Similipal Tiger Reserve Closes for Monsoon: Tourists Advised to Plan Visits Accordingly

The Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district will be closed for tourists from June 12 to September 30 due to the monsoon. An official notification stated that the exact date of reopening will be announced later in daily newspapers. However, the ecotourism complexes Jamuani, Gurgudia, Kumari, Barehipani, and ltamtirtha will remain open for visitors. Officials mentioned that tourists are not allowed to enter the reserve forest from mid-June every year during the rainy season as road connectivity to various locations inside the sanctuary gets disrupted. The national park, a popular tourist destination in Odisha, usually reopens from the first week of November. According to the India Meteorological Department, the southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in South Odisha in the next 2-3 days.