Baripada: The Similipal National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district is reopening for the tourists from today after a gap of about six months. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for welcoming the tourists with strict adherence to Covid-19 guidelines. The tourists will be allowed entry into the national park area through two check gates at Jashipur and Pithabata. While 35 four wheelers will be allowed entry into the national park at Jashipur, another 25 similar vehicles to enter through Pithabata check gate between 6 to 9 am, according to an official notification.
“People will be allowed to visit the national park after verification of necessary details,” the notification said.
Tourists will have the opportunity to witness some of the major waterfalls like Barehipani and Joranda. They can make night halts at camp cottages and bamboo cottages at Gudugudia, Jamuani, Ramathirtha, Kumari.
The tourists can book tickets to visit the national park online on first come and first serve basis by logging into www.similipal.com and odishatourism.gov.in.
The Similipal National Park comprising the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) is spread over 2,750 sq km, which remained closed for tourists in view of the monsoon. However, the park remained closed in May 2021 in view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, informed the national park authorities.
The Similipal National Park houses 1,076 species of plants belonging to 102 families and 96 species of orchids. It also boasts of innumerable medicinal and aromatic plants, which provide a source of earnings for the tribal people.