Want to travel to Orissa

safari vala

sorry about the cut and paste but these sites are still on my list of things to see for my next trip to India.
¤ Ratnagiri

Located in Jajpur district of Orissa, Ratnagiri lies at a distance of 100 km from Bhubaneswar. Encompassed by rivers in all the directions, this Buddhist heritage site, built in 5 A.D. holds great archaeological significance. A large-scale excavation has unearthed two large monasteries, cella sanctum, a big stupa, Buddhist shrines, sculptures and colossal Buddha.


¤ Lalitgiri

The earliest Buddhist complex, dating back to 1 st century A.D., has a huge brick monastery, the remains of a Shaitya hall, a number of enigmatic stupas and a relocated stone Stupa at the apex of a small rugged sand stone hill (Pushpagiri Hill), dominates the rustic greenery around. The aura of Buddhism still shines at Lalitgiri with rock-cut caves, excavated monasteries, viharas, chaityas and sacred relics in terracotta chambers, making it an important junction of the Lalitgiri-Ratnagiri-Udayagiri triangle.


¤ Udayagiri

About 5 km from Ratnagiri, is Udayagiri, spread over two locations and the largest Buddhist site in Orissa. While still being unearthed, the foreground is strewn with statues and stupas. Of the statues uncovered, the one of Avalokiteshwara with his long flowing tresses is especially attractive.

Scandojazzbuff

All this talk is whetting my appetite to see Orissa this December. This thread is timely as I am currently trying to prepare an itinerary.

As for the Tribals, the tourists that are willing to spend the energy and 'discomfort' of roughing it, certainly represent a lesser threat than big business moving in to exploit land and its natural resources. I think the natural curiousity of people to see others that are different is fine. After all, isn't most travel a form of voyeurism? I think I would feel a bit funny if I were bussed in with a group of tourists armed with cameras, safari suits, and, Aussie bush hats, snapping away at the locals for 15 minutes and then boarding the bus for the next village. This was never my idea of taking a 'tour'. Sort of like the 60's in the Haight when busloads of tourists came to see the Hippies.

machadinha

Yes; but then maybe those locals would be better off with visitors who didn't put their own defense for being there up front at all.

(I'm not attacking you; but it's still a rationalization of why you and the likes of you should be there, right. I can't tell if it's good or not to go, but I don't see how it changes much in the argument.

Besides, this idea of people who are willing to rough it out there must therefore be kosher won't stick with me.

I'm not all that surprised to hear that with an increased touristic interest, many of these tribes are getting more reluctant to entertain them, or quite hostile even in some cases, or the authorities who have been assigned to look after them and protect their rights, for right or for wrong, for that matter. One would logically think there's a natural correlation there, right?

I must be one of those romantic souls who hails it when some Andaman tribes are reported to fire their bows at approaching helicopters. What's funny is of course they can't even know what a helicopter is, but they sure seem to sense it means no good to them. And it's sure kept at least some of those islands inaccessible to outsiders. And long may they keep it so, if you ask me.)

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

grace lam

Hi Safari,

many thks for yr information !!
my traveling date is fix on 29-Oct.
now, i still not decide whether join the tour visiting the tribal or travel myself to yr mention several places in this 7 days.

1)tribal tour : Gopaalpur, Rayaguda, Jeypour, Onkadelli, Koraput, Tpatapani

2) Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, Lalitgiri -is these 3 places similar ? just go one place buddhist complex is enough or go all 3 ?
(you said Cuttack as a base, that means all stay overnight at Cuttack ? what i can see in Cuttack ?

actually, i'm interest in both routing. so which one is better ?
i know someone said visiting tribal area will be disappointed as tribal is now becoming commercialism. what do you think ? i'm afraid i will be disappointed if choose routing 1).

Scandojazzbuff

Well, Mach, I don't quite know what to say. I was using roughing it very loosely as most tourists want stay in comfortable places, a/c, etc. It's not exactly like a tour to Agra.

What's the problem of people going to places that are off the beaten track? Isn't curiosity enough of a reason to go anywhere? I'm not going to rob them, convert them, or, sell them anything. I don't understand your point of view. Should one confine oneself to their own neighborhood, never eat Chinese food, and, not marry outside of one's religion? What kind of rules have you created for yourself?