Similipal

State

Similipal is situated the biotic province, Chhotanagpur Plateau in the heart of the erstwhile Mayurbhanj State and derives its name from the magnificent and enchanting Simul (Silk Cotton Tree).

History

In the ancient days, this reserve was the hunting ground of the Mayurbhanj Maharajas. Their excessive hunting endangered the wildlife, and in 1979 the government declared a small area as a sanctuary. In 1986, the area of the National Park was increased to prevent poaching.

Accessibility

Air: Jamshedpur airport is the nearest air terminal, which is nearly 140 km away. Jamshedpur has regular flights to Kolkata. Kolkata is the major international airport nearest to Simlipal. Kolkata is nearly 250 km away from Simlipal and taxi fare from Kolkata to Simlipal is about Rs 5000. Kolkata is well connected with all major cities in India by air and is connected to many cities abroad.

Rail: Balasore railway station at a distance of 76 km is the nearest rail head to Simlipal. It is connected to many major railheads in Orissa by passenger and express trains. Kolkata (250 km) and Bhubaneshwar (300 km) are connected by direct trains.

Road: Orissa state public transport buses connect Simlipal with many cities in and around. Regular bus services are available from Simlipal to Kolkata, Jamshedpur and Bhubaneshwar.

Shopping

Local stone crafts can be found here but there''s not any more scope for shopping.

Accommodation

Within the park the accommodation and dining facilities are terribly inadequate. The best place to put up is Baripada, which has a choice of hotels to offer to the tourists. Forest reserve bungalows are available at Aranyanivas at Lulung (3 km from Pithabata . OTDC also offers dormitory accommodation for the budget traveler Private hotels are in Jashipur and Baripada. Barheipani has log cabins with a spectacular view of waterfalls and an abundance of orchids.

Things to do

Trekking: Most enjoyable activity in Simlipal National park is trekking. The forests with undulating hilly terrains offer all levels of trekking challenges to the adventurous tourists. Natural walks, hiking and rough trekking are the attractions in this park. One can enjoy the natural splendors, the exquisite ambience, breathtaking landscapes and the cool pleasant climate during the trekking activities in this wonderful park.

The trekking trails in Simlipal are mostly unexplored, with not much well defined trails. The unpolluted and unspoiled environments add the rejuvenating power of this adventurous activity in Simlipal. The camping facility nearby allows the trekkers to make necessary arrangements for the adventurous treks. Experienced guides can provide factual information on the trails and the dangers in the trails.

Safari
Take a wildlife safari and view the various flora and fauna in the park. You may get lucky and spot a leopard or a tiger apart from other animals you can expect to see like deers and herds of elephants.

District
Mayurbhanj