NEI (UK)'s holidays to India... welcome..

ORISSA TEMPLES AND TRIBES

DAY 1 (SUNDAY) : KOLKATA.
Upon arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free at leisure and to relax from the flight. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 2 (MONDAY) : KOLKATA.
There will be a full day of sightseeing today. The tour will take you through 'White Town' visiting the Victoria Memorial, the Writers Building amongst other historical buildings and the Howrah Bridge. In the late afternoon there will be a chance to explore the Kali temple at Kali ghat on the Ganges. Evening return to hotel. O/n at hotel. (hotel with breakfast.)

DAY 3 ( TUESDAY) : KOLKATA – VISHAKHAPATNAM.
After breakfast you will be driven to and can explore, Chandernagore, a former French settlement on the banks of the River Hoogly. After returning to your hotel to check out, you will be taken to the train station to board the overnight train to Vishakapatnam at 21-05 hrs. O/n in train

DAY 4 ( WEDNESDAY) : JEYPORE
Upon arrival at Visakhapatnam at 12-40 hrs you will be met at the station and taken to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch you will be driven to Jeypore (about 200 km/5 hrs). Dinner and o/n at hotel.

DAY 5 (THURSDAY) : JEYPORE
Early in the morning you will be driven to the small village of Gadhaba in time for the local market to be observed. The people of this region are known as Bondas or Naked People and are thought to be of Tibetan-Burmese origin. The Bonda women are recognisable by their bead necklaces, striking brass and silver necklets and their shaved heads decorated with plaits of Palmyra leaves. A local lunch will be provided and there will be a chance to witness a tribal dance. You will return to Jeypore in time for dinner. O/n at hotel

DAY 6 (FRIDAY)   : JEYPORE.
Today you will be driven to Gupteswar (70 km) to visit the villages of the very interesting dhuruba tribe. You can walk through the villages of Ramanguda, Dogariguda, Silpader, Talur etc. The dhruba tribal males like to adorn themselves with ornaments. You will also visit the cave temple of Lord Shiva in a 'hidden' mountain. Later return to hotel for dinner. O/n at hotel.

DAY 7 (SATURDAY) JEYPORE.
After breakfast you will be driven to Nandapur region to visit some villages of the Sanaparoja tribes. This will involve a short hike through the area. Later return to Jeypore for dinner and o/n at hotel. O/n at hotel.

DAY 8 (SUNDAY) : JEYPORE TO RAYAGADA.

After breakfast you will be driven to Rayagada about 5 or 6 hours away. You will be checked into your hotel and depending upon how much time the journey has taken, you will be able to visit a number of villages of the Dongariya Kondh people who still live in the hill slopes. Later you will return to your hotel in time for dinner. O/n at hotel.

DAY 9 (MONDAY) : RAYAGADA TO TAPTAPANI
There will be an early start this morning to drive about four and a half hours to Taptapani, enroute visiting the first of the projects being managed by Gram Vikas at Raygad. After seeing the work being undertaken, the journey will continue arriving at your destination in the late afternoon. Here you will be staying in the old Circuit House.

DAY 10 (TUESDAY) : TAPTAPANI TO GOPALPUR On SEA
After breakfast you will be driven to visit the offices of Gram Vikas and have an opportunity to talk to those intimately involved with the worthwhile projects they manage. Later you will continue your journey to Gopalpur on Sea and check into your hotel. O/n at hotel.

Gopalpur on Sea, is an ancient seaport not often visited by tourists. Sand dunes, groves of coconut palms and casuarinas separate the small town from the beach.

DAY 11 (WEDNESDAY) : GOPALPUR on SEA TO PURI.
There will be an early start this morning because the drive to Puri takes about 7 hours. En route you will visit the Chilika Lake, famous for the number of birds which live, or migrate there. Upon arrival you will be checked into your hotel and have the rest of the day to relax. O/n at hotel.

Puri, is one of the four Holy Abodes in India. It also offers the rare experience of watching both sunset and sunrise from the same beach. Pre-Dravidian and pre-Aryan history tells that a tooth of Buddha was temporarily enshrined in Puri before being moved to Kandy in Sri Lanka. The Jaganath Temple to the Lord of the Universe, is the main attraction in Puri.

DAY 12 (THURSDAY) : PURI.
This morning there will be a chance to do some sightseeing in Puri. As well as the Jaganath Temple you will see the Gundicha Temple, the Narendra Tank and the Atharanala Bridge. Later there will be time for you to relax at your hotel or stroll along the beach and watch the sunset. O/n at hotel.

DAY 13 (FRIDAY) : PURI.
A whole day free to relax on beach. And reflect on the journey so far. O/n at hotel.

DAY 14 (SATURDAY) : PURI TO BHUBNESHWAR.
After breakfast you will be driven to Bhubaneshwar, enroute visiting the famous Sun Temple at Konark built by King Langula Narasimha Deva in the thirteenth century AD during the golden era of Orissa art, and the Rock Edict of Ashoka at Dhauli. Upon arrival you will be checked into your hotel and have the rest of the day free to relax. O/n at hotel.

DAY 15 (SUNDAY) : BHUBNESHWAR.
After breakfast there will be the chance for you to visit the many historical sites and temples in Bhubaneshwar. Originally there were some 7000 tempoles but now only 500 remain. The most outstanding of these is the Lingaraja Temple. O/n at hotel.

DAY 16 (MONDAY) : FLY TO KOLKATA.
Afternoon fly to Kolkata at 12.30 hrs. Arrival at 13.25 hrs, pick-up and transfer to hotel.
Remainder of day at leisure.   Late evening transfer to airport board flight to London.

Please contact us for further information and prices.