SOUTH EAST INDIA

The Exotic East

This tour takes in the highlights of Delhi, India’s capital city and the rich legacy of its past and present. Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) has been acknowledged as the cultural capital of India and possesses some of the country’s finest remnants of British colonial architecture. The highly cultured tropical state of Orissa along India’s south-east coastline on the Bay of Bengal was once a formidable maritime empire. Today, it is a showcase of well-preserved temples and exquisite architecture from India’s classical period. Travel to Orissa’s very heartland inhabited by the Adivasis (literally – original inhabitants) tribes that constitute more than one quarter of the state’s population. Visit the Kondhs, a hardy and self-sufficient people and the Bonda known as the “naked people” in the forests of Koraput to see the tribal customs, rituals and lifestyles. Drive into Andhra Pradesh visiting Visakhapatnam, a popular beach resort but more known now as India’s largest ship-building yard. Visit culturally rich Hyderabad, once the seat of the mighty Vijayanagar empire and birthplace of the famous Kohinoor diamond not to mention the centre of arts, culture and learning for Muslim India.

Day 01: Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Meet and greet then transfer to hotel.

Day 02: Delhi
Full day tour of Old & New Delhi discovering it’s ancient rich past reflected in its many old forts and monuments scattered all over this historic city. Drive through Lutyen’s well-planned newer quarters which house the presidential palace, the parliament building and other rambling remnants from the British Raj.

Day 03: Delhi - Kolkata
Take the morning flight to Kolkata, an effervescent metropolis of incredible contrasts known for the warm hospitality of its inhabitants and their cultural and literary achievements. Explore the Chowringhee area and New Market on your own. Here many buildings from the British colonial days can be found.

Day 04: Kolkata
A full day tour taking in some of the city highlights; drive past the Maidan, Fort William, Raj Bhawan visiting Victoria Memorial possibly the most awesome reminder of the Raj to be found in India. Visit Kali temple, the Jain temple, Parasnath and Missions of Charity, Mother Teresa’s Home.

Day 05: Kolkata - Bhubaneswar
This morning visit Belur Math, north of Kolkata on the bank of the Hooghly river, the international headquarters of the well known Ramkrishna Mission. Evening, board an overnight express train for Bhubaneswar.

Day 06: Bhubaneswar
Morning arrive Bhubaneswar, capital city of the highly cultured tropical state of Orissa. Afternoon, visit Udaigiri & Khandagiri located some 6km west of the city these two hills are riddled with caves, some ornately carved and believed to have been chiseled out by Jain ascetics in the 1st century BC. Visit the Museum of Man, an anthropological research centre for tribal customs, beliefs, rituals and languages.

Day 07: Bhubaneswar - Puri
Morning, visit Old Bhubaneswar town with its myriad wayside shrines and temples the most outstanding of which is the 54m high Lingaraj Mandir dedicated to Tribhubaneswar, the lord of the three worlds. Visit Bindu Sagar, an ancient water tank believed to contain water from every holy stream in India. Scattered around this holy tank are smaller temples and shrines. Afternoon, drive to Puri, one of the four most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in India and situated on the Bay of Bengal. This city revolves around the great Jagannath Mandir, one of India’s most important temples and dedicated to Jagannath, lord of the universe, an incarnation of Vishnu. A whole day can be fruitfully spent just exploring the maze of narrow lanes around this temple.

Day 08: Puri - Konark - Puri
Go on a day-return trip from Puri to visit the mighty Sun Temple, Konark, a World Heritage site and one of India’s most astonishing temples. It was built in the mid 13th century but remarkably little is known of its early history. The entire temple was conceived as a chariot for the Sun god, Surya. Around the base are 24 gigantic carved stone wheels while seven mighty stone horses haul at the temple and the immense structure is covered with carvings and sculptures.

Day 09: Puri - Pipili - Taptapani
Drive to Taptapani visiting Pipili village, notable for its brilliant appliqué craft and Chilka Lake, Asia’s largest brackish lagoon 1100 sq.km in area and host to a million or more migratory birds including osprey, geese, herons, cranes and flamingos that flock here in winter from as far away as Siberia, Mongolia and Iran. Overnight at a government lodge near the hot-springs.

Day 10: Taptapani - Rayagadda
Drive to Rayagadda close to the rolling hills and forests of the Eastern Ghat, home to Orissa’s indigenous tribes.

Day 11: Rayagadda - Chatikona - Jeypore
After breakfast, drive down to Chatikona to watch the interesting colourful weekly market of Dongaria Kondh tribe (must fall on a Wednesday). This tribe is one of the most primitive living in the high slopes of the Niyamagiri Hills. In the afternoon proceed to Jeypore en route visiting villages inhabited by the Paroja tribals.

Day 12: Jeypore - Ankadeli - Lamptaput - Jeypore
Day return trip from Jeypore to Ankadeli and Lamptaput to visit the famous Bonda tribe who only come down once a week for their weekly market. It is a unique opportunity to see such a colourful congregation of tribals of the area in one place with the women wearing their ethnic jewellery. Continue on to Lamptaput where we visit the villages of the Gadaba tribe, one of the earliest settlers of this area tracing their origin to the Ramayan era.

Day 13: Jeypore - Nandapur - Jeypore
Morning drive to see the weekly Kunduli market held on Fridays which is the biggest tribal market in the area where we will find large congregation of the Sana, Paroja and Mali tribes. We visit a few of their villages taking a short hike through Nandapur valley. Drive back to Jeypore.

Day 14: Jeypore
This morning we drive west to Gupteshwar temple dedicated to lord Shiva, hidden in the hills. Then visit Ramanguda, Dogariguda, Silpader and Talur, walking through these villages and meeting the local Dhuruba tribe that inhabit this area. Return to Jeypore.

Day 15: Jeypore - Visakhapatnam
After breakfast proceed to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, a commercial city on the Bay of Bengal passing through small interesting villages en route. Rest of day free to enjoy the beaches.

Day 16: Visakhapatnam - Hyderabad
Morning, drive to the airport to connect flight to Hyderabad, the state capital and an important cultural hub. Afternoon, visit Charminar the principal landmark of Hyderabad and the surrounding bazaars and Mecca Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world.

Day 17: Hyderabad
Visit the famous Salarjung Museum which houses extensive collection of rare books, arms and weaponry, fine sculptures and paintings from around the world. Also visit Golconda Fort the awesome fortress and the Birla Mandir, a stunning Hindu temple that overlooks the city.

Day 18: Hyderabad - Delhi - Departure
Morning is at leisure. Late afternoon, transfer to the airport to catch the flight for Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, transfer to the International terminal to connect outbound flight.