Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksOdisha's Wild Heart
Odisha
Image: Byomakesh07 / CC BY-SA 3.0Welcome to Simlipal National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
Book Similipal nature camps and listed safari options through Odisha's official ecotourism portal.
This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.
Simlipal is remote and the roads inside are rough (mostly dirt tracks). A sturdy vehicle (SUV) is essential. Forest rest houses are basic with limited facilities. Mobile connectivity is very limited. Not suitable for visitors with significant mobility challenges. The Pithabata gate area is relatively accessible.
Simlipal National Park in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha is one of India's largest and wildest tiger reserves. Named after the Simul (Silk Cotton) trees that dot the landscape, the park encompasses a sprawling plateau of dense Sal forests, grasslands, and waterfalls. Simlipal is particularly famous for its melanistic (pseudo-melanistic) tigers — tigers with unusually broad, merged stripes that appear almost black — a genetic phenomenon found almost exclusively here. The park's dramatic waterfalls, including the 150-meter Barehipani Falls and the 400-meter Joranda Falls, are among the highest in India. Despite its immense biodiversity, Simlipal remains one of India's lesser-visited parks, offering a raw, uncrowded wilderness experience.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Open Season (Nov - Jun) | 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM | 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
Two entry gates: Pithabata (east, from Baripada) and Jashipur (west). Drive-through tourism on designated routes. Overnight stays at forest rest houses inside the park. Safari vehicles can be hired at the gates.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee (Indian) | INR 60 per person |
| Entry Fee (Foreigner) | INR 500 per person |
| Vehicle Fee | INR 500 - 1,000 per vehicle per day |
| Guide Fee | INR 400 per day (mandatory) |
| Camera Fee | INR 100 (still), INR 500 (video) |
Unlike most Indian parks, Simlipal allows private vehicles on designated routes. This is a drive-through safari experience rather than guided jeep safaris in specific zones. Overnight stays at forest rest houses must be pre-booked through the Odisha Forest Department.
Simlipal National Park, Mayurbhanj District, Odisha 757001
21.8289° N, 86.3739° E
Nearest airports are Bhubaneswar (270 km) and Kolkata (250 km from Baripada). Taxi or bus from either city to Baripada.
Nearest railway stations are Baripada (60 km from Pithabata gate) and Balasore (90 km). Both on the Howrah-Chennai SE line. Well-connected to Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and other cities.
Baripada (district HQ) is the main access town. 270 km from Bhubaneswar (5-6 hours), 250 km from Kolkata (6 hours). State buses and taxis available.
From Baripada, hire a vehicle (preferably SUV/jeep) to the park gates at Pithabata or Jashipur (60 km). Private vehicles allowed inside the park on designated routes. No public transport inside.
Vast Sal forests (dominant species), tropical moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests, and high-altitude grasslands on the plateau. Over 1,076 plant species recorded including many orchids and medicinal plants.
Home to approximately 26 tigers, including the famous melanistic (pseudo-melanistic) tigers with unusually dark, merged stripes — a genetic trait unique to Simlipal. Also home to about 450 elephants, leopards, gaur, giant squirrels, pangolins, and mugger crocodiles. The Olive Ridley turtle nests on nearby beaches.
Simlipal was the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Mayurbhanj. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1973 and a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1979. The national park was established in 1980 within the larger tiger reserve. UNESCO recognized it as a Biosphere Reserve in 2009. Simlipal gained scientific attention for its melanistic tigers — a 2021 genetic study identified a mutation in the Taqpep gene responsible for the unusual dark colouration, a trait fixed in this small, relatively isolated tiger population.
