Delhi - Bhubaneshwar - Puri - Dhenkanal - Chennai
Textiles & Temples of Odisha and South India
Odisha (formerly Orissa), located in Eastern India, is one of the country's most captivating yet lesser-known regions. It offers a blend of ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples, vibrant village craft traditions, and rich tribal heritage. This specially curated tour delves into the remarkable array of textiles still crafted today, including ikat weaving, natural dyeing, tussar silk production, and silk weaving. The journey concludes in Tamil Nadu, where, from our coastal base by the Indian Ocean, we explore the historic weaving town of Kanchipuram, the rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram, and the cultural hub of Chennai.
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Pick & Drop
Night Stay
Guide
Tour Plan
Departure from London onboard British airways overnight flight to Delhi.
Arrive Delhi in the morning and transfer to Hotel Shangrila Eros to check-in. After freshening up, you’ll have an orientation tour of the city, followed by a visit to some important historic monuments, or to Dastkar. Dastkar is a Delhi-based NGO, a society for traditional crafts and craftspeople. L, D
After breakfast at the hotel you will visit the museums of the Sanskriti Foundation. The museums have three different foci: everyday art; Indian terracottas and textiles. The foundation and the museums serve as a conduit for the preservation and presentation of indigenous heritage, craftsmanship, aesthetic functionality, and cultural practices. Later in the day you will also visit the workshops and galleries of textile makers and designers. B, L, D
You will fly from Delhi to Bhubaneshwar, then begin a city tour. Bhubaneshwar’s history dates back some 2,000 years, and the surrounding temples span the entire period of Kalinga architecture, from the 8th to the 12th centuries. You will stay for two nights in Bhubaneshwar at The Trident Hotel. B, L, D
Today you will have a full day excursion. Stops will include the remaining temples, the Buddhist rock-cut caves of Udaygiri and Khandagiri, and also the 64 Yogini Temple. This unique site is a tantric temple, built around the 9th century, and every alcove includes the image of a goddess. You will also visit the stunning new Kala Bhoomi tribal museum in Bhubaneshwar. B, L, D
Leaving Bhubaneswar, you will drive the 70 km to Puri in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. En route you will visit Pipili, a town of artisans famed for their appliqué work, and Raghurajpur. Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village known for its master pattachitra painters. Here it is also possible to see wood and stone carving, papier mâché making, and palm leaf engraving. You will stay for the next two nights at Hotel Mayfair Waves beside the beach in Puri. B, L, D
Day 7 begins with a visit to the Sun Temple of Konarak, an extraordinary temple complex built in the shape of a huge chariot. It dates from the 13th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch at a local water-side restaurant. On returning to Puri, view the famous Jagannath temple from a nearby vantage point and explore the temple’s pilgrim street. B, L, D
t is a 195 km drive to Dhenkanal, and the journey should take four hours. You will break the journey at Nuapatna, a village famed for its silk ikat saris. These fabulous textiles are made on hand looms, and you will meet the weavers as well as visiting their workshops. We will carry packed lunch from Puri and stop for lunch by a lake on the way to Dhenkanal. Your hotel tonight is Denkanal Palace in Dhenkanal. B, L, D
Transfer from Dhenkanal to Bhubaneshwar airport for your flight to Chennai by Indigo airlines at 14:45 to arrive Chennai at 16:35. Transfer to Covelong beach for stay at Taj Fisherman’s Cove for 5 nights. B, L, D
In the morning you will visit the World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram, with its beautiful carved temples dating from the 7th-8th century and the stunning carved rock-face known as ‘Arjuna’s penance’. Drive to Dakshinachitra, a beautiful open-air museum and craft center, for lunch and to view craftspeople to work, including kalamkari artists and Banjara embroiderers. B, L, D
Today you will take a full-day trip to Kanchipuram, 45 miles from Chennai, renowned as South India’s centre of silk-weaving and for its beautiful early temples. You will visit a silk-weaving workshop and the finest of the temples, some with wall-paintings dating back to the 9th century. Lunch in a local vegetarian restaurant. B, L, D
A full day in Chennai (formerly Madras), the busy capital city of Tamil Nadu. We will visit Fort St George, the first British settlement in South India, including the 17th-century St Mary’s Church, where both Elihu Yale and Robert Clive were married. After lunch at Amethyst, a beautiful restaurant and textile shop you will visit the superb Government Museum, with its world-class collection of Chola bronze figures. B, L, D
Morning excursion to Mylapore, with its impressive Kapileshwara temple (the largest in Chennai) and St Thomé Cathedral, the legendary burial place of St Thomas the Apostle. Rest of the day at leisure at Taj Fisherman’s Cove. B, D
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