Odisha’s Similipal National Park opened for tourists

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baripada, Nov 3:

The Odisha Forest department opened the Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district for tourists on Sunday.

A total of 124 tourists, including 23 women and 12 tourists from outside the state, arrived at the Park in 17 vehicles on the first day after it was reopned.

The tourists arrived at the check gates at Pithabata and Jashipur in the early morning hours. Later, they were allowed by the forest staff to enter the park.

Of the 124 tourists, eight tourists had a night halt at the forest guest house at Jamuani.

The Forest department has also made arrangements for the night halt of the tourists at Gudugudia.

“The Park is famous for its Tiger Reserve in our country and abroad. We are happy to visit the Park. The forest department has made excellent arrangements for the tourists,” said one of the tourists.

Talking to OST, Director of Similipal Park Ajit Kumar Satpathy said that a decision had been taken to allow 40 vehicles from Jamuani gate via Jashipur and 20 vehicles from Pithabata gate via Baripada inside the Park from 7 AM to 9 AM everyday.

“The Forest department has decided to provide one Forest guide to each group of tourists during their visit inside the Park,” he added.

He said that the tourists were quite excited to visit the Park, adding that elaborate arrangements have been made for the night halt of the tourists inside the Park premises.

He also said that the special attraction for the tourists this year would be tigers, including a black tiger that was born a few months ago.