Baripada: The Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj reopened for tourists on Saturday, following its closure during the monsoon season, as stated in an official notification. The STR, covering an area of 2,759 sq km, was closed from June 30 to October 17. Among the main attractions at the Similipal Tiger Reserve are rare melanistic tigers, the Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, Asian elephants, barking deer, four-horned antelopes, and giant squirrels. The reserve also features a diverse range of plant species, including 96 types of orchids, 242 species of birds, and 30 reptiles. Previously, a notification from STR Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni indicated that a maximum of 60 vehicles would be permitted inside the national park each day.
Out of these, 35 vehicles can enter from the Jashipur checkgate, while 25 will enter through the Pithabata checkgate in Baripada. Visitors can access the National Park from Jashipur between 5 am and 9 am and from the Pithabata entry point in Baripada division from 8 am to 9 am. Tourists must exit Similipal Tiger Reserve by 6 pm on the same day. Additionally, visitors can explore the national park via open jeep safari. Morning wildlife safaris will commence at 5:30 am and last for five hours, while evening safaris will start at 2 pm and conclude within four hours.
In the 2024-25 period, a total of 38,483 tourists, including 12 foreigners, visited Similipal, generating revenue of Rs 4.26 crore, Gogineni reported.