The Dongria Kondh are a subgroup of the Kondh. Unlike other tribal peoples of India, the Dongria Kondh are very skilled horticulturalists, cultivating crops in the Niyamgiri Hills. Most of them live in the state of Orissa, in the districts of Rayagada, Koraput, and Kalahandi.
The Dongria Kondh live on the plateau of the Niyamgiri Hills. They call themselves jharnia, which means "those who live beside the jharana (streams)." Hundreds of perennial streams flow down from Niyamgiri Mountain, and there are hundreds of Dongria Kondh villages beside the streams. They are the protectors of these streams, hills, and forests and are revered by the people of the nearby plains. They inhabit the areas of Kalyansinghpur, Kashipur, Bissamcuttack, and Muniguda.
They are called dongria or donger ("hill" in Oriya) dwellers and love living in the mountains due to their economy and culture. The Niyamgiri Hills, where the Dongria live, are covered with large natural forests and are home to many rare species such as the Malabar squirrel and the golden lizard.
Extended info about Kondh People
