Tribal festivals & camel fairs celebrated year round
Journey to vibrant Orissa with its ‘living’ temples, untouched tribal villages, rich diverse art forms and pristine shoreline! Marvel at the ancient rock-cut, ornate sandstone temples in Bhubaneshwar. Visit Jaganath Temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konarak, with its exquisitely preserved sculpture and astonishing erotica.
25 percent of Orissa’s population is adivasi (tribal); they are thought to have descended from pre-Aryan aboriginal inhabitants and still practice their unique traditions and languages. Visit the nomadic Langia Soura tribes and drive to Taptapani, a spa village nestled in the Ghats. Go to Jeypore to meet the Kutia and Dongria Kondh, Koya and Bonda (naked) tribes who dress in colorful beads, heavy silver jewelry and little else. Amble in the weekly market and join the village festivities amongst these tribes dressed in all their finery.
Ikat weavings, fine silver filigree, Orissan painting, appliqué and ‘lost-wax’ metal-castings are some of the ethnic art found here. After witnessing the maelstrom of religious devotion and tribal regalia, relax at Gopalpur-on-sea's long pristine beach and end in colonial yet traditional Calcutta.
