India Tour - Orissa & Sunderbans

Tour Itinerary

Singapore / Kolkata  

Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel Taj Bengal (5*)

Kolkata

AM: Sightseeing tour of Kolkata city visiting: Mother Teresa homes, the river side, Howrah bridge with flower market (in the morning), Jain temple and some time in old Calcutta of Dominique Lapeiere.

PM: BELUR MATH: north of the city, on the west end of Hooghly River, is the head quarter of Ramakrishna mission, belur math. Ramakrishna, an Indian philosopher, preached the unity of all religions. He died in 1886, and his follower swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna mission in 1897. Belur math, the movement’s international headquarter, was founded in 1899. It is supposed to represent a church, a mosque, and a temple depending on how you look at it. It is open daily from 0630 hrs to 11 am and from 1530 to 7 pm.     

Overnight in Taj Bengal  5*

Kolkata / Sunderban

Morning: Time to collect permit, then drive to Sonakhali, 110 kms 3 hrs then take a Boat ride for 2 hrs 30 min to Sajnekhali.

Overnight at TOURIST LODGE (Basic lodge – Non air-con rooms).

Afternoon at watch tower near the lodge to watch wild life, Deer, birds etc.

Sunderban

Morning Boat ride to different areas to see the Flora and Fauna with picnic lunch. (Mangrove vegetation, chances of seeing Crocodile and also the famous for Royal Bengal Tiger, if you are lucky!).

Sunderban is a must see for nature lovers. It’s one of the main national forests of India. Canning, 40 kms away from Calcutta, is called the gateway of Sunderban. From Canning you will take Steamer and sail to Gossa, the East gateway of Sunderban. From Gosaba, you will travel to Sajnakali. At Sajnakali there is Tourist Lodge maintained by the state tourist co-operation. There is a museum about wild life at Sajnakali. Apart from that there are some bird watching towers. If you are lucky enough, you may see Royal Bengal Tigers. Sudhanyakhali, very close to Sjnekali, is another point for watching Tigers. 

Overnight at Tourist Lodge  (basic)

Sunderban / Kolkata / Bhubaneshwar

After early morning breakfast at 6 AM check out. En route boat cruise tour through the river and back to Basanti and then drive Calcutta.

Drive straight Airport to connect flight to Bhubaneshwar.

Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel Crown (4*)

Bhubaneswar- the Capital city of the modern State and the ancient kingdom of Kalinga.  Afternoon visit of Ekamra Crafts village and Tribal Museum.

Bhubaneshwar

AM: Bhubaneshwar city tour -Bhubaneshwar is known as the Temple City of India. Among the finest of its 600 temples is the Lingaraj Temple of Shiva built in the 11th century, it is also the biggest in Bhubaneswar.Visit the Mukteswara temple built in the 10th century and known for its stone and arch at the entrance and it is richly sculpted. The temple is a magnificent example of Orissan architecture. The Rajarani temple set in picturesque surrounding is noted for its intricate carvings of floral, animal and human figures. It is one of the best preserved. Also visit Bindu Sagar, museum etc

PM: Visit of Caves- Khandagiri and Udaygiri hills were carved and tunneled, to create this multi-storied ancient apartment residence for Jain monks. They were the work of the first known Orissan ruler, King Kharavela, and probably begun in the first century BC. Kharavela was a king of the Mahameghavahana dynasty, who is known for expansion of the Kalinga Empire and his installation of public improvements, such as canal systems.   

Overnight at Hotel Crown (4*)

Bhubaneshwar / Taptapani (B/L/D)

After breakfast drive Bhubaneswar-Taptapani (4 hrs/30 mins) visiting Chilka Lake.

Chilka lake: Largest brackish water lake in Asia spreading over 1200 Sq km and famous for its migratory birds and Irawady birds, Kalijhai island-temple and local fishermen. Cruise on lake for about 2 hours.

 Continue drive to Taptapani .On arrival check-in at Tourist Bungalow (Basic accommodations)

Taptapani / Rayagada (B/L/D)

After breakfast leave for Rayagadae (03 HRS/30 MIN) enroute visiting the Saora tribes.

The Saora tribes: They are mostly concentrated in 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 sq ft above sea level. They trace their origin to the Ramayana there is a reference of Savari, a Saora women whom Ram and Laxman met while moving about in the Dandaka forests in search of Sita

Continue drive to Rayagada. On arrival check in at Hotel Sai Int’l (Basic)

Rayagada / Chatikona / Jeypore (B/L/D)

After breakfast drive for Chatikona to see the colorful Dhongria Kondh tribe and their weekly tribal market which occurs once every Wednesday. 

The Kondhs are known in the history for their Meriah Sacrifice-Human Sacrifice. The Kondhs are of a Dravidian origin and speak Kuvi language. They practice elaborate birth, marriage and death rituals

After lunch leave for Jeypore. Check-in at Hotel Hello Jeypore (Basic)

Jeypore (B/L/D)

Full day visit of Onukudelli to see the famed Bonda tribe and their weekly tribal market which occurs once every Thursday.

Bonda Tribe-In the district of Koraput, on the high hills to the north-west of the river Machkund, live the wildest, rudest and possibly the most interesting tribe which is known as Bonda or naked people. The scanty dress of Bonda women and homicidal tendency of Bonda males have made them most fascinating and thus they stand in sharp contrast from the neighboring castes and tribes of Orissa. The Bondas call themselves Ramo and speaks a very difficult Austro-Asiatic language. Amidst picturesque scenes, Bondas live on high hills surrounded by fruit groves.

After visit of Bonda tribe market you will also visit the Gadabba tribe and their villages. 

Gadaba Tribes: The Gadaba are of austro origin, their dress is distinctly different from the Bonda.The women wear a long strip of cloth tied around the waist and a second piece of cloth is worn across the breasts and tied over one shoulder. They also wear a number of ornaments including necklaces, earrings, nose rings, large silver hoops in their hair.

Return to Jeypore for overnight stay at Hotel Hello Jeypore (basic).

Jeypore / Gopalpur (B/L/D)

After breakfast drive Jeypore-Gopalpur on sea- (7 Hours) enroute visiting Desia Kondh tribes and villages.

Check in for overnight at Swosti Palm Resort (4*)

Gopalpur / Puri

After breakfast drive Gopalpur/Puri. (3 Hrs/30 mins). Check-in at Hotel Mayfair Beach Resort (4*)

PM: Visit Puri-the city by the sea- is a major pilgrim center in India. Adi Shankara founded one of the peethas here. Uri is also famous for its Golden beach ideal for swimming and surfing. But the fame of Puri emanates most from the Jagannath Temple, which contributed the word Jurrernaut to the English language.

Konark: Here stand the impressive remains of the sun temple, better known as the black pagoda. King Narasimha probably had it built as much as a memorial to himself as he did in the honor of surya – the sun god. The chariot stands on enormous wheels, pulled by seven horses. The horses represent the 7 days of the week; 24 wheels are the 8 pahars into which the ancients divided the day and the night. 

Puri

At leisure to explore – car at your disposal.

Overnight at Hotel Mayfair Beach Resort (4*)

Puri / Bhubaneshwar / Kolkata

After breakfast drive to Bhubaneshwar (60 kms/1 hrs 30 Min) to connect flight to Calcutta .

Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel Peerless Inn (4*)

Kolkata – Departure

AM: At leisure.  Room until 6pm.

Departure transfer to International airport for flight to Singapore.