Simlipal national park or Simlipal national forest is an elephant reserve park situated in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. The name of the forest has derived from the red silk cotton trees, that bloom here vividly.
Mode of transport:
Tourists can reach to this park by road, or by rail. The travelers can reach here by road through NH 5 and 6 from the Baripada entry point. Another entry point is Jashipada. All the roads are well connected by daily jeep, taxi and bus services. Tourists can also reach in this reserve forest by rail. The nearest rail station of this forest is the Balasore station, which is 60 km away from Baripada.
About Simlipal:
The core forest area of the Simlipal reserve park is 845.70 square kilometres and has several beautiful waterfalls in this area such as barehipani and loranda. Simlipal reserve park is enriched with its flora and fauna. It has 96 species of orchids and 1076 varieties of plants. Because of the wide variety of vegetation, the forest is also known as “the semi evergreen forest of Orissa”. The savannas and the grasslands are the grazing grounds of the herbivores. Beside that, there are a variety of tropical broadleaf and deciduous trees in the forest.
The tiger reserve project of simlipal was started in the year 1973, then in 1979, the mugger crocodile project was started. The core forest area of Simlipal is a home of 42 types of mammals, including 99 Royal Bengal Tigers and around 440 wild elephants 30 varieties of reptiles and 242 types of birds. The forest is also known for the chausingha, Gaurs, leopards, barking deers, sambars, wild boars, jungle cats, common lengurs and giant squirrels.
The birds, which are commonly seen in this forest are: red jungle fowl, peacock, hill mynah, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey horn bill, Indian Trogon. Apart from these mammals and birds, there are a great population of the reptiles like turtles and snakes.
Popular tourist destinations:
The thick green forests, extensive meadows and grassy lands, sparkling and precipitous waterfalls, cloud kissing hill peaks, meandering rivers, trumpeting elephants and roaring tigers, flying squirrels and fleeing deer, dancing peacocks and talking myna- are the features of this forest. All these features has made the reserve forest of Simlipal an irresistible tourist destination and a nature dreamland. The essence of the fascinating beauties of this jungle, Simlipal reserve forest lures the tourists with the amazing interiors, clean and cool air, free and fresh fragrance, soothing visuals for the eyesight. A trip to this reserve forest will fill the ears with reverberating sounds and the heart with hypnotic throbs. As a whole the trip will rejuvenate your body and soul.
Mentioned here some list of animals found in Simlipal wildlife sanctuary with their numbers:
Tiger 98
Leopard 115
Elephant 449
Spotted deer 2500-3500
Barking deer 4000-4500
Mouse deer 1500-1800
Sambar 7000-9000
Gaur 850-950
Wild boar 10000-10500
Langur 250 Troupes
Wild Boar 2900
Rhesus macaque 75 Troupes
Simlipal also offer its visitors an awesome glimpse of the life of the tribal people and the tribal culture. It would be a bonus for all the tourists.
Ideal time to visit Simlipal:
The forest remains open for the visitors from 1st October to 15th June. This is the ideal time to visit the park. Tourists can enter in the forest between 6AM to 12 Noon.
