Itinerary for Odisha

Day 1: SUN- BHUBANESWAR ( 30 minute drive +visit)

Welcome to Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha state and also known as the Temple city of east. Upon arrival at Biju Pattanaik international airport, meet and greet by our Heritage tours representative and transfer to your prebooked hotel. Rest and relax from the long jetlag . If time permits, short excursion to Heerapur to visit the unique sixty four yogini temple and enjoy the peaceful walk in the beautiful countryside. Evening orientation on tour with welcome drinks. Overnight stay in your hotel at Bhubaneswar.

Day 2: MON-BHUBANESWAR & LOCAL ( 1 hr drive +visit)

Morning short drive to the temple town, do heritage walk to explore variousanicient temples on a chronological order ( 7th century to 15th century temples). This heritage walk will cover Mukteswar temple, parasurameswar temple, Laxmaneswar group of temple, grand Lingaraj temple views from the platform, living bazar, watertank, small shrine, herbal garden, etc.

Post lunch visit to Khandagiri and Udaygiri ancient caves. Soft trek to the highhills to see the majestic views of Bhubaneswar City and also exploring the ancient caves of 1 st century AD. Then stroll around the daily market . Drive back to the hotel and Overnight stay.

Day 3: TUE-BHUBANESWAR-NUAPATANA-SADEIBARENI-JORANDA-DHENKANAL ( 3hrs drive +visit)

Morning after breakfast, check out and drive through beautiful rural landscapes to Nuaptana textile village. Here you will welcome by the weavers families . You will join a workshop on Ikat weaving ( a traditional tie and dye process ) in which you will see the various steps in weaving by the traditional loom). Enjoy a traditional lunch with the weaver family and further proceed to Sadeibareni village to see the typical Dhokra metal craft work. This craft is based on lost wax wine process . Here the villagers are inherited with craft making . After a meaning ful tour to this village, drive to Joranda to meet the unique Mahima monks at their monastery and also attend their impressive sunset prayer. Overnight stay in a basic and clean hotel at Dhenknal.or in a comfortable Royal palace of the local king.

Day 4: WED- DHENKANAL-RATNAGIRI-BHITARKANIKA (5hrs drive+visit)

After a peaceful morning, check out and drive to Ratnagiri to visit the ruined Buddhist monasteries and the archeological sites filled with votive stups, Buddhist icons. Enjoy the peaceful walk along this valley and also visit Buddhist shrines and enjoy the picnic lunch. Furthert drive to Bhitarkanika and overnight stay in an eco resort close by the riverside.

Day 5: THU- BHITARKANIKA &LOCAL

Early morning sunrising boat trip in the river creeks amidst the mangrove biodiversity. While low tide in the river, witness various estuarine crocodiles, spotted deer, birds like king fisher, egret , wild boar, etc. Enjoy the nature at her best. If interested enjoy the jungle walk and visit to kings hunting place and watch tower for the birds.

Afternoon walk to the nearby unspoilt rural villages to study their livelihood, traditions etc. Overnight stay in the same eco resort.

Day 6: FRI- KONARK ( 5hrs+visit)

Morning with a peaceful breakfast, check out and proceed to Konark. Enroute visit the ancient temples around Prachi river valley. Afternoon enjoy the walk along the fisher man village and the scenic chandrabhaga beach. Evening enjoy the light and sound show at the back drop of the world heritage and Unescorecognised Stunning sun temple. Overnight stay in an eco resort , nicely located along the confluence of river front and the beach.

Day 7: SAT-PURI ( 1hr+visit)

During morning visit to the sun temple to understand the stone language in the soft sun light. Enjoy the walk around this majestic monument and witness its superb stone carving. Drive back to the hotel and after breakfast, check out drive to puri. Enroute visit the sand art centerand upon arrival at Puri , transfer to a hotel/homestay.. Afternoon explore the holy and spiritual town puri by our national tourism awarded Greenrider rickshaws. The idea is to support the local through tourism. This meaningful ride passesough medieval byelanes and cover civilian residential buildings, watertanks, cremation place, local market, craft centers and the great views of Lord Jagannath temple ( the entry to Jagannath temple is only for Hindus). Evening stroll along the Neeladri beach. Enjoy your dinner in a local and popular restuarant at Puri.

Overnight stay in ahotel/homestay.

Day 8: SUN-PURI-RAGHURAJPUR-MANGALAJODI-CHILIKA LAKE ( 3 hrs drive+visit)

Morning after breakfast, check out and short drive to visit the rich rural villages around Puri, visit to painter and craft village , pottery maker village, coconut tree rider villages. Enjoy the walk through various rural villages and also meet the artist and craftman at his home. Enjoy a traditional lunch at the artist family and also Gotipua folk dance at a Gurukul dance school. Fuirther drive through beautiful country side to Mangalajodi along the Chilika lake. Mangalajodi is nicely locatyed along the outer chilikalake , which is an ideal habitat for the migratory and residential birds in the nature. Here the villagers were poachers and now transformed to great Bird protectors. Here you will take the local catamaran ride into the various water channels to meet various birds in the nature.

Enjioy the sunset walk and overnight stay in a hotel along the Chilika lake.

Day 9: MON-CHILIKA LAKE- BALIGUDA ( 5 hrs drive +visit)

Morning nature walk along the lake to see the fishing activities and also a boat ride to the breakfast island . Check out and proceed to Baliguda region to meet kutiakondh tribes. Enroute visit the farmers village, Nirmaljharshrine . Overnight stay in a decent hotel at Baliguda.

Day 10: TUE- BALIGUDA-KOTAGAD-RAYAGADA ( 5hrs+visit)

Morning walk to the Kutiakondh tribal villages. Here the kutialadiese tattoo faced with linear and geometrical tattoos. This walk through village will educate you by seeing their traditional houses, agricultural land, shrines, community livelihood.

Further drive to kotagad to visit ther weekly market of various kondh tribes and further drive to rayagada and overnight stay in a decent hotel at Rayagada.

Day 11: WED- RAYAGADA-CHATIKONA-DESIACOMMUNITY TOURISM CENTER ( 5hrs+visit)

Early departure for Chatikona to meet most indigeneousDunguria highlanders at tyhier weekly market. Walk in and around the market and also visit this colourful weekly market. The Dunguria tribes are inhabited in the Niyamgirijhigh hills and are great horticulturist and once in a week walk to this down hill market to sale their seasonal fruits and vegetables . After a memorable visit , drive through lovely countrysides which is full of forest, valleys, high hills, waterbodies. Enjoy the walk in the nature and also to bamboo basket making village. Late afternoon arrival at Desia camp and receive with warm welcome by the local community. Evening walk to the nearby village and and enjoy your dinner at Desia community tourism center and overnight stay.

Day 12: THU- DESIA AND EXCURSION TO BONDA WEEKLY MARKET ( 1 hr drive +visit)

After a peaceful morning with breakfast , shorty drive to Ounkadelli to meet the most interesting Bonda tribes at their weekly market. The Bonda ladies are beautiful as they love to adorn their upper body with lot of ornaments and jewellery. Also you may meet gadaba, didayi tribes in this market. Walk in and round market to interact with various tribal groups and back to Desia. Enroute visit to the gorgeous Duduma waterfall. Afternoon excursion to Mali tribal village to know their interesting Organic farming. Enjoy the walk along the riverside amidst the nature. Evening enjoy your dinner and overnight stay at Desia.

Day 13: FRI- DESIA AND LOCAL

Today you will walk to various tribal villages nearby Desia camp which are nicely located. The idea is to connect the nature and community by spending ample of time with the community . Walk through villages and interacting with the community to know their lifer style, culture , educations, traditional healing etc, Also visit the school, small market etc. Enjoy the dinner with campfire and overnight stay at Desia.

Day 14: SAT- DESIA-VISAKHAPATNAM- DEPARTURE ( 5hrs drive)

After farewell meet with Desiacrews, departure for Visakhapatnam to board your onward flight to back home. Enjoy the drive through scenic arakku valley, coffee plantation etc.

Tour ends-