Odisha
by Shivya Nath
Shivya Nath
@shivya

Shivya Nath
@shivya
Shivya is an Indian explorer, whose dreams of a nomadic lifestyle led to her quitting her job and chasing her dream of a life of travel, which she posts about on her award-winning blog, "The Shooting Star".
Odisha is a trove of natural gems and rare animals, bound together by tribes who have populated the land for centuries. Its nature reserves are home to dolphins, tropical birds and six-feet-long crocodiles. Any of these will boost your Insta-likes tenfold. That's before you add in rugged mountains and sandy beaches!
Like much of India, local delicacies here will delight any foodie. Top tip - to truly experience the spices and exotic flavours, try serving them with a dreamy Odishan sunrise on the side. The local markets give you the chance to pick up a taste of indigenous culture, even if many regional tribes keep to themselves.
The warmth of its people more than makes up for the less tourist-focused local infrastructure, making Odisha an authentic India travel experience. One of the most genuine you can get...