Odisha Chhattisgarh Package

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Trip Overview

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Trip Highlights

{"day" : "Day 01", "title": "Tuesday", "description":"Arrival at Bhubaneswar and transfer to Puri for overnight, enroute visit the Pipli village famous for appliqué work. Overnight at Hotel. (65 kms ) Puri, famous for its Golden Beach, ideal for swimming and surfing. It offers the rare experience of watching both sunset and sunrise from the same beach"}

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Tuesday +

Day 02: Wednesday After breakfast visit Konark. (70 kms.) +

In Konark, visit to the Temple - Chariot of The Sun God, built by King Langula Narasimha Deva in the thirteenth century A.D. in the golden era of Orissan art. This crowning piece of Orissan architecture and sculpture is sheer poetry in stone. Everyday the Sun God rises from the lap of the blue ocean close by and casts his first gentle rays on the sanctum sanctorum and then circles the temple during the course of the day, illuminating the three magnificent images of the morning Sun, the mid-day sun and the setting sun. As you approach the water, you will see rising from the golden sandy beach, one of the countrys most vivid archeological treasures -- The Sun Temple. For a millennium, this temple has been a beacon to sailors at sea. Despite the fact that the Black Pagoda, as it was referred to by European soldiers who wanted to distinguish Konark from the whitewashed Jagamath Temple in Puri, lies in ruins, the structure is magnificent.After lunch city tour of Puri. Overnight at Puri. (20 kms.)Sightseeing of Puri Temples, the famous Jaganath temple in Puri. Puri, the popular beach resort, is one of the four holy abodes in India. Pre-Dravidian and pre-Aryan history relates that a tooth of Buddha was temporarily enshrined in Puri before being moved to Sri Lanka. Supporting the theory that Buddhism prevailed in this area, the Jaganath Temple, to the Lord of the Universe, and the main attraction in Puri, was believed to have originally been a stupa. The extraordinary form Jaganath takes in this temple is said to be the unfinished work of the craftsman god, Vishvakarna. Angry at Vishnu, he left his portrayal of the god in.co.inplete. This 12th century temple is known for its annual Rath Yatra or Car Festival. The Jagannath Temple contributed the word ÔJuggernautÕ to the English language

Day 03: Wednesday After breakfast drive to Bhubaneswar. Visit Raghurajpur and Dhauli. (80 kms) +

The artisan village Raghurajpur near Puri which specializes in pattrachitras-- 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.Dhauli is where the Kalinga warlord Ashok renounced bloody warfare and embraced the teachings of Buddha. We visit the Peace Pagoda known as the Shanti Stupa built in early 1970 by Japanese Buddhas. We also stop at two ancient rock edicts, today eclipsed by the presence of the Pagoda. Dating from 260 BC they outline AshokaÕs detailed instructions to his administrators to rule with gentleness and fairness. The sculpted elephant atop the edict signifies the Mauryan Emperor AshokaÕs conversion to Buddhism after his Kalinga victory. Arrival at Hotel in Bhubaneswar, after lunch visit the twin caves of Khandagir and Udayagiri. which date from the 2nd century, during the time of Jain and Buddhist occupation of this region. The Jain caves are among the earliest in India and all the caves were built during the 150 years before Christ. In contrast to the stark decor of the Jain caves, the Buddhist caves are decorated with excellent friezes and sculptures. Overnight at Bhubanesewar

Day 04: Thursday +

Visit metal village at Sadeibarini; textile weaving villages Nuapatna and Dokhra. Dhokra casting, a variety of metal casting is essentially a folk craft and is limited to a few pockets of Orissa, in Sadeiberni in Dhenkanal district, it is being practiced by an aboriginal caste called sithulias. While the lost wax process is followed, the raw materials used are not pure brass but contain miscellaneous scraps of other metals which give it an antique look. Its motifs are mostly drawn from folk culture. Ikat-that gloriously woven, blurry edged. gem-colored design, in gorgeous yarn of silk and cotton has be.co.ine synonymous with Orissa. Speaking eloquently of its old maritime linkages with Bali, the Ikat tradition of Odisha is the intricate process of tie and dye i.e. knotting selections of yarn before dipping them in separate colours one at a time and finally weaving them to produce one of the most delightful designs in multi-hued tones, in motifs drawn from the richness of nature, in threads both silken and gold. Overnight at Bhubaneswar. (220 kms)

Day 05: Friday Full day sightseeing of Bhubaneswar +

Bhubneswar is the capital of the ancient kingdom of Orissa, and is famous as the Temple City of India. Traveling through the state of Orissa is a blend of art, architecture and ancient cultures. Bhubaneswar has some stunning temples clustered around the Bindusagar Tank. Of the original 7000 only 500 remain dating from the 7th century to the 11th century. Of these the most outstanding is the 11th century Lingaraja Temple which represents the peak of Orissa art and the late 10th century beautifully decorated Muktesvara temple which belongs to the end of the phase of temple building. Close to the Mukteswara Temple is the Parsurameswara Temple, a small but richly decorated shrine of Shiva that was built in the 7th century. It is one of the best preserved. It has sculptures featuring amorous couples, animals and floral motifs. In the evening visit the School of Oddissi dance and witness the performance by the artists. Overnight at Bhubaneswar

Day 06: Saturday Bhubaneswar-Chilka Lake- Panthanivas (110 kms) +

Day 07: Sunday Chilka Lake-Taptapani Panthanivas Tourist Cottages. (170 kms.) +

Rising early we visit the lake to view the avian life and Kalijai Temple, abode of the presiding deity of the lake, located on the tiny island. In the winters the lake attracts migratory birds from Iran, Central Asia and Siberia. We will also be able to watch the fisherman at work, who .co.ine here in search of prawns, mackerel and crabs.After breakfast we drive to Taptapani enroute visiting one of the villages for Cultural performance by the young and the old. After lunch afternoon for visit to the Hot Sulphur Spring and enjoy the nature. Overnight at Taptapani

Day 08: Monday After breakfast proceed for Rayagada (170 kms) +

Odisha has the third highest concentration of tribals in India and because of the remoteness of the areas where they live, the tribes are untouched by modern times. Each has a distinct language and pattern of social and religious customs. Though economically challenged and a very low rate of literacy, the tribal groups have highly developed artistic skills as seen in their body paintings, ornaments, weaving and wall paintings. Music and dance also are an integral part of their ceremonies and seasonal festivals. During the next six days we will be visiting some of these tribal settlements. Today we will stop at the villages of the Saoras, a major tribe who live in hilly areas. In contrast to other tribes who live in clans, the Saoras live in extended families descended from a .co.inmon ancestor. The village is administered by a headman who is assisted by a religious leader and village shamans, or medicine men, who are able to.co.inmunicate with deceased ancestors. The walls of the mud houses are decorated with remarkable paintings, traditional designs. We will wander the tribal market

Day 09: Tuesday = Market day- Rayagada-Kothgarh-Rayagada (180 kms) +

The excursion today takes us to the Kothgarh tribal area. The most numerous, they speak Kuvi, a language derived from the Dravidian strain of Southern India. Human sacrifice has now been replaced with animal sacrifice, offering the blood to their supreme goddess represented by a piece of wood or stone to ensure fertility of the soil. The members of this tribe still use bows and arrows to protect themselves from wild animals. Return to Rayagada for overnight

Day 10: Wednesday – Weekly Market - Rayagada-Jeypore (240kms) +

The drive today takes us through Chatikona to visit a few Dongariya Kondh villages. Wednesday is their market day. Jeypore, the .commercial nerve centre of Koraput district, endowed with falls and forests thronged with colourful wildlife has all such facilities to serve as the convenient base for visiting the places of interest in and around. Bagra (15 km) has the charming waterfall on the river Kolab and an ideal picnic spot. Overnight at Jeypore

Day 11: Thursday- Weekly Market - Jeypore-Onkadeli-Jeypore (180 kms) +

The area we visit today is the home of the approximately 6000 members of the fierce Bondas (naked people) of Tibetan-Burmese origin. 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 .co.ine to trade at the local market, and we have timed our visit to coincide with the weekly market. The Bonda women are noticeable by their bead necklaces, striking brass and silver neck lets and their shaved heads decorated with plaits of palmyra leaves. We will also visit the colorful Godabas, A munda tribe who speak in the Austro Asiatic dialect. Afterwards drive to drive Jeypore enroute visit some of the road side villages. Overnight in Jeypore

Day 12: Friday – Weekly Market – Jeypore-Chitrakot (150 kms) +

Day 13: Saturday – weekly Market – Chitrakot-Jagalpur-Chitrakot (120 kms) +

After breakfast visit one of the Muria villaes, then proceed to visit to the rich forests of the Kanger Valley National Park, the enchanting Tirathgarh waterfall and the extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite caves. Kanger retains the original intensity of the forests that once covered this whole region, and you will picnic in the natural habitat of leopard, tiger, sambhar, bison and the Bastar Hill Myna. Here too are forest tribal people in their natural habitat. There will be time also to explore some of JagdalpurÕs unique handicrafts. Also visit the Danteswari Temple at the Jagdalpur Palace. Overnight at Chitrakot

Day 14: Friday-Weekly Market Chitrakot-Kondagaon-Narayanpur-Kanker (200 kms.) +

Day 15: Kanker – Raipur ( 170 kms) +