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Day 01
Arrive: Kolkata by:
International Flight |
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You
will arrive at Kolkata’s International Airport. Following customs,
immigration formalities and baggage collection, a representative
will meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building after which
you would be transferred to your hotel.
Calcutta was the capital of British India until 1911 and the
character of this city, perhaps more than any other has been, shaped
by the British Raj. Many colonial buildings remain and the British
legacy can still be felt in the city’s social and sporting life.
Amongst the most famous of the monuments in Calcutta are the
Victoria Memorial, planned by Viceroy Curzon and referred to both as
Curzon’s folly and the British Taj Mahal, and the Howrah Bridge, one
of the largest cantilever bridges in the world.
Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed for check-in. (HOTEL CHECK-IN
TIME IS 1200 NOON & EARLY CHECK IN IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY)
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 02
Kolkata |
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 After
buffet breakfast, you will proceed for sightseeing tour of Kolkata,
you will visit Raj Bhawan, now the residence of the Governor, was
once the residence of the Governor-General Marquis of Wellesley, the
building was modeled to resemble Lord Curzon’s ancestral home.
Writer’s Building, which is now the seat of the West Bengal
Government – this is where the early servants of the East India
Company toiled. Metcalfe Hall, which was designed after the Temple
of Winds of Athens, and once housed the Imperial Library. Howrah
Bridge, which is the third largest bridge in the world and has over
2 million people crossing over it daily. Fort William situated
between the River and the Maidan, it is an imposing fort and one of
the most expensive forts of its time. It has a unique distinction of
never having a gun fired in anger from its ramparts. Now it houses
the local army headquarters. The Maidan, which an open patch of huge
dimensions, was kept as a free field of fire for Fort William’s
guns. Though truncated in recent years for Metro Rail construction,
it is still a favorite area for thousands in the early mornings. The
Victoria Memorial, an imposing and monumental dream in marble. It
took 15 years to build and is treasure trove of Raj relics, offers
tree-lined walks in splendid parks, `lakes’ and houses a number of
superb statues including that of Queen Victoria. Also visit one of
the very important temples is the Kali Temple at Kalighat. It is
right next to Mother Teresa’s Home for The Destitute.
After sightseeing return to your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 03
Kolkata |
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After
buffet breakfast, day is at leisure for independent activities. (No
transportation cost envisaged on this day).
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 04
Kolkata -
Bhubaneshwar by: flight Bhubaneshwar - Puri by Surface |
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After
the buffet breakfast, morning is at leisure. Later a SITA
representative will meet and transfer you to the airport in time to
board your flight for Bhubaneshwar.
Departure: Kolkata at: 1430 hours By: IC 7542 (Indian Airlines)
Arrival: Bhubaneshwar at: 1525 hours
Upon arrival at Bhubaneshwar, you will be met and assisted by a SITA
representative. You will be transferred to Puri (56 kms/ 1.5 hours),
where you will proceed for check-in at the hotel.
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. The 12th century temple is known
for its annual Car Festival.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 05
Puri -
Konark - Puri |
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 After
breakfast, proceed for half day excursion to Konark (31 Kms / 01
Hour).The Sun Temple at Konarak with its fantastic loneliness on the
wind swept sand dues of the Bay of Bengal fringed with palm and
casurina plantations is a breadth taking monument. Fashioned in the
form of a chariot, drawn by seven spirited horses, the temple is
profusely sculptured with exquisite figures and figurines fired by
an astonishing energy trapped on stone. It is a stunning master
piece of the 13th century Kalingan style of art and is one of the
unrivalled technical marvels that the age has produced.
Return back to Puri. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 06
Puri -
Bhubaneshwar |
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 Afternoon
visit of Bhubaneswar- The Capital city of the modern State and the
ancient kingdom of Kalinga. Bhubaneswar 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
it’s stone and arch at the entrance and is richly sculpted. With the
tales from the Panchatantra carved on it, 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 built in the 11th century
and has no deity. Parasurameswara temple a small but richly
decorated shrine of Shiva built in the 7th century. It is one of the
best preserved. It has sculptures featuring amorous couples, animals
and floral motifs. Continue your 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. His queen was evidently quite a patron of the arts, and
probably had much to do with the impressive sculptural decoration of
the caves.
Overnight at the Hotel. |
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Day 07
Bhubanehswar - Chilka Lake -
Taptapani |
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After
breakfast, you will be driven to Bhubaneshwar (56 kms/ 1.5 hours).
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to Tatapani (230
kms/ 05 Hrs. 30 Mins).
Enroute visiting famous brackish water Chilka Lake famous for its
migratory birds and irawadi dolphins-cruise to see Kalijha Island
and temple. (Boat ride on direct payment basis).
Continue your drive to Taptapani
The Saora tribes are mostly concentrated in Ganjam district of the
State. The whole area is an intricate labyrinth of priciptious hills
and valleys, which are part of the Eastern Ghat-the height of the
hills varying from 2000 to 4000 sqft 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.
Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed for check-in.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 08
Taptapani - Rayagada |
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After
breakfast, you will be driven from Taptapani to Rayagada (160 kms/
04 hours). You will visit The Saora Tribes.
The Saora tribes 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 sqft 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.
Visit their weekly tribal market. This is the Monday market of
tribes Saora.
Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed for check-in.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 09
Rayagada |
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After
breakfast, you will proceed for full day visit to Kutia Kondh Tribe
and their weekly tribal market and villages. This is a Tuesday
Market.
The Kondh Tribe- The Kondhs are one of the well-known tribes of
Orissa who were famous in history for their Meriah -Human Sacrifice.
Kutia.Kondh's life is full of festivities. The important festivals
are at the time of sowing and harvesting. During festivals, feast is
accompanied by singing, dancing and drinking. At the time of sowing
seeds they worship Dharani Deota and make animal sacrifice to ensure
good crop. The village women sing and dance joining hands and the
boys standing around also sing and the entire atmosphere becomes
joyous. During Sarupenu festival they resort to worship on the hills
and enjoy the day with feasting and dancing. Their weapon is bow and
arrow by which they defend themselves from wild animals.
The most important aspect of tribal culture is the music and dance.
Among certain tribes young men cannot find brides unless they
acquire special skill in dance and music. Dance and music are
primarily meant to propitiate Gods and Goddesses. In social
functions like marriage and feasting dance is their usual hobby. The
dance is performed in a central place of the village or in the
communal house and attended by almost all the tribesmen. Each tribe
has it own pattern of dance and music.
Overnight at the Hotel. |
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Day
10
Rayagada
- Jeypore |
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After
breakfast, proceed for Excursion to Chatikona (40 kms/1 hour) - to
see the Dhongria Kondh tribe and their weekly tribal market that
occurs once every Wednesday.
After your tour continue your drive for Jeypore enroute visiting
Paraja Tribe and villages.
The Parajas are mostly found in Koraput district. Their language is
Parji .The Parajas have a number of totemistic septs like
Bagh-tiger,Bokda-goat, Netam-Dog,Pandki-Dove, and the like, and
harming or eating the totem animal is forbidden. Instead such
animals should be respected. They worship various gods and goddesses
residing in hills or forests. During wedding Parajas resort to dance
and music.
Upon arrival, proceed for check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day
11
Jeypore - Mundiguda -
Vishakhapatnam |
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After
breakfast you will proceed to visit Mundiguda where you will see the
famed Bonda tribe and their weekly tribal market.
A two-hour drive from Jeypore. 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. They are generally agriculturists and are expert
cultivators. The irrigated and terraced paddy fields on high hills
prove their skill in rice cultivation.Bonda dormitories for the
unmarried boys and girls are very interesting. In spite of their
primitiveness and so-called poverty, the Bondas enjoy a high degree
of economic sufficiency.
After visit of Bonda tribe market you will also visit the Gadabba
tribe and their villages
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. Older Gadaba women also wear two very thick silver neck rings,
which are not removed until they die.Gadaba men wear loin cloths.
Younger Gadaba girls are becoming increasingly more modernized often
wearing large flowers in their hair.
Later, in the afternoon, you will be driven to Vishakhapatnam (5
hours drive from Jeypore) enroute visiting typical villages and
Simachalam temple.
Simachalam is a temple of the 'Narashima Avatar’, it is situated on
the small hill Simachala on the outskirts of Vishak.In the way we
saw one of Vishak's drinking water reservoir. The roads doesn't have
much traffic. There are city bus facilities available to the temple
from the Central busstand(Complex). The temple has its own bus
service from the ground to the temple. Through our way to the temple
we can see a lake, where boat festival(boat race) is conducted once
a year. The temple is nice, with architectural beauty. The statues
of the Lion(Narashima) is everywhere.
Upon arrival at the
hotel, proceed for check-in.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day
12
Vishakhapatnam -
Mumbai by: Flight |
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After
breakfast, a SITA representative will meet and transfer you to the
airport in time to board your flight for Mumbai.
Departure: Vishakhapatnam at: 1115 hours By: IC 7562 (Indian
Airlines)
Arrival: Mumbai at: 1400 hours
Upon arrival at Mumbai airport, a SITA representative will meet and
transfer you to the hotel, where you will proceed for check-in.
Bombay was once a group of seven islands whose inhabitants, the
Kolis, have given the city its Indian name, MUMBAI, after their
goddess, Mother Mumbai.
Bombay is a city of paradoxes: renowned as the country’s financial
nerve centre, it is an important centre of theatre, art, music and
classical dance.
Today the cosmopolitan
population of the city consists of people from all over the country.
It is centre of industry, commerce and foreign trade, a city of
skyscrapers and huts (a result of too quick growth and inadequate
accommodation), a city of milling crowds and vitality, a city on the
move. A city steeped in tradition, and a rich historical past, it is
yet a city where contemporary scientific and business practices
flourish. A vibrant, colourful and busy metropolis, Bombay is the
premier city in western India.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day
13
Mumbai |
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After
buffet breakfast, day is at leisure for independent activities. (No
transportation cost & Sightseeing envisaged on this day).
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day
14
Mumbai
Departure |
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After midnight, a representative will meet you at
the hotel lobby and transfer you to the International airport in
time to board your flight back home. |
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