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The Simlipar National Park in Orissa,
the former hunting place for the Maharajas of Mayurbhanj,
was established as a tiger reserve in 1956 and in 1972 it
became a part of the Project Tiger Scheme followed by the
attainment of the national park status in 1979. This
national park and tiger reserve in northern Orissa is
covered with the wide stretches of sal forests. The
national park is home to twelve rivers and innumerable
waterfalls and the native Santhal tribes of Orissa. The
important and major rivers amongst these are Burhabalanga,
Palpala Bandan, Kahairi and Deo.
The Park also holds tigers, leopards, elephants, sambhar,
chital, chausingha and mouse deer, the tiniest member of
the deer family. Simlipal National Park is known for the
spectacular Mangesheri mountain range that spreads itself
evenly throughout the national park. The tourists in the
park can observe the herds of deer by the side of rivers
most often. Accommodating around 100 tigers and 230 bird
species, the national park is also a floral treasure with
501 plant species belonging to 102 families. The other
important members of this wildlife sanctuary are the 82
species of the orchids, medicinal and aromatic plants.
General Information
The tourists require the entry permit in the park, which
can be collected at Baripada. The tourists can attend the
feast and dance festival celebrated by the Santhal tribes
in January. The tourists can enjoy the spectacular view of
the park from Barheipani (1308 ft.) region. The most
beautiful waterfalls of the national park are found at
Barheipani and Joranda (493 ft.). The short excursions
from the tiger reserve in Simlipal can be organized to the
'temple city' Bhubaneshwar and the 'City of Joy' Kolkata.
The tourists are recommended to take along with them,
light cotton clothing in summer whereas woolen clothes
during winters. The entry into the project area and the
laboratories is restricted to few people but still the
forest officials provide the information/literature about
the national park as well as the tiger conservation
project running here since years.
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