http://www.indiamike.com/india Puri, Bhubaneswar, and other areas in Orissa en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:22:14 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.indiamike.com/india/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.indiamike.com/india http://www.indiamike.com/india/orissa-f33/sambalpur-kolkata-on-bicycle-t95518/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:20:38 GMT Hi! I am a Swedish guy who travels on bicycle. I went from Sweden to Oman and then I flew to Mumbai. Now I am crossing India from Dwarka in west to Kolkata in east on an Atlas bicycle, which is great! Now I am between Nagpur and Raipur on NH6. So, my question is regarding the stage Sambalpur - Kolkata. I have two alternatives: 1. I was told by a man I met in Nagpur that it would be better for me to go Sambalpur - Angul - Panikoili - Kantaparha (NH5) - Kharagpur. 2. Just continue all along on NH6. I wonder which option would be the best (most safe), since there are some naxilite activities in those areas. Also, I suppose alternative nr 2 (NH6) is more hilly which is not really nice with a one geared bicycle. And would I be able to find accomodation along both of the routes? Thanks for any information! Viktor Hi!


I am a Swedish guy who travels on bicycle. I went from Sweden to Oman and then I flew to Mumbai. Now I am crossing India from Dwarka in west to Kolkata in east on an Atlas bicycle, which is great! Now I am between Nagpur and Raipur on NH6.

So, my question is regarding the stage Sambalpur - Kolkata. I have two alternatives:

1. I was told by a man I met in Nagpur that it would be better for me to go Sambalpur - Angul - Panikoili - Kantaparha (NH5) - Kharagpur.
2. Just continue all along on NH6.

I wonder which option would be the best (most safe), since there are some naxilite activities in those areas. Also, I suppose alternative nr 2 (NH6) is more hilly which is not really nice with a one geared bicycle. And would I be able to find accomodation along both of the routes?

Thanks for any information!
Viktor ]]> Orissa pretall http://www.indiamike.com/india/orissa-f33/sambalpur-kolkata-on-bicycle-t95518/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/orissa-f33/hiring-guides-t94250/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:35:07 GMT If I were to hire a guide (who hopefully has a vehicle) how much should I expect to pay for a day trip. I am considering using one in some tribal areas. Should I expect the rate to vary much from place to place? If I were to hire a guide (who hopefully has a vehicle) how much should I expect to pay for a day trip. I am considering using one in some tribal areas.

Should I expect the rate to vary much from place to place? ]]> Orissa newislander http://www.indiamike.com/india/orissa-f33/hiring-guides-t94250/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/orissa-f33/advice-about-tribals-naxalites-scenic-routes-tigers-t94240/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:58:32 GMT Hi. I will by cycling through Orissa, starting from Kokata. There are lots of questions here. Just answer what you know about if anything. Thanks

Places I want to visit include Simlipal Nat Park, Bubaneshwar, Puri, Chilika Lake. Gopalur-on-sea, Tribal areas particularly Koraput and Jeypore. I will leave the state from there heading into Chhatissgarh.

Now what I would like to know is. What are the most interesting and scenic routes? I intend to leave the coast to go inland from Gopalur-on-sea. I'm thinking of going to up to Balangir before turning south.

*I need to get a good picture of where the naxalites are, so I can avoid them. Cna you give me a link to a good map of known naxalite areas? or who should i consult.
* Are there tigers or dangerous wildlife which will be a threat to me if I travel along roads? Please only say yes if you know for sure. Who would be a good source of info about wildlife and safety with regards to that?
* I would like to see a good map of tribes. Do you have a link.


When I go from Kolkata would the coast road be more interesting than the inland route. I don't want to travel along that big inland highway. I think it would be too busy and probably not very scenic Am I wrong? What would be the most scenic route to Simlipal?

Is entering the park the same from Baripada and Jashipur. Is one nicer than the other. Is one less expensive than the other?

Does anyone know anything about the area between Gopalur on sea and Balangir. Is it scenic? I would like to travel on the small roads through the mountains. Would this be a reasonably well populated area? ie going through towns like tatpani or Asiak and then taking small roads to Baligurha rather than the highway because it looks more direct and more interesting. I like travelling through village areas rather than through truck stops. and I don't like sharing the road with lots of trucks and speeding indians in their little cars because I think its too dangerous. (Why do indians have to speed so much? - people please slow down).

From Balangir to Koraput, Is this interesting? Can i come across tribal villages going this way?

I thought to help me get along best with the tribals, i would try hiring a guide for a day in some of the main centres so that I can learn more about them and engaging with them.

If i were to skip going all the way up to Balangir, what would be a nice route going roughly directly from Gopalur-on-sea to Koraput? There's a road going through tatpani, and over to RAyagarda and on to Koraput. What would that road be like for scenery. Any chance of meeting tribals through there?

Well i think you can see what my concerns and interests are. If you have any specific information that would be great thanks. ]]> Orissa newislander http://www.indiamike.com/india/orissa-f33/advice-about-tribals-naxalites-scenic-routes-tigers-t94240/