Odisha is a beautiful place. Although the state is mostly known for the sea beaches and the beautiful temples, Odisha is place where you can find virgin forests, lesser known waterfalls and a few aboriginal tribal groups. We had earlier visited the sea beaches like Puri and Chandipur as well as the architectural wonders of Konark and Dhauli and always wanted to explore the jungles of the state.
Raygada Jungle Trek is one of the beautiful jungle treks in Odisha and is also one of the least explored regions of the state. You will be amazed to find grasslands, waterfalls, rice fields and forests in this trekking trail and also a few tribal villages. The locals here live in harmony with the forests and nature. The trekking route starts from a few kilometers away from the Raygada Railway Station itself.
Itinerary of Raygada Trek
Day 1:
We took a train from Bhubaneswar the previous night and reached Raygada early in the morning. The trekking trails in the jungles are quite complex and local guides are necessary for the treks. Also these guides will help conversing with the locals of the tribal villages.
You can take an auto to the starting point of the trek. There is a temple beside which is the starting point of the trek and there is a trail leading into the jungle.
The trail into the jungle is quite thrilling. At places there are huge boulders and rocks. And now and then, you can see small waterfalls in between the boulders. What a beautiful sight after hiking in the heat and sun. You will almost feel like washing your face in the cold waters. The vegetation is quite dense and you have to make your way through it.
In between the trail, you might meet some tribal also. If you want to take their pictures, please ask your guide to communicate with them, because most of them are quite camera shy and reluctant to pose for pictures. You will find many different plants in the forests, wild flowers that are used to decorate the tribal homes and a few huts on the way. These huts are probably used to storing goods. We also saw the plants that are used for making broomsticks.
Keep walking till you reach the top of the hill where you can pitch your tents. Select a clear area for pitching your tents. After that, rest for some time and then cook your food. We had a nice time cooking and then having the food together. Khicdi tasted heavenly in such atmosphere.
Day 2:
Get up early in the morning and get ready for the journey. Before starting you can explore around the place. While you go downhill, you will come across a few tribal villages. These villages are small with a dozen of settlements. They look quite beautiful places with small huts and palm trees and boundaries made by bamboo. They looked just like the pictures of villages we used to draw while in school.
Agriculture and cultivation is the main source of livelihood here. So you will come across numerous paddy fields. The trees here belong to everyone. And of course, you will see many trees like jackfruit, mangoes and tamarind.
Another interesting thing we found is that the women folk spend a lot of time collecting ‘mahua’ flowers. These flowers are fermented to make local wines. These tribal people are quite fond of drinking. If you want, you can get a taste of mahua from the villagers!
There are a number of trekking routes in the Raygada jungle. Ask your guide to end the trek near Raygada Railway station itself. And while you are at Raygada, you can also explore the nearby places.
More things to do at Raygada:
There is a double waterfall at Hatipathar, a few kilometers from Raygada that you can visit if you have extra time. You can also visit tribal villages g Jhigdi and Dukum where you can see the Kondh tribal market.
How to reach Raygada
The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar that is well connected by flights from all the major cities. Raygada itself has a railway station that is connected with Bhubaneswar. You can take the night train from Bhubaneswar and reach Raygada early in the morning.
Best Time to Visit
You can do the trek at any time of the year. But the winters will be the ideal time.
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