Bhubaneswar: The Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district will reopen for tourists on November 1.
The national park was closed for monsoon since June 29.
According to a notification issued by STR Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni, a maximum of 60 vehicles with a ground clearance of at least 180 mm will be allowed inside the reserve every day.
Tourists with valid documents and vehicle booking can enter the national park through the Jashipur gate between 5 am and 9 am, and via Pithabata entry point in the Baripada division between 8 am and 9 am.
Visitors must leave the Joranda and Barehipani waterfalls before 4 pm and exit the reserve by 6 pm on the same day, the notification stated.
Every tourist vehicle must be accompanied by a guide while entering the park.
Entry permits for the sanctuary can be obtained through the website — www.similipal.org.
Visitors will have to produce valid identity proof at the entry gate and submit a written undertaking to comply with the prescribed regulations before entering the reserve.
Any violation of rules will be punishable by law, the notification said.
Tourists can also book open-jeep wildlife safaris through www.ecotourodisha.com.
Overnight accommodation at lodges in Kumari, Gudugudia, Talabandha, Barehipani and Jamuani can be booked through the ecotourism website.
Spread over 2,750 sq km, the tiger reserve has various plant species and 96 types of orchids. It is also home to 42 species of mammals, 242 varieties of birds and 30 reptile categories.
Rare melanistic tigers, Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, Asian elephants, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, four-horned antelope and giant squirrels are found Simlipal reserve.
