India Tribal Tours

Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Places to Visit: Delhi - Nagpur - Kanha - Kawardha - Kanker - Baster - Jeypore - Rayagada - Gopalpur - Bhubaneshwar - Puri - Lalitagiri

DAY 01: DELHI -
You will be met upon arrival at the arrival lounge of International airport and will be transferred to hotel Imperial for overnight stay

DAY 02: NAGPUR - KANHA
Depart Delhi on flight 9W111 at 0705 hrs, arriving in Nagpur at 0825 hrs. You will be met and assisted on arrival and drive to Kanha. Upon arrival proceed to Kipling Camp.( 6 hours drive).
Considered by some to be India's greatest national park, the area is certainly an excellent place to see many species in their natural habitat. First declared as a small sanctuary in 1933, it was upgraded to a national park from 1955. One of India's great conservation success stories is from Kahn, where the barasingha (swamp deer) population was increased from about 66 in the late 1960s to over 450 by 1985. The terrain consists of attractive forest with bamboo brakes, grassy plateaus and meadows in the valleys. The varied habitat is also home to the gaur (largest of the world's cattle), sambar (the largest of the Indian deer), chowsingha (the only four-horned antelope in the world), Nilgai (blue bull), sloth bear, leopard, tiger and a wide variety of birds. Overnight at Kimpling Camp.

DAY 03: KANHA - KAWARDHA
After an early morning safari in the park, depart on the 95 km( 3- 4 hours) drive to Kawardha, a small town in the Chhattisgarh ("34 forts") region. Kawardha, which is in the centre of the Bagia tribe who live on the forests surrounding the town. In this remote area, Maharaja Vishwaraj Singh has recently opened his palace to visitors. The palace provides a delightfully quiet unspoiled contrast with India's big cities. The Radha Krishna family temple with underground rooms, the Holy Water tank and other 11th century temples in the immediate region are also worth visiting.
Overnight at Kawardha Palace.

DAY 04: KANKER
As one leaves the plains of Chattisgarh, driving southwards, there is a gentle but unmistakable ascent into the hills. The forest thickens all around as the road winds up serpentine Ghats. The hills in the distance, bathed in a misty blue, appear to fade into each other. Somewhere along the way, in a clearing on the side, men with poles slung over their shoulders and women with baskets on their heads, make their way down a forest track in single file, unmindful of the occasional vehicle going past. The air is fresh and sweet with the fragrance of wild flowers. There is an exhilarating sense of coming into something wondrous, beautiful and untouched. A visit to this region provides a rare opportunity to experience this moment and the heritage that lives on in ingenious ways. Nestled in the bend of the river Dudh, a tributary of the Mahanadi.

DAY 05: KANKER
After breakfast, depart for an excursion to Keshkal, 30 kms south of Kanker, amidst dense forest. The road climbs a spectacular series of ledges in 12 loops. At the summit are two picture-perfect rest houses, which offer an array of breathtaking views of the lush expanse of jungle and the interlocking valleys below. Later you will have the opportunity to observe and enjoy tribal life at close quarters when you visit the tribes in the vicinity. You will also visit the ruins of some ancient temples in the area. Return to Kanker for dinner and overnight stay.After breakfast, enjoy a full-day excursion to visit the tribal village of Bahaigaon, famous for its dancers. The countryside around Kanker is an endless series of interesting discoveries. Gond Muria and Gond Halba tribals live in hamlets and villages, following unhurried routines and customs that are an anthropologist's delight. Return to Kanker for dinner and overnight stay

DAY 06: BASTER
After breakfast, depart for Bastar. The journey is, in itself, a treasure trove of vignettes of tribal life. You may visit the centres of tribal craft and their emporia at Bastar and Kondagaon on the way and you will have the opportunity to mingle with tribal folk. On arrival, check into a Bastar farm house for dinner and overnight stay. Enjoy a visit to the Maria Gond tribe, known for their weaving, dancing and hospitality. Also spend time in Bastar, soaking in the natural beauty of the region amidst which tribal folk create their lives. The stupendous falls of the river Indravati at Chitrakote, and the lively cataracts of Tirathgarh offer exciting prospects of exploration and a picnic. Dinner and overnight at a Bastar farm house

DAY 07: JEYPORE
After breakfast, depart for Jeypore, en route visiting Kotpad weavers and tribal villages. Orissa is a world of lush and green mountains, with rich paddies and terraces everywhere. Jeypore, in the Koraput district of Orissa, is a feast for the eyes, cradled in virgin nature with a broad panorama of enchanting hills, rippling streams, spectacular waterfalls, wonderful caves and lush green valleys. The scenery is complimented by the simplicity and traditional hospitality of the tribes and their rich cultural heritage. You will meet a few of the 62 tribal groups that inhabit this State; in particular the very colourful and unusual Kondh, Gadabba and famed Bonda tribe, whose animist societies are totally separate from, and in great contrast to, the traditional Hindu societies found all over India. As we explore weekly markets, be prepared to meet people decorated with facial and hand tattoos, layers of beads covering bare breasts, piles of aluminium necklaces and a multitude of earrings, whose features are far from Asian. On arrival, check into Hotel Hello Jeypore for dinner and overnight stay.After breakfast, take a full day's visit to Onukudelli to see the famed Bonda tribe and their weekly market on the hilly main street of this tiny town.

DAY 08: RAYAGADA
Depart for Rayagada, en route visiting the Paraja tribe and their village and tribal market at Kakariguma. On arrival in Rayagada, check into the Sai International Hotel for overnight stay

DAY 09: GOPALPUR
Depart for Gopalpur on sea, en route visiting the Kondh and Saora tribe, their villages and lifestyles. The Kondhs are historically known for their "Mariah Sacrifice" - or "Human Sacrifice". They are of Dravidian origin and speak Kui language, and they practice elaborate birth, marriage and death rituals. The Saora tribes are mostly concentrated in the Ganjam district of the State. The whole area is an intricate labyrinth of precipitous hills and valleys which are part of the Eastern Ghat - the height of the hills varying from 2000 to 4000 feet above sea level. The tribes trace their origins to the Ramayana where there is reference to Savari, a Saora woman whom Ram and Laxman met while moving about in the Dandaka forests in search of Sita. On arrival in Gopalpur on sea, check in to the Song of the Sea or Sea Pearl Hotel.

DAY 10: BHUBANESHWAR
Depart for Bhubaneswar en route visiting Chilka Lake- the largest brackish water lake in the country, spread over 1200 sq. kms and famous for its migratory birds and Irawaddy dolphins. Enjoy a cruise for 2 hours on the lake where you will see the migratory birds, Kalijhai island temple and local fishermen.Continue your drive to Bhubaneswar and on arrival check into the Oberoi Trident Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.After breakfast, depart for a full day visit of Konarak and Puri - en route visiting the famous, traditional, artistic appliqué village paintings. The temple chariot of the Sun God on the sands of the Bay of Bengal is a 13th century architectural marvel.

DAY 11: BHUBANESHWAR
After breakfast, enjoy a full day's trip to visit the famed Buddhist Heritage complex -Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitagiri, located 110 kms and 2 hours drive from Bhubaneswar. Through the years, from the 3rd century B.C, Orissa had nurtured a number of Buddhist centres of learning and art in several places which flourished up to the 12th to 13th century A.D. In fact, these places of Buddhist interest had been a great source of attraction to outside visitors from as early as the 7th century, when the famous Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang had visited the Buddhist centres in Orissa. Lalitagiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri, on the banks of the river Birupa, is the most opulent

DAY 12 : BHUBANESHWAR
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bhubaneswar, capital city of the modern state of Orissa and the ancient Kingdom of Kalinga. Bhubaneswar is known as the Temple City of India. Amongst the finest of its 600 temples, and also the largest, is the Lingaraj Temple of Shiva built in the 11th century. Visit the Mukteswara temple built in the 10th century and known for its stone and arch at the entrance and its rich sculpture. With tales from the Panchtantra carved on it, the temple is a magnificent example of Orissan architecture. The Rajarani temple, set in picturesque surroundings, is noted for its intricate carvings of floral, animal and human figures. It was built in the 11th century and has no deity. Parasurameswara temple, a small but richly decorated shrine of Shiva built in the 7th century, is one of the best preserved. It has sculptures featuring amorous couples, animals and floral motifs. Visit the caves carved out of rock on the hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri, which are about 8 kms from the city.

DAY 13: KOLKATA
A mere village in the 17th century, Kolkata today is one of the largest cities in the world, one of the largest ports in the East and the main outlet for produce of West Bengal and neighbouring states. The city was built around Fort William, with a huge Maidan surrounding it. The main building on the Maidan is the Victoria Memorial, a massive domed building of white marble which houses a collection of Victorian memorabilia, as well as objects and documents related to the history of Bengal. In the park are statues of Queen Victoria, Lord Curzon and other figures of the British Raj. The Race Course, opened in 1819, is the largest in the East. In its central oval are the Calcutta Polo Club grounds where the game has been played since 1861. Rabindra Sadan, a concert hall named after Rabindranath Tagore is active all year round. The Academy of Fine Arts has a collection of old textiles, miniatures, Mughal swords, Tagore memorabilia and modern Bengali art. St. Paul's Cathedral, a tall white Gothic building with a stained-glass window by Burne-Jones, was consecrated in 1847. Near the Cathedral are the Birla Planetarium and the Nehru Children's Museum, which displays a collection of toys from all over the world and two remarkable dioramas presenting the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in 61 scenes.Morning visit to the traditional snake charmer village, afternoon transfer to flights to Delhi and home.

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