TBM Staff - Mumbai
Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) reopened for tourists yesterday after Cyclone Dana led to a temporary closure. The reserve, part of Similipal National Park, had been inaccessible since October 23 due to severe weather conditions and damage. Currently, visitors can only access STR through the Jashipur (Kalikaprashad) gate, with the Pithabata gate remaining closed until road repairs are complete.
Cyclone Dana made landfall in Odisha on October 25, causing extensive rainfall and road damage, particularly in the Pithabata region. Officials confirmed that once repairs are finalised, access through Pithabata will resume. Visitors are advised to check the official STR website for updates on this entry point.
The Similipal Tiger Reserve, covering 2,750 square kilometers, is renowned for its rich biodiversity. It hosts over 96 species of orchids, 42 mammal species, 242 bird varieties, and 30 types of reptiles. The park is especially famous for its rare melanistic tigers and Royal Bengal tigers, along with leopards, Asian elephants, and several deer species.
Visitors to STR can experience sightings of jungle cats, wild boars, four-horned antelopes, and the giant squirrel, making it a key site for wildlife tourism and conservation in India. The reopening marks a positive step for tourism in the region following the disruption caused by Cyclone Dana.
