For so long off the regular tourist trail, Odisha still retains a deep culture with several thousand year old sandstone Kalinga temples in Bhubaneswar old town. Numerous tribal villages lie in more rural locations, each with its own unique character. Near the coastal town of Puri stands the magnificent thirteenth century Konark temple and Raghurajpur is an artists’ village and the home of the fascinating Gotipua dance. Inland, you can visit Joranda monastery to witness the monks’ sunset ritual there. Back near Bhubaneswar, a boatman will punt you silently out into the tranquil Cilika wetlands at sunset to see thousands of migratory birds that nest there.

This is intriguing India.