Similipal Closed For Three Months, Eco-Tourism Sites To Remain Open

Bhubaneswar: One of the most sought-after tourism destinations of Mayurbhanj, Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) has been closed for travellers and tourism enthusiasts for three months. The authorities have notified the closure from June 16 to September 15.

According to a notification of Field Director Similipal Tiger Reserve and Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF) Baripada, Prakash Chand Gogineni, as per the usual process under the management and guidelines under the Project Tiger and the STR, the popular biosphere reserve will be closed for three months and its opening date will also be notified to the public through newspaper and public notices.

As per the Notice No. 72 of June 13, 2023 the Field Director’s office has also informed the general public that during the closure of Similipal for the travellers and tourism enthusiasts, the Eco-Tourism Projects under Jamuani, Gudgudia, Kumari and Ramtirtha will remain open to cater to the needs of the people.

After the world-wide ranking of Mayurbhanj among the 50 most beautiful places across the globe for its forests, palaces, war dance Chhau dance, culinary delicacy like ``Mudhi Mansha’’ , stone carvings of Khiching and dokra craft of Kuliana the footfall to visit Mayurbhanj has taken a great leap recently. 

``The three-months closure happens every year and it is necessitated as the usual development work is being taken up along with plantation and also during the rains the road condition across the STR is badly affected. This temporary closure will enable authorities to ready the tiger reserve again for the visitors once the rains got over,’’ explains forest researcher and activist Sarat Tripathy of Karanjia, who has worked extensively on forests in Mayurbhanj.

Baripada-based scribe Akshaya Agarwal says ``though the STR will remain closed, the eco-tourism sites will remain open and this will provide a relief to the incoming travellers to enjoy their time in the lap of nature.’’
According to the STR data ``the vast terrain of Similipal with wide altitudinal, climatic and topographic variations, criss-crossed by large number of perennial streams, harbours a unique blend of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and Sub-Himalayan plant species. The floristic composition indicates a connecting link between South Indian and North Eastern Sub-Himalayan Species. Forest is predominantly moist mixed deciduous forest with tropical semi-evergreen forest in areas with suitable microclimatic conditions and sporadic patches of dry deciduous forests and grasslands. It forms the largest watershed of North Odisha.’’

The entire Similipal landscape supports more than 1,352 plant species with 94 species of orchids of which three species are endemic. It is also the home of some endemic cultivars and aquatic grass species. It houses seven percent of the flowering plants and eight percent orchids of India. There are 55 species of mammals, 361 species of birds, 62 species of reptiles, 21 species of amphibians and many species of insects and micro fauna.