Itinerary
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INDIAN CARP (ROHU), PEARL SPOT (KOU FISH),
INDIAN SALMON (BETTI), INDIAN MACKEREL, POMFRET
Best time: September till March
Orissa with its long sea coast & extensive river & estuary water has wealth of fish & fauna.
Orissa boasts of a long and rich cultural heritage and the finest pieces of Architecture. It has the third largest concentration of tribes, forming about one fourth of its total population, mostly inhabiting the jungles and hilly regions. Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar, the Jagannath Temple of Puri above all the world renowned world heritage Sun Temple at Konark is the epitome of temple architecture and sculpture.
Part 1
DAY 1 – Delhi.
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Oberoi Maidens or Similar. Breakfast included.
DAY 2 – Delhi.
Oberoi Maidens or Similar. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Late morning we take a guided tour of Old Delhi, the 17th century walled city of Shah Jahanabad, visiting the great Jama Masjid, the principal mosque of Old Delhi. Built in the year 1656 AD by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, it is the largest & best known mosque in India. Later take a rickshaw ride through Chandi Chowk, the old marketplace of Shah Jahanabad now a picturesque bazaar to reach Red Fort, built in the year 1648 by Shah Jehan.
Lunch at Chor Bizarre with cooking demo. Chor Bizarre means “Thieves Market”. It truly is one. The first and probably the best theme restaurant in India. What an experience it is to dine here.
Thereafter we drive to the Qutub Minar. It was constructed in 1192 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the founder of Slave Dynasty and later completed by his son-in-law and successor Iltutmish. The soaring tower of Qutab Minar of Delhi is made out of brick tile and sandstones. Qutub Minar is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture.
Today, Qutub Minar is an eminent member of the World Heritage Site community and survived the ravages of time impressively. Qutub Minar of Delhi is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden, which is a much favored leisure pad for Delhi locals. You can see tourists and locals loitering around the whole winter afternoons here and there inside the tower.
Qutub Minar at Delhi is a 5 storied tower. Each tower of the famous Qutub Minar has unique designs. It was hit by lightening twice. Due to this hazard, there was major damage in the structure. But during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, the king repaired the ensuing damage. Again during the reign of emperor Feroze Shah Tughlaq, when the top most storey of the Qutub Minar was destroyed, the king repaired the floor and elevated the Qutub Minar to another level.
Thus we see an interesting mix in architectural styles if we minutely study the structure. The base of the Qutub Minar at Delhi measures 14.32 meters and the top of the structure measures 2.75 meters. The first 3 stories of the Qutub Minar has different designs. While the base has alternate angular and circular flutings, the second one are round. The third storey of the Qutub Minar has only angular flutings. The balconies projecting out of the Delhi Qutub Minar heightens the beauty of the Minar.
Dinner will be arranged at Pind Balluchi.
Pind Balluchi is not just a restaurant; it is a theme-based restaurant. The theme is that of a pind (village)-based and one is immediately taken over by warm ambience. The “achar” pots on the shelf and traditional village sitting arrangement take you to the villages of Punjab, where eating well is a way of life. Some of the objects are synonymous with theme are: manji (traditional cot), huge entrance door, jharokhas, wells, wooden chairs, lanterns. Moreover, you will also find waiters here dressed in the traditional lungi-kurta and the perennial smile to greet you.
Pind Balluchi offers you even more in the form of mud plastered walls, chaupal with painting of fields, artificial mango tree under the romantic & cozy moon lit sky effects, and the open kitchen resembling a road side dhaba with simmering effects of tandoors and steamy tawa preparations that can make your dining experience a memorable one. It is truly an experience!
Every item of the menu is a celebration of Punjabi & Rajasthani cuisine we serve. The finger-licking food is served in steel & bronze utensils and the a la carte menu offers the varieties like Kalmi Kabab, Shammi Kabab, Dahi Kabab/ Dhaba Meat, Murgh Tandoori, Keema Kaleji Gurde Kapoore, Pindi Chole, Butter Paneer Masala, Malai Kofta Varities of Biryani and more. The food at Pind Balluchi is known for its aromatic and pure spices. The sumptuous menu is seriously addictive!
DAY 3 – Delhi – Agra – Delhi.
Oberoi Maidens or Similar. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Connect Shatabdi Express to Agra in the morning dep. 0610 / arr. 810. On arrival you will be met at the station and proceed to the incredible architectural excellence of Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Thereafter we will visit Agra Fort, built principally as a military establishment by Akbar in 1565. The red sandstone Agra Fort was partially converted into a palace during Shah Jahan’s time. This massive Fort is 2.5 km long & is considered as predecessor of Delhi Red Fort. After Lunch we’ll visit the Agra City that is famous for its carpets and marble inlay work. Viit some of the artisans. Evening return to railway station for Shatabdi Exp dep.2030 / arr. 2230 to Delhi.
DAY 4 – Fly to Kolkata.
Flight IT607 dep. 0630 / arr. 0830. Oberoi Grand or Similar. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Kolkata was once the capital city of British India and also the Gateway to India till 1912. It is a major commercial city consisting of big industrial plants and corporate houses. It the artistic and cultural headquarter of India. Meet and greet on arrival and transfer to Hotel Oberoi Grand.
Visit Kumartuli (potters village) south of the temple & one of Mother Theresa’s many homes for the underprivileged.
The village ‘Kumartuli’ is the home of the kumhars or potters who all year round make the life size deities that are worshipped throughout the year during various festivals. Kali, the patron goddess of Calcutta, is usually seen here in her blood thirsty form, garlanded with skulls. The clay for these statues is taken from the Holy Ganges called the ‘Hoogly’ in Kolkata.
Afternoon visit Victoria Memorial another landmark in the city, which marks the British reign in India. A combination of Italian renaissance and Mughal architecture, the white marble architecture was the British attempt to replicate the Taj Mahal and is a monument to Queen Victoria and a museum dedicated to the Raj. Thereafter we go to Kalighat temple, the main Kali temple (Durga) in Calcutta.
Kalighat: Kali temple is located in the city of Calcutta on the banks of the river Hooghly (Bhagirathi). The name Calcutta is said to have been derived from the word Kalighat. Kolkata was anglicized into Calcutta. Today the city has reverted to its original name. The temple was built in 1809 on the site of a much older temple.
Kali is regarded as one of the principal deities of Bengal. There are other temples to Kali – Sahasrabhuja Kali, Sarvamangala, Tarasundari and Simhavaahini. Kali is regarded as the destroyer or liberator and is depicted in a fearful form. Despite the terrifying form, she is considered to deliver bliss to worshippers. The Kalighat temple is considered one of the 52 Shakti Peethams of India, where the various parts of Sati’s body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shiva’s Rudra Tandava.. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell. The temple attracts thousands of devotees throughout the year. The Kalighat temple in its present form is only about 200 years old, although it has been referred to in Mansar Bhasan in the 15th century, and in Kavi Kankan Chandi of the 17th century.
How can we not savour the fantastic variety of sea food and sweets so famous of West Bengal. Therefore tonight we dine at Oh! Calcutta. Oh! Calcutta as the name suggests, offers a diverse range of cuisines that make Kolkata the gastronomical capital of the country.
Bengali, Nawabi, British and Continental cuisines are served in this restaurant, where the ambience is that of a Kolkata club.
You won’t be disappointed with Oh! Calcutta. This award winning, fine dining restaurant can aims to recreate dishes from traditional old style Bengali recipes, selected through painstaking research. You can’t go wrong with the seafood. The Gandharaj Bhetki (steamed fish flavored with lemon) and Aam Ilish (mango hilsa fish) are the most popular. Then there are other delicacies like the Lucknowi Biryani, Prawn Malai Curry, Mutton Rezala, Smoked Bekti to the ever popular Bhapa (Steamed) Hilsa.
DAY 5 – Kolkata – Balasore. OTDC Panth Niwas.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Connect Train #2073 Howrah Bhubneshwar Jan Shatabdi Exp to Balasore Dep.1340 Arr.1702. You will be met at the station and drive to your hotel.
Or
Arrival at Balasore rly station at 09.30 hours by Dhauli Express leaving Howrah t 06.15 Hours.
Drive to Chandipur (20 kms) widest beach of India. Check in the OTDC Panthaniwas. Then visit Balaramgadi fishing harbor. Fisherman’s village and their farms will be great learning experience for all fishermen. After lunch visit of Seashore (this is the widest beach. The sea is goes back 3 kms during low tide time and back to your guest house during high tide time twice a day. Overnight at OTDC Panthaniwas. (25 Kms / ½ Hours)
CHANDIPUR near Balasore is FAMOUS FOR : HILSA , POMFRET. PRAWN
Hilsa (Bengali: ???? Ilish) is the most popular fish to Bengalis. Its the national fish of Bangladesh and extremely popular in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam. Each year a large number of fish is caught at Padma-Meghna-Jamuna delta at Bay of Bengal. Hilsa is a sea fish but it lay eggs in large rivers. After being born the young Hilsa ( known as Jatka ) then swim back to sea. The Hilsa fish is full of tiny bones which require trained eaters/hands to handle.
DAY 6 – Reserved for fishing in Balasore/Chandipur.
Overnight at OTDC. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
DAY 7 – Balasore – Bhubaneswar. (198 Km / 5 Hrs).
Overnight at Mayfair Lagoon. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included. Drive to Bhubneshwar from Baleshwar. Enroute visit the buddhist caves Lalatgiri-Udaigiri-Ratnagiri.
DAY 8 – Bhubneshwar – Puri.
Overnight at Mayfair Beach Resort. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Moring a quick visit to the great temples of Lord Shiva: the Lingraj Temple and Parusurameshwara Temple and continue drive to Puri, enroute visiting Raghurajpur (Artisan’s Village), Pipli (The Applique Village , Dhauli (The Rock Edicts of Ashok). The artisan village Raghurajpur near Puri which specializes in pattrachitrs– an art using vivid colors painted on palm leaves. You will also see the ancient art of palm leaf etching which, in the 16th century, was used to illustrate manuscripts. It was this technique which helped shape the Oriya script to its present rounded form. Continue to the colorful village of Pipili where we can see Orissan Handicrafts, the specialty is applique work.
Next we visit Dhauli village where the Kalinga warlord Ashok renounced bloody warfare and embraced the teachings of Buddha. We visit the Peace Pagoda known as the Shanti Stupa built in early 1970 by Japanese Buddhas. We also stop at two ancient rock edicts, today eclipsed by the presence of the Pagoda. Dating from 260 BC they outline Ashoka’s detailed instructions to his administrators to rule with gentleness and fairness. The sculpted elephant atop the edict signifies the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism after his Kalinga victory.
Afternoon visit the famous Jaganath temple in Puri. Puri is one of the four holy abodes in India. Pre-Dravidian and pre-Aryan history relates that a tooth of Buddha was temporarily enshrined in Puri before being moved to Sri Lanka. Supporting the theory that Buddhism prevailed in this area, the Jaganath Temple, to the Lord of the Universe, and the main attraction in Puri, was believed to have originally been a stupa. The extraordinary form Jaganath takes in this temple is said to be the unfinished work of the craftsman god, Vishvakarna. Angry at Vishnu, he left his portrayal of the god incomplete. This 12th century temple is known for its annual Rath Yatra or Car Festival. The Jagannath Temple contributed the word ‘Juggernaut’ to the English language.
Part 2
DAY 9 – Puri – Konark – Ramchandi – Puri.
Overnight at Mayfair Beach Resort. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
At NUA NAI / RAMCHANDI (SEA MAOUTH OF CHILIKA) FOR FISHING.
(ONE WAY 50 KMS / 1HRS / 30 MNTS )
Common Fish found here:
INDIAN CARP (ROHU)
COMMON CRAB (BHAKUR)
PEARL SPOT (KOU FISH)
Green chromide (Etroplus suratensis) is a freshwater fish also known as the pearlspot
INDIAN SALMON (BETTI)
INDIAN MACKEREL
POMFRET
In Konark, we will visit the Temple – Chariot of The Sun God, built by King Langula Narasimha Deva in the thirteenth century A.D. in the golden era of Orissan art. This crowning piece of Orissan architecture and sculpture is sheer poetry in stone. Everyday the Sun God rises from the lap of the blue ocean close by and casts his first gentle rays on the sanctum sanctorum and then circles the temple during the course of the day, illuminating the three magnificent images of the morning Sun, the mid-day sun and the setting sun. As you approach the water, you will see rising from the golden sandy beach, one of the country’s most vivid archaeological treasures — The Sun Temple. For a millennium, this temple has been a beacon to sailors at sea. Return to Puri for overnight.
DAY 10 – Puri – Ramchandi – Puri.
Overnight at Mayfair Beach Resort. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included. Day reserved for fishing.
DAY 11 – Puri – Chilka.
Overnight at OTDC. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
After breakfast drive down to Chilika Lake, the largest brackish Water lake in Asia. In winter Chilika is aflutter with thousands of migratory birds from as far as Siberia.
Drive to Chilka Lake (150 km) takes us through scenic countryside and attractive villages. Chilka lies in the heart of coastal Orissa. The pear-shaped lake, spread over 1,100 sq km, is Asia’s largest inland salt-water lagoon. It is dotted with small islands and has an impressive array of bird life, both native and migrant. White bellied sea eagles, greylag geese, purple moorhen, jacana, herons and flamingos are among the many species which make the lake a bird watcher’s delight. Chilka, in fact, is home to one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of flamingos. The lake is rich in aquatic life- its waters harbour around 160 species of fish, crustaceans and other marine creatures, including the famous Chilka dolphin. Prawn, crab and mackerel fishing are an important source of livelihood for the local people, and hundreds of small fishing boats set sail each morning to bring in the day’s catch from the lake.
Common Fish found in SATAPADA AT SIPAKUDA SEA MOUTH OF CHILIKA LAKE.
INDIAN CARP (ROHU)
COMMON CRAB (BHAKUR)
PEAL SPOT (KOU FISH)
INDIAN SALMON (BETTI)
INDIAN MACKEREL
POMFRET
Part 3
DAY 12 – Chilka.
Overnight at OTDC. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Day reserved for fishing.
Recommend lunch at the Chilka Dhaba. Great food specially the prawns, crabs and fresh fish from the Chilka Lake at the Chilka Dhaba. Though a road side restaurant, locally these are called ‘Dhabas’ but these are the joints in India that server the best tasting and freshest food anywhere. Chilka Dhaba’s variety and service is a treat not to be missed. Come all the way to Chilka and do not get the local taste according to me will be an unfulfilled journey.
DAY 13 – Chilka – Bhubneshwar – Kolkata.
Drive back to Bhubneshwar to connect flight IT2504 dep. 2025 / arr. 2140 to Kolkata. Transfer to international airport for flight home.
Part 4
Price PP in CA$:
Min 6-15 Pax: $3481 (Traveling in A/C Coach)
Min 2 Pax/ 1 Car: $3991
Min 3 Pax/ 1 Car: $3383
Min 4 Pax/ 1 Tempo Traveller (Mini Van): $3327
Single Room Supp $1380
It includes:
Accommodation on twin sharing basis with all meals
3 nights Delhi at Oberoi Maidens
1 night Calcutta The Oberoi Grand
2 nights Balasore at Hotel Swarnachuda or OTDC Guest House
1 night Bhbaneshwar at Mayfair Lagoon
3 nights Puri at Mayfair Beach Resort
2 nights Chilka at OTDC Panth Niwas
All arrival/departure transfer and land transport in A/C Coach Traveler as per itinerary
Professional English Speaking Guide during sightseeing in Delhi, Agra and Calcutta
Accompanying Escort
Local fishing guides.
Fishing Boat
Fishing permits
Entrances to monuments
Train Tickets in A/C Chair Class Delhi-Agra-Delhi and Calcutta – Balasore
India Gov Service Tax 2.58%
Airfare Extra PP: (Exact price TBD when booked)
Delhi – Calcutta min $110 max $440
Bhubaneshwar – Calcutta min $110 max $155
Does not include: International Air Fare, Insurance, Fishing Equipments, Camera Fees, Tips, Any expenditure of personal nature such as drinks, telephone calls, laundry etc.
