The
Simlipal
National Park
, one of the earliest to be taken under Project Tiger, is located in the forest
belt of northern Orissa. Once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of
Mayurbhanj,
the Park is set in an expanse of fine sal forests.
Twelve rivers cut across the
attractive terrain and there are innumerable waterfalls.
Similipal
covering an area of 2,750 sq kms has been declared, in 1973, as one of the nine tiger project
reserves in
India
.
The evergreen forests, the rolling hills and water falls cascading down the
verdant slopes make it a nature lovers paradise.
The mugger is quite often
seen along many of these riers. The Park also holds tigers, leopards, elephants,
sambar, chital, chausingha and mouse deer, the tiniest member of the deer family.
Simlipal can be explored by jeep and the deer are especially seen in the
grasslands along the rivers.
There are
more than 223 species of birds. The sight of wild animals moving
casually in their natural habitat is a refreshing experience.
Best
time to visit
October
to early June
Accommodation
Forest
Rest House
Nearest
Town
Baripada
( 50 km)
Species
found
Tiger,
elephant, gaur, chital, leopard, mouse deer, flying squirrel and
