Home » Regional Tours to India » Orissa Heritage Tour

Duration: 09 Nights / 10 Days
Destinations: Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar - Baliguda - Rayagada - Gopalpur - Bhubaneshwar - Kolkata

Day 1: Kolkata
Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Kolkata, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Kolkata

Days 2 & 3: Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar - breakfast
This morning we enjoy a city tour visiting the stately Indian Museum the oldest and largest in India, the Victoria Memorial, Howrah Flower Market, St Paul’s Cathedral and the extraordinary Marble Palace which houses paintings by Rubens, Titian and Reynolds. This afternoon we board the Coromandal Express (1st class A/C wagon) enroute to Bhubaneshwar. Day 3, we start our sightseeing tour of Bhubaneshwar - state capital and home to more than 500 temples.

A visit is made to the awesome Sun Temple at Konark, a World Heritage Site. It was built as a chariot for sun god Surya and has 24 gigantic stone wheels, seven horses and many elaborate carvings. Later we visit Puri on the Bay of Bengal, blessed with golden beaches and is home to the Jagannath Temple. By the time the Lingaraja temple was built, the Jagannath cult had become widespread throughout Orissa, exemplified by the presiding deity Svayambhu Linga - half Shiva and half Vishnu - a unique feature of the temple. Almost all the Hindu gods and godesses are represented in the temple. Later we stop by the coastal town of Pipli - reknown for it’s handicrafts, patchwork and exquisite appliqué. Overnight (2) - Bhubaneshwar

Days 4 & 5: Bhubaneshwar - Baliguda - Rayagada - breakfast
Contining our drive south west, we visit the tribal villages of the local area. Baliguda is home to the Kutia Kondh tribe, whose geometrical tattoos on their faces and bodies are simply stunning. The Kondh dance is usually only for unmarried boys and girls and is performed especially when one village visits another. Some of the villages have no musical instruments accompanying the dance but it does vary from village to village and songs can play an important part. Visits to villages and numerous temples. Lunch, dinner and overnight (1) - Baliguda, (1) - Rayagada

Days 6 & 7: Rayagada - Gopalpur-on-sea - breakfast
Today we visit to the Langai Soura tribal village and continue south east to Gopalpur for a few days at leisure. Gopalpur was a prominent trading port during the days of the British East India Company. Today, the city is a quiet, relaxed place with a charm of its own dotted with casuarina trees and palms and industrious fishermen dressed in pointed straw bonnets haul in hand nets on Gopalpur’s extensive shoreline. Overnight (2) - Gopalpur-on-sea

Days 8 & 9: Gopalpur-on-sea - Bhubaneshwar - Kolkata - breakfast
To round off the exploration of Orissa, we take the opportunity to visit Chilika Lake - Asia’s largest lagoon. It is famous for the migratory birds that travel to the bird island during winter. The shallow lake is only separated from the sea by a sand bar and wildlife can be found on some of the larger islands. Afternoon drive to Bhubaneshwar. On day 9, we board the Dhauli Express train to Kolkata. Afternoon arrival and hotel check in. Overnight (1) - Bhubaneshwar, (1) - Kolkata

Day 10: Kolkata - breakfast
Enjoy free time exploring the showpiece capital of the British Raj. Kolkata also possesses numerous churches, temples and Botanical Gardens for you to to walk around at leisure. Hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport.