Sightseeing
Saura Tribal Villages
Villages of the Saura (Sora) people in the hills around Gajapati, known for 'idital' wall paintings, terraced cultivation and a distinct musical tradition.
About Saura Tribal Villages
The Saura are one of Odisha's oldest tribal communities, mentioned in early texts and concentrated in the Gajapati and Rayagada hills. Their idital paintings — geometric figures of people, animals and spirits — are made on house walls for rituals and are now recognised as a folk-art form.
Visits are arranged with community hosts and the university's outreach teams, with respect for daily life. Terraced millet and turmeric fields, bamboo craft and songs are part of the day.
What you can do
- Community-hosted village walk
- Idital wall art
- Craft & music
- Farm terraces
How to reach
- The villages lie 40–50 km into the hills around R.Udayagiri and Serango; the roads are narrow and slow, so allow 1 hr 30 min or more each way.
- This is not a drop-in visit — it is set up in advance with community hosts and the university's tribal-outreach team, who travel with the group.
- Full-day trip; carry water, wear modest clothing and ask before photographing people or homes.
Saura Tribal Villages
Photographs: Hpsatapathy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Sumita Roy Dutta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.