollar Gadaba Tribal Villages. Onukundelhi is the home of approximately 7000 members of the fierce Bondas (naked people) of Tibetan-Burmese origin. Bondas in the remote hills and keep themselves isolated. They grow rice by shifting cultivation and keep domesticated cows and goats. That can only be seen when they come to trade at the local market. The Bonda women are noticeable by their bead necklaces, striking brass and silver necklets and their shaved heads decorated with plaits of Palmyra leaves.
Drive to Kangarapada soft walk to primitive boda Gaddaba tribal villages, interact with this tribe with the assistance of our experienced guide who knows the tribal dialect, later see the dance known as Dhemsa in their village.(Optional)
Evening back to hotel. Overnight in Jeypore.
Day 10: Jeypore - Kunduli - Jeypore (175Kms both Ways)
After breakfast drive to Kunduli where the guest can witness the largest tribal market (must be Friday) by the Poojara people and later on way back can be visited Jagannath temple at Koraput and the Tribal museum. Overnight at Jeypore.
Day 11: Jeypore - Jagdalpur (90 kms)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Jagdalpur.
Afternoon explore the nearby villages. In the wild hills of Abhujmar, the Hill Maria are the most remote of the Gond forest tribes. The Hill Maria traditionally lived in the northwest corner of Bastar north of the Indrawati River. This tribe is more settled and best known for their Ghotul. This is a special place meant for young unmarried boys and girls to meet away from adults, where they conduct their own unique system of social education which also includes music, dancing story telling etc. This practice is a very important aspect of Maria society.
Overnight at hotel in Jagdalpur.
Day 12: Jagdalpur - Kanker (140kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive about 3hrs to the former princely State of Kanker. Arrive and check-in to the Kanker Palace. O/n in Palace Kanker, the family of the late Mahrajadhiraj Udai Pratap Deo have opened part of their private residence to visitors.
Day 13: Kanker - Kondagaon - Narayanpur - Kanker
Morning after breakfast, climb the forested Keshkal Ghat which marks the border of Bastar 500m above the plain. You will encounter here the special nature of North Bastar. At Kondagaon and Narayanpur discover some of Bastar's finest handicrafts, and the people who make them. Kanker (Kaan-kair), a small historic town once capital of the princely state at the geographical boundary of Chattisgarh and Bastar.
O/n Kanker Palace.
Day 14: Kanker - Jagdalpur
After breakfast, drive about 3hrs. to Jagdalpur, Bastar's main town and former capital. Tribal people comprise almost three fourths of Bastar's population, each with their own indigenous culture of spirits, deities, dialects, customs and food habits. Bastar tribal groups include Gonds, such as Marias, Murias, Abhujmarias, Dhurwa (Parja) and Dorla, as well as non - Gond groups like the Bhatra and Halba.
Overnight in Jagdalpur.
Day 15: Jagdalpur - Raipur (285kms)
Morning after breakfast drive about 6hrs to Raipur. Afternoon visit to Raipur's Mahant Ghasidas Museum. Overnight at hotel in Raipur.
Day 16: Raipur
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board flight for onward journeys.