Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Kolkata, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Kolkata

Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar. This morning enjoy a city tour visiting the stately Indian Museum the oldest and largest in India, the Victoria Memorial, Howrah Flower Market, St Paul’s Cathedral and the extraordinary Marble Palace which houses paintings by Rubens, Titian and Reynolds. This afternoon board the Coromandal Express (1st class A/C wagon) enroute to Bhubaneshwar.

On Day 3 enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bhubaneshwar - state capital and home to more than 500 temples. A visit is made to the awesome Sun Temple at Konark, a World Heritage Site. It was built as a chariot for sun god Surya and has 24 gigantic stone wheels, seven horses and many elaborate carvings. Later visit Puri on the Bay of Bengal, blessed with golden beaches and is home to the Jagannath Temple. By the time the Lingaraja temple was built, the Jagannath cult had become widespread throughout Orissa, exemplified by the presiding deity Svayambhu Linga - half Shiva and half Vishnu - a unique feature of the temple. Almost all the Hindu gods and goddesses are represented in the temple.

Our final stop of the day is at the coastal town of Pipli which is renowned for it’s handicrafts, patchwork and exquisite appliqué. Overnight - Bhubaneshwar (B:2)

Bhubaneshwar - Taptapani - Rayagada. On day 4 drive to Taptapani which is famous for a perennial hot spring of Medicinal Sulfuric Waters, located on the State Highways that connects Berhampur with Western Orissa. Enjoy a visit to the Chandragiri Tibetan Settlement and Taptapani Sulphur Spring Shrine. Surrounded by hills and thick forests, relax and enjoy the serenity! On day 5 visit the tribal village of Desia Kondh en route to Rayagada. Overnight - Taptapani (1) Rayagada (1) (B:2, L:2, D:2)

Rayagada - Gopalpur-on-sea. On day 6 you will visit the Dongaria Konch Tribal villages and continue south east to Gopalpur for a few days at leisure. Gopalpur was a prominent trading port during the days of the British East India Company. Today, the city is a quiet, relaxed place with a charm of its own dotted with casuarina trees and palms and industrious fishermen dressed in pointed straw bonnets haul in hand nets on Gopalpur’s extensive shoreline. Overnight - Gopalpur on Sea (B:2)

Gopalpur-on-sea - Bhubaneshwar - Kolkata. To round off the exploration of Orissa, take the opportunity to visit Chilika Lake - Asia’s largest lagoon. It is famous for the migratory birds that travel to the bird island during winter. The shallow lake is only separated from the sea by a sand bar and wildlife can be found on some of the larger islands. Afternoon drive to Bhubaneshwar. On day 9, spend the morning at leisure before boarding the Dhauli Express train to Kolkata. Afternoon arrival and hotel check in. Overnight - Bhubaneshwar (1) Kolkata (1) (B:2)

Enjoy free time exploring the showpiece capital of the British Raj. Kolkata also possesses numerous churches, temples and Botanical Gardens for you t walk around at leisure. Hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport. (B)