Chandoori Sai Guest House, Goudaguda, Orissa

India is truly in its villages and more so in its tribal belt. One such village is Goudaguda, at an altitude of 3000 feet, and home to a thriving pottery community. Goudaguda is half way between Semiliguda and Rayagada in the high altitude area of Orissa. Enter this village and make your way through an obscure little lane and enter the gates of this charming and surprising resort.

What strikes you immediately is the soothing, rustic charm of the facility. The pastel walls, the glazed red flooring, the tree shaded green lawn. A tanned white man in jeans and t-shirt cheerfully welcomes you to the property. Leon, the entrepreneur who built the place and runs it, is a wiry energetic Australian who has gone tribal. He offers to take you around the premises.

As you tour the kitchen, the dining area and the rooms, you notice the understated, functionality of the place. The well-stocked kitchen has a large gas stove, a refrigerator, a microwave and an oven for fresh bread. Guests are permitted, in fact encouraged, to do their cooking. A bevy of bubbly Oriya tribal girls with wide grins are on standby to assist you. The dining area, adjacent the kitchen can take 10 covers and is perfect for a community meal.

The five double rooms are Spartan and clean. The beds have plenty of pillows. The bathrooms are spotlessly clean and functional. Gas heaters perched outside each bathroom; ensure plenty of hot water so you can indulge in a luxurious shower after a hard day on the road. Each room has a sit-out with red oxide floor and yellow ochre walls. A perfect place to relax and take pictures.

The Chandoori Sai Guest House is not for the restless traveller. It is ideal for those wishing to slow time down, to enjoy some solitude and converse quietly with companions. There is no TV but that does not matter because there are several books in the dining area, left behind by travellers like us. You can wander around the premises, browse the little tribal shop, or sit on the lawns unwinding with a drink as you gaze at the green hills rolling away into the distance.

The cheerful Adivasi staff members are all from the nearby village. They are helpful and understand rudimentary English. The services are available till early evening but if you are planning a late night of revelry you will have to help yourself.

For the energetic and curious, I recommend a trip to the pottery shed where pots of various sizes are made and baked in a straw fired kiln. Walking through the village you will experience typical village scenes of the villagers going about their daily routine.

The best time to visit is from October to March when the temperature is between 30 and 12 degrees Celsius. Overall, it was a good memorable experience for me. But do try it yourself.

Forget about the creepy tribal market visits... Everything is there ! Food, warm staff, nice handicraft, nature, friendly villagers... Leon, the creator of this beautiful place will show you nice places in the surroundings. I was supposed to stay only one night and changed my plan to stay another one.

This place felt like it came out of a dream. After several days of semi-rough travelling in the tribal areas of Orissa, I landed in this little peice of paradise hidden inside a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. I was presented with a fresh (and safe) cup of passionfruit juice and then, like a gift from the heavens, the owner brought me a bruschetta made with fresh basil and tomato. I hesitated for one-half second - was it safe to eat uncooked food? - and then I dove in. It was the most delicious bruschetta I ever had. I love Indian food, but it was so delightful to have a fresh Italian snack in the middle of the day!

Chandori Sai is a beautiful place, with a lovely view, serene surroundings and super friendly and engaging staff. Leon, the owner, is an excellent cook and makes fantastic Italian food. He is also a fascinating individual who entertained me with his stories. The accomodations were so nice, I didn't want to leave. I would like to especially recognize the really long hot shower that I enjoyed there!

There wasn't one thing I didn't love about this place. I only regret that I had to leave.

I was there last month of March 2011 and enjoy every minute of the day. Next January will go again, I'm counting the days A beautiful Resort at the middle of a tribal village (Goudaguda).