Mayurbhanj district
is the home of one of the most important National Parks not only in Orissa
but also in the country. Spread over an area of 2,750-sq-km, the park was
specially chosen by Project Tiger for continuing the onerous task of
conserving the country's deteriorating tiger population.
THE RICH WILD
FAUNA
One
of India's tiger reserves, Similipal has over more than 95 tigers within
the lavish bounds of the sanctuary. Leopards, elephants, mugger crocodiles
and numerous reptiles abound here. Other fauna include the wild dog, Wolf,
striped-necked mongoose, honey badger, small Indian otter, sloth bear,
barking deer, gaur, wild boar, pangolin, rhesus macaque, Hanuman langur,
common giant flying squirrel and porcupine.
Because of the wide
variety in the habitats the fauna composition of the reserve is also
varied and rich, 231 species of birds have been identified, out of which
red jungle fowl, Hill Myna, Peafowl, Alexandrine Parakeet, Crested Serpent
Eagle are common. The Grey Hornbill, Indian Pied Hornbill, Malabar Pied
Hornbill and Trogon also occur in the reserve.
Reptilian fauna
include the Indian pond terrapin, Indian flap shell turtle, Indian tent
turtle, banded rock gecko, forest calotes, snake skink, common skink,
large Bengal monitor lizard, Indian Python, common krait, banded krait,
spectacled cobra, monocled cobra, king cobra and bamboo pit viper.
A TREASURE OF
NATURAL SPLENDOURS
The
vast expanse and changing topography and the vegetation and climatic
variations in Similipal has been one of the major reasons for the
successful breeding of the flora and fauna.
Similipal offers an
excellent exposure to the delights not only of its wildlife, but also of
its wonderful natural beauty. Scenic beauty of the lush forests and
mountains and valleys is as extravagant as it is varied.
The park is a
treasure house of 501 species of plants belonging to 102 families. 82
species of orchids have also been identified here. It has a mixed type of
vegetation with Northern tropical semi-evergreen trees and Northern
tropical moist deciduous trees. Plus, dry deciduous hill forest and
high-level Sal forests.
The grasslands and
the savannas provide grazing grounds for the herbivores and hiding place
to the carnivores. The forest boasts of innumerable medicinal and aromatic
plants, which provide a source of earnings for the tribals.
MUGGER
MANAGEMENT
A traditional
inhabitant of the perennial streams in Similipal, the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus
palustris) was almost extinct by 1979. A captive management programme for
the species was started at Ramatirtha on the banks of river Khairi-Bhandan
near Jashipur.
Young crocodiles
have been rehabilitated in the streams inside the reserve. The species has
revived back. Ramatirtha mugger rearing centre draws visitors round the
year.
ATTRACTIONS
WITHIN THE SANCTUARY
The best way to see
as much as possible would be to take a package tour which could take in
the Barehipani waterfall (399m) and the Joranda falls (150m), the lush
grasslands of Bachhuri Chara, the Meghasani Peak (1,158m) and the wildlife
in the environs.
Jashipur, one of
the two entry points to the park, has a crocodile sanctuary, the other
being Lulung. Khiching and Haripur are two ancient places with unique
temple architecture. Haripur is 16-km and Khiching is 149-km from Baripada.
BEST TIME TO
VISIT
The reserve is open
to tourists from 10th November to 15th June in every season. Jashipur on
N.H. No. 6 (94-km) and Lulung, 25-km from Baripada on N.H. No. 5 are two
entry points to Similipal. Regular bus services from Bhubaneswar,
Calcutta, Tata and other important places of the state connect both
Baripada and Jashipur. Tourists are advised to hire four-wheeled Jeeps
