Rayagada is a small district town in southern Odisha, set in the foothills of the Eastern Ghats. The town itself is unremarkable — a typical Indian district headquarters with government offices, a bus stand, and a railway station — but it serves as the best base for visiting the weekly tribal markets in the surrounding hills, which are among the most fascinating cultural experiences in eastern India.
The Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, and other Adivasi communities hold colourful tribal haats (weekly markets) in villages throughout the area. These markets are not tourist events but genuine trading gatherings where tribal people come down from the hills to sell produce, buy supplies, and socialise. You will see traditional dress, handmade jewellery, and local produce including turmeric and wild honey. Visiting responsibly and with a knowledgeable local guide is strongly recommended — several operators in Rayagada and nearby Koraput organise respectful market visits.
The Niyamgiri Hills to the west, sacred to the Dongria Kondh, are covered in dense forest and are the subject of one of India's most significant environmental and indigenous rights campaigns. The landscape around Rayagada is beautiful — green, hilly, and far from the well-worn tourist circuits. In town, the goddess shrine at the Majhighariani Temple and a long suspension hanging bridge over the Nagavali make a pleasant afternoon. The town is connected by rail on the Koraput-Rayagada line and by road to Visakhapatnam (about four hours south) and Berhampur.