Welcome to Orissa

Dinner. Reception at the airport, transfer to the hotel and visit of this contradictory and crazy city, very elegant and miserable, exotic and snobby, chaotic and charming, passionate and pure.

Half board. Time to dispose until transfer to the airport and flight to Bhubneshwar; from here continue by land to Puri, one of the four sacred cities of India, home of the god Jagannath.

Half board. Excursion to nearby Konark, where the gigantic temple of the sun god and "pagoda near" dominates, Orissa's impressive architectural masterpiece: amazing figures of elephants and the seven horses that symbolize the planets and the twenty-four huge wheels that drive the big chariot Surya. At the end of the immersive visit back to Puri.

Half board. Spend time at the ancient Bhubneshwar, the capital of Orissa and a pilgrimage center, known as the "city of the temple". Among the more than 600, visit of the great Lingaraj Mandir, whose interior is forbidden to non-Hindu, of the small Mukteswar from the rich sculptures depicted budhhist elements, jain and hindu, of the refined Rajarani, with intricate designs of flowers, animals and human figures. Continuation with the caves of Khandagiri and Udayagiri decorated with fine rock carvings and beautiful panoramic views.

Half board. Stop at the Chilika logo, the “sameraldi carpet” from the many isolated and many migratory birds, an area of great, uncontaminated beauty. Continue to Taptapani, a quiet place characterized by hot springs.

Half board. Moving to Rayagada: landscaping the entire area is an intricate and fascinating labyrinth of hills and valleys, peaks and forests, but the greatest attraction is the Saora tribes most concentrated in the Ganjam district. The ethnologists define the Orissa as a sort of living anthropological encyclopedia due to the particular concentration of ethnic minorities favored by the configuration of the territory: 62 ethnicities within the state, generally devoted to barter, of animist worship (religion with ritual compliments and tabu where the mother earth is loved, the sun god and an infinite number of tutelary gods and spirits), with an economy based on agriculture. Of particular interest is the weekly saora market held every Monday.

Half board. Full day dedicated to the discovery of the primitive Kutia Kondh tribes, previously known for human sacrifice, characterized by a particular passion for music, rituals and dances.
On a weekly basis, their exchange of goods takes place on Tuesday.

Half board. Excursion to Chatikona, area of the Dhongria Kondh ethnic group, whose tribal market is held every Wednesday, and continuation to Jeypore, area of the Paraja tribe with many totems.

Half board. First stop to discover Mundiguda and the famous Bonda community, called "the naked people", followed by the Gadabba villages with their typical costume and silver ornaments on their ears, necks and noses. In the afternoon transfer to Vishakhapatanam, 5 hours from Jeypore, to visit the local settlements and the Simachalam temple.

Breakfast and transfer to the airport in time for the flight to Mumbai to connect your flight for onward destination.

Today we drive to Jaipur, popularly known as Pink City, the flamboyant & colourful capital of Rajasthan. With its rich & colorful past, resplendent with tales of valour & bravery, it is now one of the most important heritage cities in India. The city was founded in 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. It remains the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors. Rest of the time free at leisure to relax or walking in the local market.