Orissa

Orissa is a laid-back yet cultural state that hosts thousands in Puri for the annual spiritual festival, Rath Yatra. Bhubaneswar in Orissa is teeming with Hindu temples, while a visit to Bhitarkanika will bring sightings of crocodiles, lizards, kingfishers and herons.

The best time to visit Orissa would be between October to March. The weather is pleasant and it is also an opportune time to watch millions of migratory birds make their way from the north to nest in the lakes and forests of Orissa.

The 62 tribal groups account for one quarter of the state's population. These diverse tribal groups in Orissa have maintained a dynamic culture that is expressed in their clothing, music and dance.