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ORISSA TOURISM
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General Information
Orissa lies on the eastern coast of India with the waters of the Bay of Bengal swirling along its eastern and southeastern boundaries. The antiquity of Orissa is endorsed by her ancient people - They continue to inhabit their traditional dwelling places in remote areas of the deep forests and hilly interiors. Steeped in the mystery that surrounds their ancient ways, the Orissan tribal continue to be a source of deep interest not only for anthropologists and sociologists but also for numerous tourists who flock to Orissa in search of the exotic mystique of this relatively unexplored state. |
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The tribal economy is by and large based on activities around the jungles. The ancient state rose to prominance as a kingdom under Kharavela, a great conqueror and patron of Jainism, in the second half of the 1st centure B.C. Other great rulers were the kings of the Kesari dynesty and the Eastern Ganga dynasty who were also great builders.
The Paraja tribe is primarily located in the Kalahandi and Koraput regions of Orissa. The language is "Parji". They worship numerous gods and goddesses who live in the hills and forests. The "Soura" tribe is one of the most ancient and they are known for being marathon walkers, expert hunters and climbers. Personal hygiene is of intense importance to them.
The "Bondos" are fiercely independents and aggressive, and continue to practice the barter system of exchanging produce from their fields for their daily needs. Bondo women prefer to marry younger men because they can have someone who will earn for them in their old age. The Kutias are the primitive section of the Kondh tribal community. Kutias were also quite famous till the recent years for their unique tradition of 'Maria'(human) sacrifice. Dongria Kondhs, also a primitive section of the Kondh community are expert horticulturists and maintain a quite distinct cultural heritage.
Demographic Informations
Area: 1, 55,707 sq kms
Capital: Bhubaneswar
Populations: 36,706,920 (2001census provisional figures)
Languages: Oriya, English
Best touring season
October to March |
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