Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary

Location: The sanctuary is located in Mayurbhaj District of Orrisa, 320 Km from Bhubaneswar.
Major wildlife Attractions: Elephants, Deer, Leopards, Gaur Bison, Sloth Bears, Reptiles, Crocodiles and more than 200 species of bird life.
Attractions in the Park: Mangesheri mountain range, Barehipani waterfall, Joranda waterfall, Newana, Barheipani etc.
Nearby tourist destinations: Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Puri, Konark.
When to Visit: The sanctuary is open from November to 15th June. For rest of the year, the park is closed for visitors.
Entry Fee: Indians- Rs 5/-, Foreigners- Rs.100/-.; one has to obtain permission from the "Field Director, Simlipal Tiger Project, Baripada", 10 days in advance.

About Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the 18 tiger reserves of India, Simlipal is situated in the district of Mayurbhanj, Orrisa, spanning across an area of 2,750 sq. km and covered with lush grassland and Sal forests. Once a hunting place for the Kings of Mayurbhanj, Simlipal got established as a tiger reserve in 1956 and became a part of the Project Tiger Scheme in 1972, followed by its attainment of the status of a 'National Park' in 1979. Currently there are around 95 tigers in the sanctuary. The ecosystem of Simlipal falls under Mahanadi-biogeographic region. The sanctuary is home to twelve rivers and countless waterfalls. Going deep into Simlipal one can some across the spotted deer, listen to the cries of Cheetahs and the barking of the Muntjacs or watch the Sauthali women searching for bark and twigs for firewood. Simlipal is also home to more than 87 varieties of orchids. Orchids of the most exotic varieties bloom here.

Wildlife Attractions in Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary
The Fauna
Among the 42 species of major mammals and 30 species of reptiles recorded so far in the reserve are Tigers, Panthers, Elephants, Gaurs, Four horned Antelopes etc. Ratel, Pangolin, Giant squirrel, sambar and Cheetal are among the other few worth mentioning. The sanctuary can boast of around 95 tigers and the rare Mugger Crocodiles.

The Flora
The Simlipal national park consists of the Sal forests, which are predominantly tropical moist deciduous forests. The forests are a treasure as it houses 501 species of plants belonging to 102 families. There are around 87 species of orchids identified. The forest has innumerable medicinal and aromatic plants, which act as a source of income for the tribals.

The Avifauna
There are around 230 bird species here. Some of the rare ones include Red Jungle Fowl, Alexandrine Parakeet, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey Hornbill, Indian Trogon Hill Mynah, Peafowl, etc.

The Park Trip
One can see the sanctuary on there own 4-wheeler or on any vehicle provided by the forest authorities.

Getting There
Air: Simlipal Tiger Reserve can be reached easily through three major airports at Jamshedpur(140 Km), Bhubaneswar(320 Km) and Kolkata(240 Km). Taxi and bus services can be utilised to reach the national park.
Rail: The nearest railhead is at Baripada, 50 Km from Simlipal. Baripada has direct rail connections to all of India’s major cities.
Road: Baripada has extensive road links to other cities and states. Regular buses leave for Simlipal from Baripada. Private cars or taxis can be used to drive around the park.

Accommodation
Forest reserve bungalows are available in the Simlipal Hills, but these won't fulfill your luxury needs. One has to take prior permissions from the
authorities regarding the stay at forest bunglows. There is a solar-powered stone lodge at Baripada, which is very reasonably priced. There are some options in Lulung(35 Km) as well.