Bhubaneswar: Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district reopened for the visitors on Thursday after remaining shut for four months.
Offering a unique opportunity to explore one of India’s largest biodiverse national parks, Similipal is home to Bengal tigers, elephants, leopards, and over 200 bird species. It is considered a perfect destination for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.
As per sources, tourists were welcomed at Baripada’s Pithabata gate and Kuliani in Jashipur by Similipal Tiger Reserve officials. Between 6 am and 9 am, 35 four-wheelers will enter the forest through Jashipur’s Kuliani gate, and 25 vehicles will enter through Baripada’s Pithabata Gate.
Entry permits are available at the booking counter at the two gates. An entry fee of Rs 100 per tourist has been fixed
In order to keep the sanctuary clean, restrictions have been imposed on plastic items, drugs, non-vegetarian foods, and flammable materials. Tourists can make advance bookings on the website (www.ecotourism.com) for overnight stays at Similipal’s guest houses.
Normally, the entry of tourists to the reserve forest is prohibited from mid-June every year during the rainy season as road connectivity to various locations inside the sanctuary gets disrupted. The national park, a major tourist destination of Odisha, usually reopens from the first week of November.
This timing allows tourists to enjoy the natural beauty during the Durga Puja holiday. The beauty of Similipal is particularly breathtaking at this time, with abundant water in the waterfalls and streams.
According to sources, the sanctuary witnessed a drop in the number of visitors in 2023-24 financial year. While 41,346 tourists visited the national park in 2022-23, their number dropped to 25,846 in 2023-24.