About Simlipal National Park
Simlipal National Park and Tiger Reserve is Odisha’s crown jewel of wildlife — a 2,750 sq km expanse of lush sal, bamboo, and grassland forests in the Mayurbhanj district. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009, Simlipal is one of India’s largest protected areas and ranks among its most biodiverse — hosting Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, gaurs, leopards, crocodiles, and over 300 species of birds.
Wildlife & Natural Wonders
Simlipal is home to around 30 Bengal tigers and over 400 elephants. The park’s most spectacular features are its waterfalls: Barehipani (399 m — India’s second highest), Joranda (150 m), and Lulung. These falls are at their spectacular best between July and October when the monsoon fills the rivers to capacity. Unique black tigers — a rare melanistic variant — have been documented here through camera traps, making Simlipal uniquely famous in wildlife circles.
The Visitor Experience
Entering Simlipal is to step into a primeval world. The forest is thick, mist-covered in the mornings, and alive with birdsong. Safari jeeps take visitors along forest tracks where encounters with elephants, gaurs, and deer are common. The waterfalls require moderate treks through dense forest.
Why It’s Worth Visiting
Simlipal offers something increasingly rare in a crowded subcontinent: genuine wilderness. The combination of tiger territory, massive waterfalls, tribal culture (Santali and Ho communities inhabit the periphery), and remote landscape creates an adventure of the highest order.
