Bhubaneswar: After nearly five months of monsoon break, the Similipal National Park reopens for wild life enthusiasts from Friday.
On the day one the authorities will allow around 100 wild-life tourists, including three Kashmiris, to savour the pristine beauty of this national park.
As per the prior information by the national park authorities, night stay for tourists have been made at certain places inside the sanctuary like Kumari, Gudugudia, Ramatirtha, Barehipani and Jamuani which can be booked online at website www.ecotourodisha.com on payments.
The tourists would have to leave the sanctuary area latest by 5 pm every day. The entry permits will be issued between 6 am to 9 am. Tourists, who visit the place via Jashipur, can return back using the Baripada Road.
Briefing about the reopening and the facilities for the visitors in the national park, Pithabata Range Officer Ugrasen Jena said, "The restrictions for tourists bringing in non-vegetarian foods and narcotics into the park will remain in force this year too."
He also said as the park has been made polythene free since last 4 years, and since the State government has enforced a ban on single use plastics from October 2, plastic free zone in the park will be strictly enforced. In the given context, it is mandatory for the tourists to carry a cloth bag for safe disposal of their debris, he added.
Housing varied flora and fauna along with enchanting waterfalls and greeneries, the national park encompassing a Tiger Reserve and a sanctuary is one of the most popular tourist destination in eastern India. It recorded a footfall of 30,092 visitors including 30 foreign nationals in the 2018-2019 tourist season.