Bhubaneswar: Tourist activities at Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district will come to a temporary halt starting July 1, as the park closes its gates for the annual monsoon break. The decision, taken to ensure the safety of wildlife and visitors during the rainy season, was confirmed by Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni through an official notification.
While the core areas of the reserve will remain off-limits, ecotourism accommodations at Jamuani, Gurgudia, Kumari, Barehipani, and Ramtirtha will remain open to tourists. These sites will continue to provide limited access to the reserve’s natural beauty until full operations resume. Authorities said that the reopening date will be announced after the monsoon and shared widely through newspapers and public notices.
Similipal, one of India’s largest and most biodiverse tiger habitats, covers an expanse of 2,750 square kilometers. It is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, including 96 species of orchids, 42 species of mammals, 242 bird species, and 30 types of reptiles.
In the 2024–25 financial year, STR witnessed an impressive footfall of 38,483 tourists, including 12 international visitors. The reserve generated ₹4.26 crore in revenue, with ₹2.75 crore from nature camps, ₹1.22 crore from jungle safaris, and ₹29 lakh from entry permits.
Tourism and forest officials have urged visitors to follow updates through official sources and plan their visits accordingly, with the option to still explore designated ecotourism sites during the closure of the core reserve.
