Spread over an area of 2,750 sq km in the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa, Simlipal National Park was a former hunting reserve for the royalties. Tours to Simlipal promises to leave you longing for more of the fun and adventure you would have with Tourism of Orissa tour packages.

A popular wildlife reserve in Orissa, Simlipal National Park is popular with tourists for its Tiger Reserve that shelters nearly a 100 tigers within its Sal wood forests. The rugged topography of hills and plateaus at the Simlipal National Park offered by Tourism of Orissa is home to 1076 species of animals, 29 species of reptiles and 231 species of birds.

Tigers, leopards, sambars, langurs, deers, Indian bisons, elephants, antelopes wild doge, wild boars, sloth bears, hyenas and porcupines make for game viewing on your tour to Simlipal National Park. Hill myna, peafowl, red jungle fowl, crescent serpent eagle, hornbills and parakeets constitute the chief sightings on your birding tour of the Simlipal National Park.

You can also go sightseeing for turtles, reptiles and crocodiles in the Simlipal National Park. The crocodile-rearing center at Ramthirtha is another draw for the tourists on their tour to Simlipal.

There are many scenic spots abundant in natural beauty that you ought to see on your tour to Simlipal, Orissa. The waterfalls on the rivers Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Kahairi and Deo especially Barehipani and Joranda waterfalls; the panoramic points of Mageshwari which is the highest peak in the Simlipal National Park and the Santhal tribal community inhabiting the villages on the outskirts of Simlipal National Park are some in point.

Entry Points, Permits and Timings

• You can enter into Similipal through Pithabata (22 km from Baripada).

• Entry permits can be obtained from the Range Officer, Pithabata check gate or the Assistant Conservator of prescribed fees.

• Day visitors can enter between 6 AM & 12 Noon and visitors with reservation between 6 AM & 2 PM.

• Similipal remains open from 1st November to 15th June only.

Approach

Road - Baripada, the district headquarters of Mayurbhanj, on the junction of NH 5 and 6, is 170 km from Bhubaneswar, 240 from Kolkata and 60 km from Balasore and 22 km from Pithabata, which is an entry point. The other entry point Jashipur is 94 km from Baripada on N.H. 6. Both the places are well connected by regular bus services. Taxis and Jeeps are available.

Rail - Nearest railhead is Balasore (60 km from Baripada), served by major trains running on the South-Eastern sector.

Air - Nearest airports are Bhubaneswar (270 kms) and Kolkata (240 km)