Baripada: The Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district is set to welcome visitors again from October 10, according to a notification issued on Monday by STR Field Director Prakash Chandra Gogineni. The reserve had been closed to tourists since June 12 due to the onset of the rainy season.
In an earlier notice, the Field Director had announced that the reserve would remain closed from June 12 to September 30 to ensure visitor safety, as heavy rains often disrupt road connectivity within the park. However, the exact reopening date was to be confirmed closer to the time and published in local newspapers.
While entry to the tiger reserve itself was restricted, the eco-tourism complexes at Jamuani, Gurudia, Kumari, Barehipani, and Ramtirtha remained open for tourists throughout the closure period.
Typically, the reserve prohibits tourist access from mid-June each year, as the monsoon rains render many internal roads impassable. Although the reserve usually reopens in the first week of November, this year’s reopening has been scheduled earlier in October.
