Ancient Kalinga temples, the breathtaking Sun Temple at Konark, flamingos at Chilika Lake, and Puri's legendary Jagannath shrine.
Tour Highlights
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Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive into Kolkata today and transfer to your hotel. This evening enjoy a boat trip on the Hooghly River, viewing the city from the water in the last of the day light gives you a chance to observe the rituals performed by locals along the banks.
Head out on foot today on a walking tour of the city, once the capital of British India, it is unsurprising that a number of colonial buildings remain. Take in Dalhousie Square along with the Victoria Memorial and St Paul Cathedral. Visit a local restaurant today to get your first insight into typical Bengali cuisine. The city's busy streets are typical of a hectic Indian city and you can visit the Kali Ghat Temple to get a glimpse into local religious beliefs and practices.
Leaving the city behind head to Bawali, this area of the Sunderbans was transformed hundreds of years ago into a thriving village, home to temples and a grand heritage property where you will stay tonight. Explore the estate learning how the zamindar or landlords of centuries gone by lived before heading out into the village to explore the temples and learn of rural village life.
Journey into Odisha and the village of Baripada where you will stay at the Belgadia Palace, another historic building rich in heritage. The property is synonymous with arts and crafts and this afternoon you can take a walk through the ruins of the nearby 14th century Haripurgarh Fort.
Early this morning enjoy a walk around the property with one of the hotel naturalists who will introduce you to some of the many bird species that make the park their home, woodpeckers, kingfishers and orioles can often be seen amongst others. After head into the village to see the local craft of Sabai, in which furniture and crafts are made from grass and dokra, a 4000 year old technique of lost-wax metal casting.
Heading further south, a morning's drive will bring you to the village of Dalijoda where you will stay in a former royal hunting lodge, now lovingly restored and run as a family homestay. This afternoon you may like to head out on bicycles for a guided cycle of the surrounding villages. These traffic free roads are the ideal location to stretch your legs and experience rural life without a car. This evening enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Odishan cuisine with the family.
Drive to Bhubaneswar, Odisha's capital, known as the 'City of Temples' with over 700 temples and religious structures. Visit the remarkable Lingaraja Temple complex, the Mukteshwara Temple with its ornate torana gateway, and the Rajarani Temple — one of the most exquisitely carved in the state.
Drive to Puri, one of the four sacred dhams of Hinduism, home to the remarkable Jagannath Temple. The famous Rath Yatra festival here — when three enormous chariots carry the deities through the streets — draws millions of pilgrims annually. Explore Puri's remarkable beach.
Visit the extraordinary Konark Sun Temple — a 13th-century UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece conceived as a colossal stone chariot for the Sun God, with 24 elaborately carved wheels representing the hours of the day. The erotic sculptures that cover the temple walls are among the finest medieval carvings in India.
Drive to the shores of Chilika Lake — Asia's largest brackish lagoon, home to over a million migratory waterbirds including flamingos, pelicans and rare Irrawaddy dolphins. A boat trip on the lake to the bird sanctuary islands.
Drive back to Bhubaneswar via the remarkable Raghurajpur village, where every household is home to a pattachitra painter — artists producing the extraordinary scroll paintings of Odisha's Hindu religious narrative tradition.
Transfer to Bhubaneswar airport for your flight back to Kolkata and onwards. Alternatively continue to explore the region.
The tour concludes at Kolkata airport. Onwards flights available internationally.
About This Journey
Discover the little-known wonders of Odisha — an extraordinary state on India’s Bay of Bengal coast that receives only a fraction of the tourists visiting Rajasthan or Kerala, yet contains some of the country’s finest temples, a remarkable tribal heritage, beautiful coastal wetlands and the extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sun Temple at Konark. This tailor-made journey starts in Kolkata and travels via heritage rural properties through the heart of Odisha.
Highlights
Explore Kolkata — the extraordinary former capital of British India with its colonial grandeur and Bengali cultural life. Stay in remarkable heritage properties including a restored zamindar estate and a royal hunting lodge. Visit the breathtaking 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece. Discover Odisha’s remarkable tribal communities and their extraordinary craft traditions. Explore the coastal wetlands of Chilika Lake — Asia’s largest brackish lagoon.
Accommodation Used On This Tour
The Claridges
The Claridges has been a veritable treasure in Lutyens Delhi since the 1950s. Refurbished, redesigned and revitalized, the hotel offers guests an experience that is new and yet so familiar. In an excellent location just a short auto ride from Khan Market and Connaught Place, this four star hotel has 132 rooms and suites designed with an elegant blend of 19th century character and contemporary style, a refreshing outdoor pool, indoor gym and relaxing spa.
BrijRama Palace
One of the oldest landmarks of Varanasi, the BrijRama Palace was built in 1812 on the Darbhanga Ghat directly above the sacred Ganges. Its rooms overlook the river and ghats, the morning boat ride begins from its own steps, and the palace's stone corridors and courtyard host evening classical music performances.
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. Please refer to the detailed itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
Where You Stay
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
October to March is the most comfortable period, with clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures across North India. December and January mornings can be cold and foggy in Delhi and Agra. April to June is very hot; July to September is the monsoon.
Yes — this route is well-established with excellent hotels and infrastructure, and our experienced guides and drivers handle every practical detail. First-time visitors consistently find it a superb introduction to India.
Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers throughout. For longer distances we use India's excellent express trains or domestic flights where they improve the journey.
Absolutely. Duration, hotels, route and experiences can all be tailored to your preferences and budget — this itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed product. Contact us to plan your ideal trip.
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