Wildlife Guide :: National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Tours to Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary are popular with tourists who plan to visit Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa and its nearby areas. Located in the highlands of Khurdha and Cuttack and that once had covered Bhubaneswar too, the Chandaka forest was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1982 to protect its dwindling population of natural vegetation and elephants.

The mixed tropical dry decidous and moist deciduous forests with miscellaneous species, bamboo and planted teak provide ideal habitat for elephant (83 nos.), leopard, hyena, spotted deer, wild dog, wild boar, ratel, pangolin, pea fowl, red jungle fowl, white ibis,dab chicks, open bill stork, egret, python, monitor lizard etc.

Nestled on Khurdha uplands of’ North -Eastern Ghats’ biotic region, Chandaka forest, is a relic of wildland that once extended all over Bhubaneswar. Spread over 193.39 sq.km of rolling table land and small sprawling hillocks of Khurdha and Cuttack Districts, it is a wildlife sanctuary since August 1982. The sanctuary, literally abutting on the capital city of Orissa, is the pachyderm country. Originally established to provide inviolate refuge for elephants with a view to minimize their depredation, the sanctuary is now a treasure trove of biodiversity. It is now a popular destination for solitude seekers, hunt for eco-tourists, laboratory for researchers and temple of learning for all.

Bhitar Kanika National Park in Balesore district in an area of 167sq.km is better known as a marine park. The park with its mangrove forests in the rivers Brahmani- Bhaitarani Delta and creeks, estuaries, back water, accreted land and mud flats was mainly established to protect the saltwater crocodile and other marine inhabitants of the region. It was notified as a Crocodile sanctuary in 1975 and a crocodile breeding centre has been established by the Orissa Government.

The park contains tidal swamp forests consisting of an abundance of mangrove, saltwater and brackish water mixed species such as Causarinas, Thespia, grasses like indigo bush etc. It is the second largest viable stretch of mangrove forest in the Indian mainland. The Fauna of the park include Olive ridley turtles (sea turtle), saltwater crocodiles, wild pigs, rhesus monkeys, leopard, wild boar, hyena, jungle cat, sambar, giant squirrel, water monitor, chitals, king cobra, python, fishes besides insects and other micro fauna. Birds found are strokes, ibis, white necked sea eagle and fish eagle etc. The best season for visiting the park is winter (November to February). The park situated along the Gahiramatha Coast is a haven for thousands of marine species especially the Olive ridley turtles which come here to lay eggs during the nights in winter. The giant Pacific Ridley sea turtles believed to come as far away as South America nest on the Gahirmatha Coast.

An area of 145 Sq.kms. have been notified as Bhitarkanika National Park vide Notification No.19686/F & E dated 16.9.1998 of Forests & Environment Department, Govt. of Orissa. It has much significance with regard to ecological, geomorphological and biological background which includes mangrove forests, rivers, creeks, estuaries, back water, accreted land and mud flats

Located in the Indian state of Orissa, the Bhitar Kanika National Park is one of the few marine parks in India. The flora and fauna of this park has a lot of similarity to the Sunderbans in West Bengal except that there are no tigers here. The park was established to protect the saltwater crocodile and other marine inhabitants of the region. The park has special status of Crocodile Sanctuary and it was notified in 1975.

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.

There are more than 100 tigers at the Simlipal National park in Orissa, India. Besides tigers the other animals found at the Simlipal National Park include chausingha, sambhar, mouse deer, chital, leopards, elephants, langurs, spotted deer, barking deer or munjtac, wild dogs, wild boars, sloth bears, gazelles, nilgai, ratels, rhesus macaque, chinkaras, chevrotains, jungle cat, elephants, hyenas, porcupines, monkeys, jackals, gaurs, black-faced langur monkey, mugger crocodiles, turtles, snakes, bison, monitor lizards, panthers, flying squirrels, mongooses and other animals.

The mugger is quite often seen along many of these rivers. The Park also holds tigers, leopards, elephants, sambar, chital, chausingha and mouse deer, the tiniest member of the deer family.

Destinationsindia.com - Site offers complete information about Simlipal National Park Tours, Simlipal Tiger Reserve, Simlipal National Park Wildlife Safari, Simlipal National Park in India, Wildlife in Simlipal.The site also provides an option for online tour booking, car rental, air booking and hotel booking.

Simlipal has two entry points, one at Lulung, and the other at Joshipur. The nearest railhead is at Baripada, about 50 from Simlipal. Baripada has direct rail connections to all of India’s major metropolises: Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai, in addition to regular trains from Hyderabad, Guwahati and other cities in the region. Baripada also has extensive road links to other cities and towns within Orissa and other states. From Baripada, regular buses leave for Lulung (a distance of 30 km) and for Joshipur (65 km). Alternatively, taxis may be hired to get to Simlipal. Private cars or taxis can be used to drive around the park.