Odisha Tribal Tour

Upon arrival, after clearing immigration and custom, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast Visit Bhubaneshwar: Bhubaneshwar is known as the Temple City of India. Among the finest of its 600 temples is the Lingaraj Temple of Shiva built in the 11th century, it is also the biggest in Bhubaneswar. Bindusagar Lake, Lying to the north of the Lingaraja Temple, the Bindusagar Lake is one of the popular tourist attractions of Bhubaneswar. Infact, the lake has been gaining more and more popularity amongst the tourists as a picnic spot. Lingaraj Temple, (Non Hindu are not allowed in side Temple) Lingaraj temple is one of the most popular temples of Orissa. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also known as ‘Lingaraj’. It is adorned with beautiful sculptures, which have been carved on the spire. Mukteshwar Temple, Mukteshwar temple, one of the most prominent temples of Bhubaneswar, has been constructed in the style that is quite similar to the one used in the Kalinga School of Temple Architecture. Rajarani Temple, Rajarani temple is one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. It is made from the wonderful red and gold sandstone, which is locally known as Rajarani and this is what gives the temple its name of ‘Raja Rani’. Brahmeshwara Temple: The temple built around 11th century, is a Siva-linga temple. Brahmeshwara temple is famous for its intricately carved sculptures. The temple has a 18m high tower. On the north wall of the porch is a carving of Laksmi. Parashurameswar Temple, built in 650 AD, is one of the oldest temples existing in Bhubaneshwar. A typical example of the Orissan style of temple architecture, the temple features pine spire curving up to a point over the sanctum and the pyramid-covered Jagamohana, where people sit and pray. Small but richly decorated shrine of Lord Shiva, the Parashurameswar Temple has sculptures of amorous couples, animals and floral designs. Siddheshwar Temple is a typical Orissan Temple situated at Bhubaneshwar. A very graceful figure of the standing Lord Ganesh is the attraction of the temple. The temple has a pancha-ratha sanctum with a five-divisional wall. The wall is further sub-divided in the upper part into two registers by the median bands. These walls are decorated with khakhara and pidha-mundis and consist of seven mouldings. Kedargauri Temple is a typical Orissan Temple situated at Bhubaneshwar, The temple closely resembles the Siddheshwara Temple and boasts a pancha-ratha sanctum. The jagamohana (a rectangular hall with a sloping terrace) has a three-divisional wall with crowning ornaments, which are found in a developed Orissan temple. Bhubaneswar Lingaraj Temple (Non Hindus are not allowed inside the temple and can see from the temple platform) Afternoon excursion to Ratnagiri via Cuttack , Cuttack, the former capital and one of the oldest cities of Orissa is the administrative headquarters of the district. The town is situated at t he apex of the delta formed by the rivers Mahanadi in the North and Kathajodi in the South. enroute visting typical Orissan villages. Ratnagiri is the gem of this complex. The magnificently carved door jambs of the Vihar and superbly finished Buddha images form perhaps the greatest concentration of Buddhist sculpture of the post-Gupta period. Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast visit drive Dhenkanak to visit Joranda Gadhi is a temple built in a location where three villages meet: Joranda, Natima and Patna. The temple is dedicated to the supreme lord. the followers of mahima dharma worship him as Sunya Brahma or the shapeless lord. No idol worship is permitted in this sect. The temple is deticated to the supreme lord. Many people of other sect believe that the followers of this sect worship Surya,the sun god but it is absolutely false. They just pray to the supreme lord facing to the direction of surya because it fixes the direction of concentration. One can choose ones own fix direction apart from east and west but once fixed it cannot be changed. The temple was built in the early 20th century, but the shrine existed from the early 14th century. It is the Samadhi Peetha of Mahima Goswami, who spread the Mahima Dharma. Mahima Dharma is a distinct religion in the tradition of Indian religions, although the principles of the sect may seem similar to those of Panchashakha, Buddhism, Tantra and Jainism. They recognize how enormously sacred for them the Bhagavata Purana is. They respect all Gods. The sect belongs to a group of ascetics. As the ascetics of this sect are not supposed to spend more than two consecutive nights in one village, by staying at the meeting point one can change the position to other corner of Temple. The temple is dedicated to the supreme lord as Sunya Bramha,the shapeless lord.No image worship is done inside. Currently, ascetics belonging to this sect sit here. Every year, Maagha mela attracts many ascetics. It is located just 30 km North of Dhenkanal town. In Temple Non Hindus are not allowed inside and can see from the temple platform. After visit return to Bhubaneswar. Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast, Visit of Caves- Khandagiri and Udaygiri hills were carved and tunneled, to create this multi-storied ancient apartment residence for Jain monks. They were the work of the first known Orissan ruler, King Kharavela, and probably begun in the first century BC. Kharavela was a king of the Mahameghavahana dynasty, who is known for expansion of the Kalinga empire and his installation of public improvements, such as canal systems. His queen was evidently quite a patron of the arts, and probably had much to do with the impressive sculptural decoration of the caves. After visit drive to Puri Upon arrival check in to your hotel Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast Visit Konark: This is one of the most vivid architectural treasures of Hindu India. Built in the shape of the Chariot of the Sun, standing abandoned in isolation of the coast this largest and most stupendous of Hindu Temples gives the appearance of “Black Pagoda” History of the temple is very interesting with one legend surrounding the building of the temple relates the story of Samba who cursed by his father Lord Krishna, suffered from leprosy for 12 years before being cured by the Sun God and so built a temple to Surya. The present temple was built by King Lagula Narasimha Deva in the 13th century, although there may have been an older 9th century temple to the Sun God here Afternoon visit Puri: The ancient site of Dantapura,”Town of the Tooth”, is believed to be in the region of Puri although no proof exists. Its name was derived from the left canine tooth of The Buddha which was for a time enshrined there before being taken to Sri Lanka. Puri is famous for the temple to the “Lord of the Universe’- Jagannath Temple. Due no caste distinctions, Puri and particularly the Jagannath Temple is very popular, even though Non Hindus are not available inside. There are vintage points from which tourists may view the temple. The wooden figures of the three deities, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra stand in the sanctuary garlanded and decorated by the priests. The extraordinary form that Jagannath takes, according to the legend, is the unfinished work of the craftsman god Viswakarma, who in anger left this portrayal of Lord Vishnu incomplete Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast, drive to Gopalpur en-route Boat Ride on Lake Chilika. Chilika, the largest brackish water wetland (1000 sq. km aprox.) in the country is situated in the east coast of the state in the district of Puri, A vast and picturesque lagoon/lake is famous for rich bio-diversity including the migratory birds and has been acknowledged as a “Ramsar site”.This vast lagoon studded with small fascinating islands and sandy beaches interspersed with casuarinas grooves along the Bay of Bengal. Over 167 species of resident and migratory (94 species) birds including flamingo, white bellied sea eagle, brahminy kite, spot billed pelican, barheaded goose, open billed stork, spoonbill, brahimny duck, wigeon, pintail, shoveller, ibis, stilt, heron, egret, avocet, gull, tern, king fisher etc. find their winter abode in this wetland.Besides this wetland provides home for endangered Irrawady dolphin but their population is under much pressure. After boat ride drive to Gopalpur Upon arrival check in to your hotel Afternoon visit Gopalpur Sea Beach: One of the most pristine beaches of Orissa, this quiet beach is a splendid retreat for sea- worshippers, located about 16 km from Berhampur. Once a humming seaport, Gopalpur offers its visitors a slice of serenity in environs that are conducive to introspection and conviviality. You can still see the crumbling walls and pillars of the jetty, witness to its past glory of commercial activity. Now, plans are on to revitalize the port again and make it fit for modern ships. The pleasures of the Blue Beach and the Blue Bay with her backwaters continue to lure the water babies. Gopalpur is a surfer’s delight and is excellent for sailing too. Overnight at hotel

Following Breakfast Depart for Rayagada en-route the famous hot sulphuric spring at Taptapani After visit continue drive to Rayagada en-route visiting also the Saora tribe and their villages. They trace their origin to the Ramayana there is a reference of Savari, a Saora women whom Ram and Laxman met while moving about in the Dandaka forests in search of Sita Arrive in the evening and check into Hotel Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast, proceed to Semiliguda via Chatikona (40 km) to witness the Interesting & colourful weekly market of the Dongaria kondh tribes. This day the interesting ornamental Tribes come down from their mountain will known as Niayamgiri hill range. This is a unique opportunity to witness them before they come and mix with other community in the market, so we will take you 2/3 km (subject to local conditions ) from the market near the Niyamgiri hill, so to watch & enjoy the community coming down with different kinds of fruits, animal etc. Enjoy in the market. Later drive to Semiliguda, Upon arrival check into the Hotel Overnight at hotel

After breakfast visit the weekly Thursday market of the Bondas at Onkudelli. Nature has showered its bounty on the undivided Koraput district replete with 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, Jeypore offers an additional benefit to the visitor of first hand meeting with its ancient civilization. Today visit the home of the approximately 6000 members of the famed Bonda Tribes–one of the most fascinating tribes of the Country. 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 weekly Thursday market. The Bonda women are noticeable by the chunks of beaded necklaces that co ver their upper body , striking brass and silver necklace and their shaved heads decorated with colourful beads. In Bonda society, the women enjoy a privileged position. They are the primary workers and providers of food for the community. Bonda girls largely marry boys who are at least five to ten years younger than them. Thus the girl looks after her husband as he grows up and in turn he cares for his elder wife . In contrast with many other populations in India, the number of women among the Bondas greatly exceeds the number of men. Visit another ethnic tribal group of the Gadabbas. Both men and women tie their long hairs with linseed oil and decorate it with forestry flowers and different ornaments. The women wear a long strip of cloth tied around the waist and a second piece of cloth is worn across the breasts and tied over one shoulder. Gadabas are renowned for their tribal dance known as ‘Dhimsa’. It is performed by the women of the tribe who wear the famous karenga saree. This colourful dance is mesmerising in the way it starts off with bare footed swaying movements into a synchronised circular dance that peaks with astounding fervour as the performance gives expression to their inner feelings, joys, affection, passion and their appreciation of beauty in nature. Overnight at hotel

Depart Vishakhapatnam After breakfast drive to Vishakhapatnam en-route visit another interesting Paraja tribe assembles at Kunduli every Friday. The Parajas are divided into different sub-groups viz., Sodia, Jadia and Parenga; each of them seems to be a separate ethnic group. The Parajas have a number of totemistic septs like Bagh-tiger, Bokda-goat, Netam-Dog, Pandki-Dove, and the like, and harming or eating the totem animal is forbidden. Instead such animals should be respected. They also worship various gods and goddesses residing in hills or forests. Also visit the Koraput Jagannath temple and Tribal Museum After visit continue drive to Vishakhapatnam international airport for your flight back home.