The Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) and National Park in Mayurbhanj district was reopened on Sunday for the tourists after a four-month monsoon break, while the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Nilgiri of Baleswar district too was reopened on the day after a gap of three-and-half months.
The Similipal Park had been closed since June 16 as roads remained inundated during the rainy season. The STR remains closed during the period every year. The authorities decided to reopen the park after the roads, guest houses and other infrastructural facilities were repaired.
Now, tourist vehicles coming from Baripada would be allowed entry to the park through the Pithabata check gate. Those coming from Jashipur would go inside STP through the Jamuani check gate. At least 60 four-wheelers would be allowed entry every day, STP Deputy Director Ajit Kumar Satpathy.
He said a forest official would guide each tourist vehicle in the STP and the vehicle would be allowed to stay inside the park till5 pm. He said picnics are strictly prohibited inside the park but tourists can take dry and cooked food with them in containers other than plastic bags.
Notably, special arrangements have been made for tourists’ night stay at Jamuani, Ramatirtha and Gudugudia. For this, tourists can book rooms at Similipal office or throughwww.similipal.org.
Similarly, the Kuldiha sanctuary had remained closed for the tourists since June 15. To facilitate the tourists to have the view of the wild animals, the Forest department has made specific arrangements at luna Padia inside the sanctuary where these animals come to eat salt from the field provided by the department. The entry fee for each tourist to the sanctuary is `20, while the night halt charge for each tourist is `450.