Tribal Culture Destinations in India
India along with Africa has the largest population in the world. Among these, statistics show that 533 different tribes are comprising of 80 million tribal who represent more than 10% of India’s population.
The lives of these tribes are exclusively related to nature and they inhabit in the pristine surroundings of the country. These people are very simple and they follow certain traditions and customs real close to their hearts.
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List of Best Tribal Destinations In India
They are curious people who have accurately retained their culture. There is much to learn from these tribes. Some of the famous tribes of India are listed as under:
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a small-town bordering Odisha which used to be a part of Madhya Pradesh. Over one-third of the population of Chhattisgarh is tribal living in densely populated areas of the region.
The Bastar region is the common place where you will find these people. The tribes are named as Gonds with Dorla, Maria and Muria personalities, and identities. The Gonds are known for their masterpiece of art and unorthodox marriage practices.
Young men and women live in small Ghotul huts and talk to each other freely before marriage. Dussehra is a unique and important festival celebrated with pomp and show in Chhattisgarh.
Odisha
About 25% of the population of Odisha is tribal having around 60 different tribes in the state. These ancient people live in the dense and remote forests of Odisha.
Most of them live in the Southern part of the state. You will need well-organized tours to reach to these tribes as the places they live in are mostly not accessible by any kind of transport.
Customized trips can be arranged from Pune and it takes as long as 5 days to reach these tribes. Grass Route Journeys, Desia, etc. are some communities organizing tribal trips.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is another state in India which has a large number of tribal living in the hilly areas of the region. The tribes found here are Bhils, Gonds, Oraons, Katkaris and also Warlis. Like the Gonds, Warlis are also known for their artworks. Grassroutes, a community tour regularly runs to Purushwadi village, which is home to the Mahadeo Koli tribe. The tribal people live together in harmony earning a living through farming.
The village has around 100 houses and they welcome guests. So, you can spend nights with these tribes and learn about their lives. The Mahadeo tribes are extremely friendly. You can also visit the Warli tribe in Walvanda Village and learn about their artistic way of living.
Northeast India
There are about 16 tribes in Nagaland which shares a border with Myanmar in the remote area. Whether you visit the villages located near to Kohima or visit the far-flung areas of Mon, you will be amazed by the tribal life.
Mon is the last village having head hunters even today. Mokokchung is another tribal village where you will be fascinated by the tribal life of Nagaland.
If you are someone adventurous, you need to take any customized tour and move on your own. The Hornbill Festival held in Nagaland attracts a large number of visitors.
Arunachal Pradesh is another state having tribes as Apatanis from Ziro. There are many customized trips that you can take to reach any of these tribal areas. Greener Pastuers, Blue Yonder, etc. are some of these tour groups.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan is another state in India which has around 15% of its population in the tribal villages. The Bhil Tribe is one of the oldest tribes in Rajasthan and they are the predominant groups of tribes. They are based in Southern Rajasthan and named after the King who ruled here.
The Baneshwar tribal fair held here every January or February cannot be missed. See the tribal people dressed in their traditional attire, holding swords in their hands and performing the tribal dance of the region. The Bishnoi tribe near Jodhpur also provides an authentic style of Rajasthani living.
The Bishnoi tribe bury their dead instead of burning them to save trees. You can check out their pottery, weavers and block printers.
These are some of the essential tribes of India. Visit these to understand what rural India looks like. And you are surely going to be amazed by the view of it!
