Place: Mayurbhanj district, Orissa
Best time to visit: October to June
Nearest town: Baripada (20km)  
Main attraction: Elephants, tigers, singing Hill Myena

Set up in 1956, the North Simlipal National Park became one of the Project Tiger reserves of India in 1973. It is spread over 2750sq.km in Mayurbhanj district adjoining Bihar and West Bengal. The park consist of hills and valleys, traversed by brooks, perennial rivers and waterfalls. Influenced by the ecology of both the eastern and western parts of the subcontinent on account of its position, the confluence makes the forest home to exceedingly rare and diverse flora and fauna.

The vegetation ranges from semi-evergreen to moist deciduous and extreme dry deciduous forests. There are extensive grasslands, Sal forests and innumerable medicinal and aromatic plants also. The Simlipal national park is a treasure house of 501 species of plants belonging to102 families. 82 species of orchids have also been identified here. The park is famous for elephants and singing hill myena. Other fauna found are tiger, leopard, pangolin, sloth bear, Indian wolf gaur, chital, mouse deer, flying squirrel, mugger crocodile, python, hornbill, peafowl etc. Hyena, Jackal and Vultures constitute the Scavengers. The best months for visiting the park are October to June. The park remains open from 15th Oct to 15th June. Winters are severe and park also have heavy rainfall. The entrances to the park are at Lulung (20km from Baripada) or on the western side at Jashipur (95km from Baripada). Jeeps and private cars are allowed inside the park. The Barehipani Waterfall (399 mtrs) and the Joranda fall (150 mtrs) are well worth a visit as is the mugger crocodiles at Jashipur.The entry permit is issued from forest offices at Jashipur or Range Officer, Pithabata at Pithabata Check Gate. The entry timing are from 0600 to 1400 hours. 

Where to stay
There are a few options for accommodation. There is a Forest Rest house at Baripada. Advance booking is officially required for all the forest lodges/ rest houses in Baripada through the Field Director of Project Tiger - Baripada, Mayurbhunj district. About 10 km inside the park (35 km from the Baripada) is the Aranya Niwas Tourist Lodge at Lulung. Barheipani has log cabins with a view of waterfalls and orchids.

How to get there

Air : Nearest Airport is Kolkata (240km) and Bhubaneswar ( 320km)
Rail: Nearest Railhead is Baripada( 17kms). Balasore, on the South Eastern Railway, is 76 kms from Lulung. Jamshedpur, on the South Eastern Railway, 115 kms from Jashipur.
Road : There are buses to Lulung (20km) and Jashipur (95km), entry points for the park from the nearest town Baripada. Lulung, on the eastern periphery of the park can be approached through National Highway No.5. Visitors taking National Highway No.6 can enter the park through Jashipur where enough transport facilities are available. Some Road distances from Lulung are:- Baripada 20 kms, Jashipur- 114 kms, Bhubaneshwar- 320 kms, Calcutta- 250 kms etc.

Contacts

• Government of Orissa Tourist Office,
  Baripada- 757 001.
  Mayurbhanj District (Orissa)
  Phone: (06792) 52710.

• Assistant Conservator of Forests,
  Similipal National Park & Tiger Reserve,
  P.O. Jashipur, Distt: Mayurbhanj (Orissa). Pin- 757 091,
  Phone: (06792) 224.

• The Field Director,
  Similipal Project Tiger, Baripada- 757 002
  Phone: (06792) 52593.

• Orissa Tourist Information Centre,
  Utkal Bhawan, 55 Lenin Sarani (Beside Wellington Square),
  Calcutta- 700 013.
  Phone: 244-3653.