Baripada: Similipal National Park in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district opened Sunday for tourists after remaining closed for the monsoon season, according to a notice.
The public notice, issued by the authorities of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), said a maximum of 60 four-wheelers will be allowed to enter the forest daily.
Vehicles with ground clearance of 180 mm or more will be permitted.
Of the total vehicles, 35 can enter through Kaliani gate at Jashipur and 25 others through Pithabata (Lulung) checkpoint at Baripada, it said.
However, there is no provision for heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks.
Tourists in private vehicles will be allowed to enter between 8 am and 9 am at Pithabata and between 5 am and 9 am at Jashipur. They have been asked to leave the tiger reserve by 6 pm on the same day, it said.
Permits for entry into Similipal Sanctuary can be obtained through the website www.similipal.org only.
ID proof of each traveller is required to be shown at the entry gates, the public notice said.
Before entering the tiger reserve, tourists will have to give a written undertaking to comply with the existing norms. Any violation of the rules is punishable by law, it said.
All vehicles, travellers and their luggage will be checked at the entry and exit points.
Tourists have been asked to leave the Joranda and Barehipani waterfalls before 4 pm.
For overnight stay in Similipal, the notice said that tourist lodges at Kumari, Talabandha, Barehipani and Jamuani of Similipal Tiger Reserve are available. Nighttime movement will not be allowed.