Hidden India: Beautiful Odisha revealed
The eastern India state of Odisha, stretching for more than 300 miles along the Bay of Bengal, bristles with architectural and cultural gems.
Tropical, remote and home to some of the subcontinent's most striking temples, much of the state was off-limits to foreign travel for some years because of Maoist unrest but reopened in 2016.
Vast tracts of Odisha still never see any foreign visitors and even the state's main destinations remain refreshingly untouched by mass tourism.
"People who come to Odisha are usually return visitors to India; they have ticked off the Kerala backwaters and the Taj Mahal," says Claire Prest of Grassroutes Journeys, a travel agency specializing in tailor-made trips around the state that she runs with her husband Pulak Mohanty.
"They are fairly independent-minded travelers who want to visit villages and meet indigenous people. They want a more earthy experience than at the usual sites."
In addition to a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's home to more than 60 ethnic minorities, hosts one of India's most colorful festivals and offers some interesting accommodation.
The eastern India state of Odisha, stretching for more than 300 miles along the Bay of Bengal, bristles with architectural and cultural gems.
Tropical, remote and home to some of the subcontinent's most striking temples, much of the state was off-limits to foreign travel for some years because of Maoist unrest but reopened in 2016.
Vast tracts of Odisha still never see any foreign visitors and even the state's main destinations remain refreshingly untouched by mass tourism.
"People who come to Odisha are usually return visitors to India; they have ticked off the Kerala backwaters and the Taj Mahal," says Claire Prest of Grassroutes Journeys, a travel agency specializing in tailor-made trips around the state that she runs with her husband Pulak Mohanty.
"They are fairly independent-minded travelers who want to visit villages and meet indigenous people. They want a more earthy experience than at the usual sites."
In addition to a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's home to more than 60 ethnic minorities, hosts one of India's most colorful festivals and offers some interesting accommodation.
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