Simlipal National Park
Introduction And History : The Simlipal National Park is located in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa, which is 320 Kilometres away from the capital city Bhubaneswar. In the initial days it was primarily a hunting ground for royal families of the state. In the year 1979 it was elevated as a national park. Sprawling over 2,750 square Kilometres, this park has a sanctuary and a tiger Reserve. This park has notable variations in topography and required vegetation to support large varieties of animals, birds and reptiles. This park has variety of wildlife which includes elephants, deer, leopards, gaur bison, sloth bears, reptiles, langurs, crocodiles and more than 200 species of bird life.
What To See : This natural park has close to 100 tigers, which is the main attraction to watch out for. It has close to 500 species of plants belonging to 102 families. The scenic waterfalls can be enjoyed at Joranda, which is situated 493 Feet height. October to early June is the ideal time to visit this national park. To put in simple terms it offers a great opportunity for travellers to become a wild-life lover by exploring the virgin jungles around that.
Accomodations : Accommodation is primarily available in the form of forest reserve bungalows at Aranyanivas and Panthasala. There are private hotels available at reasonable price. The national park is reachable using local Jeeps from these two places.
Mode Of Transport : Kolkata is the nearest Airport, which is located at about 240 Kilometres away. Bhubaneswar is the next nearest Airport for travellers who want to explore the Orissa state. Baripada is the nearest railway station, located at 17 Kilometres from the park. National highways NH5 and NH6 meet near Baripada. The town of Baripada is the nearest town for the park.
Related links : Orissa Tourism web site: http://www.orissatourism.org/
See also (Nearby places): Bhubaneswar and Kolkata is the major nearby tourist attractions.
