Simplipal National Park is one of the earliest wildlife habitats that was taken under Project Tiger and is located in the forest belt of northern Orissa. Formerly a favourite among the royals of Mayurbhanj district, the park set in an expanse of the fine Sal forest. Tourist can enjoy jeep safaris and explore the wild surroundings of Simlipal. The Simlipal Tiger Reserve, one of the country’s largest protected areas, is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. A forested, hilly terrain 200 km south-west of Kolkata, the reserve is endowed with an exceptional biodiversity. Its name derives from the abundance of semul or red silk cotton trees which bloom vividly in the first few months of the year. Of the reserve’s almost 1,000 species of flowering plants, 94 are orchids alone, many of which are on show at the small orchidarium at Gurguria.
Simlipal’s hilly terrain is carved by a number of rivulets. The riparian habitat around streams such as East Deo, Palpala, Budhabalang, Khadkei, Khairi and Bandhan contains swampy tracts and impressive waterfalls, the finest and most popular being Barheipani and Joranda. Expanses of semi- evergreen and moist-deciduous forests are interspersed with majestic sal trees and lowland meadows. Grassy Chahala, Bachurichara, Devsthali and Sapaghar have fairly good concentrations of wildlife.
The Simlipal National Park in Orissa, the former hunting place for the Maharajas of Mayurbhanj, was established as a tiger reserve in 1956 and in 1972 it became a part of the Project Tiger Scheme followed by the attainment of the national park status in 1979. This national park and tiger reserve in northern Orissa is covered with the wide stretches of sal forests. The national park is home to twelve rivers and innumerable waterfalls and the native Santhal tribes of Orissa. The important and major rivers amongst these are Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Kahairi and Deo.
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