Activities

Rajim Maghi Mela
The highlight of this trip is Rajim Maghi Mela, as you know Kumbh Mela is the largest and holiest pilgrim gathering in the world. Everyone knows about Kumbh Mela and its four holiest places as Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik, and Ujjain but there is a secret fifth Kumbh also, Rajim is that fifth one.

Itinerary Details:

Day 01: Arrive Delhi

Upon arrival at Delhi IGI Airport you are meet & greet by our company representative afterwards drive to your pre-booked hotel, Check –In to hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02: Delhi – Raipur (By Flight)
After breakfast you are transferred to Delhi IGI airport to board flight for Raipur. Upon arrival at Raipur airport, drive to Bhoramdeo (135 kms, 03 hrs)

On arrival at Raipur airport, you will be received and transferred to Jungle Retreat in Bhoramdeo having lunch on the way. On arrival at Bhoramdeo, check in to the ethnic village resort.

Later, take a short walk to ancient Bhoramdeo Temple to see the evening prayer. During the walk you will meet some beautiful Gond Tribal Ladies.

Gond is one of the biggest tribal communities mostly living in central India. Gonds were great warriors and even had their kingdom in ancient India. Gonds are still living their traditional lifestyle over hundreds of years.
In the evening before dinner, we will also arrange Baiga Tribal Dance (Subject to availability). Baiga Dance is a very electrifying dance performed by both man and women of the tribe. Their dance attires are really spectacular. The unique feature of the Baiga tribe is that the women here sport tattoos on almost every part of their body.

Have dinner and enjoy the beautiful jungle retreat.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: Bhoramdeo

Enjoy the lovely homemade breakfast at your beautiful retreat in authentic Chhattisgarhi village style. Today, you will be visiting some of the Gond Villages, which may include Rajpur, Katgo, and Harmo etc.
Enjoy the lunch in the afternoon, we will either carry picnic lunch with us or have lunch at Village Dhaba in Dhawai Pani. If lucky, we can also witness the Madai Festival by Baiga Tribe at Bokkar Khar Village. Baiga tribes are known as the people of the forest as they survive on the products of the jungle. Baiga practiced the shifting cultivation & lived the nomadic life over years. Return back to the resort in the evening.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04: Drive to Raipur (135 kms / 03 hrs)

After breakfast, visit the famous Bhoramdeo Temples known as the Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh built in 1100 AD, these temples are older than Khajuraho Temples. These are the outstanding Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, the complex comprises four temples, the earliest temple is made of brick whereas, the main temple is built by stones. Later, visit Thua Pani village of Baiga Tribe, we will visit one of the homes to understand their daily lifestyle.
Also visit the houses of Kumhar (Potter) community working on pottery at Amaroda village. Also explore Mandawa Mahal Temple of Lord Shiva built in 15 Century A.D. Have lunch at the resort and check out. Post lunch, we will drive to Raipur – the capital of Chhattisgarh. By the evening, reach to Raipur and check in to the hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 05: Drive to Rajim (48 kms / 75 minutes drive) Rajim to Kanker (125 kms / 03 hrs drive)

Post breakfast, drive to Rajim and spend the first half of the day in exploring the festivities of Rajim Maghi Mela earlier known as Rajim Kumbh Mela. Rajim Mela has immense religious importance for the Hindus in India and the pilgrims and saints will be taking the holy baths in the rivers and performing various rituals. It is a confluence of the rich culture of the country as the people from each part of India come to have a holy dip during this auspicious occasion. It is a spectacular to see different types of monks and colorful pilgrims in Rajim.

Later, drive to Kanker having lunch on the way at Lover’s Point near Kurud. Post lunch, drive Charama village to see Gond and Yadav people making Bidi – an Indian Cigarette made of tree leaves. Most of the people in the villages smoke these types of Bidis in India. Drive through the enchanting countryside to Kanker, this region is pristine and offers unparalleled natural beauty.
Arrive in Kanker and stay in the erstwhile Kanker Palace converted into a heritage hotel.

Day 06: Excursion to Villages and Gobrahin (03 Hours)

Drive to the tribal villages to see fascinating Ghotul performance by Muria Tribe. Ghotul is a social institution belonging to Abujh Maria & Muria tribe. In Muria tribe, Ghotul used to be a village dormitory where young boys & girls could live together before marriage & can even have sexual activities. In Ghotul, there are many dances & musical performances such as Mandri, Hulki & Gedi Dance.
It will be really interesting to visit one of the Ghotuls & their performance. Later, we will proceed to Gobrahin to see the Madai Festival – one of the most important religious festivals in Chhattisgarh. During the festival, the tribes from Bastar come & celebrate. They carry processions & do the prayers to the Goddess. They wear the best of their attires, perform folk dances & other cultural activities. After Madai Festival, drive back to Kanker Palace.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 07: Drive to Jagdalpur (175 kms / 3 ½ hrs)

Enjoy the breakfast with the royal family and say goodbye to your lovely hosts. Drive to Jagdalpur en-route visit some of the villages of Deer Horn Muria Tribe and interact with the colorful and hospitable Muria Tribes of Baster. Also, visit the home of the world-famous artist of Dokra Art in Kondagaon Village, here you can see many of the beautiful crafts created by the artist.
Finally arrive at Jagdalpur and check-in. Later, enjoy the delicious dinner of Bastar region.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08: Drive to Maria Village (02 Hours)

Take a walk in Kurandi Village of Bhatra Tribe. The morning time is blissful in the village and full of activities by the tribes. Try the tribal liquor made by Mahua tree flowers. Travel further to the villages of Bison Horn Maria Tribe & witness the mesmerising Bison Horn Maria Dance.

This is one of the best dances of Bastar & it is equally fascinating to see the houses, colorful attires, headgears & tattoos. Bison Horn Maria is one of the most spectacular tribe to see in Chhattisgarh. After the dance, have the picnic lunch & proceed to Chitrakote Waterfalls – the widest waterfalls in the country of 29 meters height often referred as Niagara Falls of India. After enjoying the spectacular atmosphere at the waterfalls, drive back to Jagdalpur.

Day 09: Drive to Jeypore (85 kms / 02 hrs)

After breakfast drive to Jeypore. On the way stop at Kotapad weaving village which is known for its vegetable dyed textile weaving by Mirgan community. Also, visit Bhatra and Dhurwa tribal village. Dhurwa or Dhuruas tribes are group of Nomadic people from Bastar area now settled on the Banks of river Sabari which makes borderline for Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Upon arrival at Jeypore check-In to your pre-booked hotel. Evening at leisure.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10: Jeypore-Kakiriguma-Rayagada (130 kms / 03 hrs)

After having breakfast in the hotel at Jeypore today drive to Rayagada. You will be visiting the village of Bada Paroja tribe this morning. As Odisha is a treasure of tribes and Paroja tribe is definitely a pearl in the treasure.
Next, you will walk through Kakiriguma weekly tribal haat of Kui, Paroja, Kondh and Mali tribes of Odisha. Explore the vibrant colours, unique culture and smiling tribes in the tribal market.

Finally stop at Muniaka Kondh tribal village to get a close encounter with their life style. Arrive at the hotel in Rayagada and enjoy the hotel facilities.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 11: Rayagada-Kotagarh-Rayagada (04 HRS)

After breakfast, take an excursion to Kotagarh to see Tuesday Tribal Weekly Haat of Kutia Kondh Tribe. Take a walk through Kutia Kondh villages to understand their primitive tribal lifestyle. Kutia Kondh Tribe is basically a Dravidian language-speaking tribe who were originally hunter-gatherer.

Kutia tribal women have distinctive tattoos on their faces, few nose-rings as well as beautiful earrings. Traditionally, the tribals used to have a practice of human sacrifices but now they have stopped this ritual. Drive back to the hotel for dinner and for overnight stay.

Day 12: Drive to Jeypore (130 kms / 03 HRS)

Today drive to Chatikona to see Dongria Kondh tribe and their weekly market on Wednesday. Dongria Kondh is the most remarkable tribe in Kondh tribes. Dongrias live in hilly areas and live a simple tribal life. Dongria Kondh every week walk from the mountain to Chatikona to trade their agricultural products and from that earning buy their household things. The ladies in the Dongria tribe are extremely shy and rarely interact with outsiders. Post lunch drive towards Jeypore through the villages of Desia Kondh tribes- another interesting tribe of Odisha. Reach to your hotel in Jeypore and enjoy the dinner. Another thrilling day ends in the tribal region of Odisha.

Day 13: Excursion to Onukudelli (02 HRS one way)

Today have early breakfast and the first drive to Onukudelli weekly market to see the most colorful tribes of Odisha as Bonda and Gadaba tribes.

Bonda is one of the most primitive tribes in India living up in the mountains. Bonda women wear layers of silver jewelry in the neck and the big earrings. They cover their upper part with strings of yellow beads. The waist is covered with a piece of cloths mostly blue in color, in Bonda tribe, the women’s head is shaven.

After the market visit, stop briefly at Duduma Waterfalls to see the picturesque waterfalls and scenic valley.
Later, visit Olar Gadaba tribal village. Gadaba tribe also has a stunning outfit especially their jewelry. The older ladies have the big metal rings covering their necks. The landscape of this region is gorgeous surrounded by beautiful hills.
Arrive back to the hotel in Jeypore to have dinner and relax.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 14: Drive to Vizag (215 kms / 06 hrs)

Today, take a short drive and visit the weekly market at Kunduli. Here see Paraja and Mali tribes buying and selling the things in the Haat. The tribes here mainly sell the vegetables, which they grow in their small farms and also bring some chickens, goats and other agriculture products, in return they buy the grocery items from the markets for an entire week. Paraja and Mali tribe wear distinguish nose rings, the women can be seen with three nose rings and few earrings. They also have tattoos on their bodies. Later, drive to Vishakhapatnam passing through the beautiful countryside. Arrive at the hotel and relax.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 15: Fly Vishakhapatnam to Delhi IGI International

At an appropriate time, check out from your hotel and our Escort / guide will assist and transfer to Vishakhapatnam airport to board the flight to Delhi airport and then connect with an onward international connection back to home.