Baripada: Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers can return to Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district from November 1, as the reserve prepares to reopen after its annual monsoon closure. The reserve, which was shut to tourists on June 29, will resume visits under a set of entry timings, vehicle restrictions and safety guidelines.
According to a notification issued on Thursday by Similipal Tiger Reserve Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni, a maximum of 60 vehicles will be allowed inside the reserve each day. Vehicles must have a minimum ground clearance of 180 mm.
Tourists can enter through the Jashipur gate between 5 am and 9 am. The Pithabata entry point under the Baripada division will remain open for tourist entry 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. A guide must accompany every tourist vehicle inside the reserve.
Entry permits can be obtained through the official website, www.similipal.org. Visitors will be required to produce valid identity proof at the entry gate and submit a written undertaking agreeing to follow the prescribed rules. Any violation of the regulations will be punishable by law, the notification stated.
Open-jeep safaris and overnight stays
Visitors looking to explore the reserve through organised wildlife tours can book open-jeep safaris on the Odisha ecotourism website, www.ecotourodisha.com.
Safari services will operate from Gudugudia, Pithabata check gate in Baripada, Jamuani check gate, Talabandha check gate and Barehipani. Morning safaris will start at 5.30 am and continue for five hours, while evening trips will begin at 2 pm and run for four hours.
Tourists can also book overnight accommodation at lodges in Kumari, Gudugudia, Talabandha, Barehipani and Jamuani through the same website.
A biodiversity hotspot
Spread across around 2,750 square kilometres, Similipal is known for its diverse forests, waterfalls and rich wildlife. The tiger reserve hosts numerous plant species and 96 types of orchids, making it an important natural habitat in Odisha.
Its recorded wildlife includes 42 species of mammals, 242 varieties of birds and 30 categories of reptiles. Among the animals found in the reserve are rare melanistic tigers, Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, Asian elephants, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle cats, wild boar, four-horned antelopes and giant squirrels.
With the reopening, visitors will once again be able to experience Similipal’s natural landscapes and wildlife, while following the entry conditions and safety rules prescribed by the reserve authorities.
