Tribes and Temples of India

Day 1: Arrival in Bhubaneshwar

There are no planned activities today but if you have the energy to explore on your own you can take a Heritage Walk of Old quarter including some of East India's earliest temples, medieval streets & a holy water tank. There will be a group meeting and welcome dinner this evening. Overnight in Bhubaneswar.

Day 2: Puri - Sun Temple in Konark

Today we travel along country back-roads to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Sun Temple in Konark. Conceived as a giant chariot this is one of ancient India's architectural marvels. We then skirt the coastal Marine Drive to the pilgrimage city of Puri. In the afternoon, we explore Puri by cycle rickshaw. Overnight in Puri.

Day 3: Gopalpur - Chilika Lake

We have a very early start to our day with a visit to Asia's largest salt water lagoon; Chilika Lake. Enjoy a quite boat cruise as you search for bird life along the banks of the lake. We finish our boat journey at the former colonial town of Gopalpur on the Sea. Once a prominent trading port for the Dutch, this little fishing village is now a popular beach destination for the world. We explore the port and meet the fisherman as they bring in their catch of the day. Relax before our next days journey inland to the remote regions of the tribal areas. Overnight in Gopalpur.

Day 4: Muniguda

Today we have another early start as we have a long day of driving as we leave the coast and head for the rolling hills of the Eastern Ghats. Adivasis, or literally "original inhabitants" are the indigenous population of India. Nestled in the remote hills, they constitute 25% of Orissa's population - the most populous Adivasi region of all India. Approximately 400 tribal villages compromise 62 diverse ethnicities and although co-dependent, fiercely guard their own distinct traditions. We learn about the cotton trade as we drive through these cotton fields before arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight in Muniguda.

Day 5: Muniguda, New Hope NGO Community

Today is a special day as we have a full day of learning the life this community we are staying in. The New Hope community, which is a non profit organization, looks after the sick, orphans and the elderly for this remote region. We will meet the children and sit with the elders to learn about their life as well as a possible visit to their local markets. Meet the friendly and fascinating people in this village in this remote region. Learn about their culture and customs that are still practiced today and find out what the future holds for these children and the families that depend on this community. Truly immerse yourself into how people really live with in the community so far from cities. Overnight in Muniguda.

New Hope: is a NGO, non profit organization that brings opportunities to some of India's most marginalized communities. Working in Orissa since 1985 New Hope started off by providing operations for people with leprosy. Today New Hope is so much more with performing monthly cataract surgeries, runs a school for children of various abilities, has an HIV and an elder-care facility, trains community leaders in mother/child health, distributes birthing kits to reduce infant mortality, teaches micro finance, savings and literacy, provides a self-sustaining agricultural plan and has built a safe home base for tribes-persons who travel over the mountains with their market goods.

Day 6: Chandoori Sai, Market visit of the Dongria Kondh Community

We say good bye to our gracious hosts at New Hope community and drive to the Chatikona Market in hopes to see the Dongria Kondh people. This is a weekly market for the Dongria Kondh community descend the hills to trade local produce once a week. A healthy balance maintained between co-dependency and individual identity is most apparent during these occasions. We explore this market and after lunch, we continue onto Chandoori Sai where we will arrive to our guesthouse in the late evening. Overnight in Chandoori Sai.

Day 7: Chandoori Sai, Onukadelli Market - Paraja and Gaddava Tribes

Today is an exciting day as we rise before the sun to journey 3 hours to the colourful Onukadelli Market. Here we hope to see Indi's most ancient indigenous communities; the Bonda Tribe. The Bonda people are also seldom seen with in the markets and surrounding areas due to the remoteness of their villages. We will see the Paraja & Gaddava people and possible other tribes. Soak up the festive atmosphere and try your luck in the ancient art of bartering. Explore a typical Gaddava village, learn about their fields and homes and enjoy a traditional Dhemsa tribal dance. Depending on the days events we will learn about the communities in Chandoori Sai and will walk through the local village, famous throughout the region for their hand-crafted terracotta pots. You can even try your hand at the clay wheel. Overnight in Chandoori Sai.

Note: Due to government bans Onukadelli Market might be closed to tourist. It will depend on the arrival day into Chandoori Sai.

Day 8: Vishakhapatnam

Today we travel Vishakhapatnam stopping in the early morning to visit the Mali Tribe village in the Jeypore district, before our arrival into Vishakhapatnam. Today is a long travel day so upon arrival you will have a free evening to relax before our early flight the next day. Overnight in Vishakhapatnam.

Day 9: Fly to Chenni, Drive to Mahabali Puram, Arjuna's Penance

We fly from Vishakhapatnam to Chenni where we will then travel to Mahabali Puram. Chennai is the state capital of Tamil Nadu and is the fourth largest city in India. We visit the National Museum to learn more about this region. After lunch, we have a scenic drive to Mahabalipuram (also known as Mamallapuram) once a flourishing port of the Pallava Kings of Kanchipuram. Upon arrival we visit the Arjuna's Penance, also known as the Descent of the Ganges which has been designated as a World Heritage Site. Overnight in Mahabali Puram.

Day 10: Mahabali Puram Sightseeing

We explore Mahabali Puram with a visit to the Shore Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally constructed around the 7th century and which contains shrines dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. We continue onto the Five Rathas (Pancha Pandava Rathas dating from the 7th century and ending with the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Varaha Cave Temple. Overnight in Mahabali Puram.

Day 11: Pondicherry - Sri Aurobindo Ashram

This morning we drive to Pondicherry to explore this ancient city, which was prosperous as early as the 1st century. Legend has it that Sage Agastya built his Ashram here and Pondicherry became a Vedic center. The French became the rulers of this small place in 1816, ruling until it became a part of India ˘We walk through the French streets before we visit the famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram and The Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple. Overnight in Pondicherry.

Day 12: Thanjavur - Brihadeewarar Temple

We journey to Tanjore (Thanjavur) where we visit the grandest temple in all of South India. The World Heritage listed Brihadeeswarar Temple is noted for its superb religious, historical and artistic associations. The dome of the Temple was made from a single piece of granite and weighs approximately 80 tonnes. The sanctum of the temple houses a 13ft high lingam that has a circumference of 23ft.

Tanjore was the ancient capital of The Chola Kings and became the center of learning and culture between the 10th and 14th centuries. Tanjore is known for its original style of painting, known as Tanjore Painting, a combination of raised and painted surfaces.

After lunch we will visit the Tanjore Palace known locally as Aranmanai and is the official residence of the Bhonsle family who ruled over the Tanjore region for many years. Overnight in Thanjavur.

Day 13: Tiruchirapalli - Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple; Madurai-Meenakshi Temple

We depart early this morning for Tiruchirapalli (also called Trichy), situated on the banks of the river Cauvery, Tiruchirapalli is the Chola Centre from the Sangam Age. The Nayaks of Madurai built the town and the Fort, which played a vital role in the Carnatic War in the 18th Century. It is now a pilgrim and business center. On arrival, we visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple which is dedicated to Vishnu and dates from the 10th century, and also pay a visit to the Cavery River Ghats.

We then continue on to Madurai, the second largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest cities in India. Madurai is celebrated for its Meenakshi Temple which is an exquisite example of Dravidian style architecture: it has nine majestic Gopuram (towers) which are covered in fantastic, multi-colored images of animals, gods and goddesses. The most interesting feature of this temple is the thousand-pillared hall built in the 16th century; some of its life-size sculptures are a marvel of patience and artistic skill. The afternoon is free to rest or explore the local markets on your own before we visit the temple in the evening, during Pooja Time. Overnight in Madurai. 

Day 14: Periyar National Park

We start off this morning with a visit to the Menakshi Temple before we drive to Periyar National Park. After lunch, there will be time to relax and enjoy the surrounding area.

Periyar is one of India's most picturesque reserves. We will explore on foot, searching for birds and wildlife. Overnight in Periyar.

Day 15: Periyar: Boat Journey and Spice Garden

This morning we will enjoy a morning boat ride on Lake Periyar in hopes to see elephants, sambar deer, black monkey, . We will also visit the Spice Gardens to see pepper, coffee, cardamon, vanilla, and clove growing and learn about how it is all harvested and processed. Today there will be sometime to relax after a busy couple of weeks. Relax, go for a walk or enjoy a soothing Ayurvedic massage which is the ancient Indian lifestyle. Overnight in Periyar.

Day 16: Kumarakom

Descend the hills to Kumarakom. The ancient village and plantation homes, called Tharawads, have been painstakingly transported and reconstructed using ancient carpentry methods. Set around the lake and the irrigation canals, they retain their original charm with thick doors, intricate window carvings and terra cotta tile floors. Traditionally, Keralites bathed in the rivers and in rural areas many people still do, however our cottages feature bathrooms, some located in an inner courtyard so you can shower al fresco under a starlit sky in complete privacy.

Today is time to relax and enjoy life on the many canals that criss-cross the properties in Kerala. Take a walk and explore the "land of the short people"Â because the folks here are always knee deep in rice paddy fields. Overnight in Kumarakom.

Day 17: Backwaters of Kerala Homestay

We journey into the true Kerala where we meet a few local families and see how life is lived on this canal system. One of the many memorable experiences one can have in the backwaters of Kerala is without a doubt a Homestay. These homes away from homes, allows you to live with a family in their culture and lifestyle to truly learn how life is lived in this lush region. Hear the history of the family and how they settled here while immersing yourself in a different way of life for a bit. We will explore on foot these little villages and life on the canals and have a chance to talk to the locals that will welcome us in with a smile. The group may be divided into 2 or 3 homestays that are close by to experience the true felling of the family experience. Overnight in a local Homestays.

Day 18: Houseboat on the canals of Kerala

We will rise with the family to great the day on the canals. A canoe awaits us for our leisure ride through the small inlets of the back waters of Kerala before embarking on our overnight journey on a traditional rice barge.

We spend the day cruising through small canals; passing by rice paddy villages, small townships and coconut plantations.

Kettuvalloms or houseboats (Riceboats) are country boats that were used in the early days for the transport of goods from the isolated interior villages to the towns. With the advent of roads, bridges and ferry services, gradually the Kettuvalloms went off the scene. Now these Kettuvalloms are back again! A journey on a Kettuvallom is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters. The materials that go into the making of the houseboats are all local and eco-friendly: bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, coir carpets etc. The main wood used is Anjili. Traditional lanterns are used as lights. Accommodation on the houseboats are double rooms with attached bathroom. Overnight on houseboat.

Day 19: Kochi (Cochin)

We disembark from our houseboat this morning in Alleppey and travel on to Cochin.

Cochin is regarded as one of the most beautiful spots of India. The Port of Cochin is known as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea" and is the industrial hub of the state where the ancient civilization mingles with the 20th century.

We see St. Francis Church; the first church to be built in India by the Portuguese. Vasco-de-Gama, who discovered the sea route to India from Europe, was originally buried here (his remains were later taken to Portugal). We continue onto view the famous Cochin Chinese fishing nets. Overnight in Fort Kochi, Cochin.

Day 20: Kochi (Cochin)

This morning we visit the synagogue; the center for the Jewish community - which can be traced back to the exodus from Palestine 2000 years ago. The magnificent structure was built in 1568. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament, copper plates of inestimable historical worth containing the privileges granted to Jews by the Cochin Maharajas, and the exquisite Chinese hand painted tiles are artifacts of great interest at the synagogue.

The area around the synagogue is known as "Jewtown" and is one of the Kochi spice trade centers. We also stop at Mattancherry Dutch Palace which was built by the Portuguese, and presented to the Maharaja of Cochin in 1568. At the center of the building is a large coronation hall. Seventeenth century mural paintings depicting scenes from the India epic Ramayana can be seen in the palace.

This evening we take in a performance of the famous Kathakali Dances; this performance is one of Cochin's highlights. This form of dance theater, dating back 500 years, can be seen nightly, with explanation and narration, all over the city. By tradition, all dancers are male and wear elaborate costumes and mask-like make-up to mime stories from the great Hindu epics; the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The make-up is highly symbolic: green denotes the hero king or god, and black and red denote demons. The actor slips a seed from the cunlappuvu, or eggplant vine, under his eyelids to make his eyes red.

As much an act of worship as a highly dramatic folk theatre, Kathakali is traditionally performed by the flickering light of temple lamps, accompanied by musicians and a chanting Brahman priest. Artists use a vast repertoire of acrobatic eye movements, dramatic facial expressions and perfect muscle control that requires years of training. After the performance we will end our journey with a farewell dinner. Overnight in Fort Kochi, Cochin.

Day 21: Kochi (Cochin)

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.