By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 1, 2022: The Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district was opened for tourists on Tuesday after remaining closed for five months due to monsoon. The park was closed to tourists from June 16.

Similipal, spread over 2750 square kilometres is one of the largest Tiger Reserves in India. On the first day, 142 tourists in 31 vehicles took a tour of the National Park, Similipal Tiger Reserve Field Director T Ashok Kumar said. Kumar greeted the tourists with roses at an entry point in the morning.

Similipal National Park houses a wide variety of flora and fauna, breathtaking waterfalls and green meadows. It is also home to a rare black melanistic Royal Bengal Tiger, the field director said