Before the devastating fire in Similipal National Reserve

We saw in news few weeks earlier that the fire is raging in Simlipal forest and was wretched to see the pics of burnt trees, whom we had seen vibrant earlier this year. the below journey is to take you through the dashing, wild, rustic green wonderland.

Aman called me at 10pm on friday saying lets go on weekend trip tomorrow. I was stunned for 5 sec thinking I need to go tomorrow..like TOMORROW! gathering my wits I asked which place; she told "let me check where to go".😂 after few more minutes she informed ( her being genius, getting spots in budget road trip @5000 excluding food ) that there's three spot left with #overlandtrips https://www.facebook.com/onlyiman2019/ for their similipal trip; I've never heard about this place. Inspite of being apprehensive at start, we decided to go with unknown.

Overlandtrips picked us from home and we started from kolkata at 5am. we stopped on way to a dhaba in kolaghat to have our breakfast.

Imp advise- DON'T EAT ANYWHERE EXCEPT SHER-E-PUNJAB. seeing sher e punjab crowded, we went for some dhaba in opposite road and it was terrible. food should be banned there. after drastic breakfast, we proceeded toward our destination

Reached Mayurbhanj palace at around 2.30- 3pm. the gate was closed; but we being us stormed inside, pushing the sturdy iron gates. we found that there's school inside

Tota urr, mayna urr and here common sense urrrr 🤣

fooling around

the grand staircase

trying for the most popular pose at Jambhira/ Deuli Dam, Mayurbhanj

1st successful candidate

well...still trying 😂🤷‍♂️

Finally!

womance time 🎉

in our normal subdued self

Samibrukhya

Samibrukhya is a single vertical stone of around 500ft.It is the place where Pandavas kept their weapons during their exile according to Mahabharata. A big festival is organized during Makara Sankranti in this place.

the rocks in these areas are very old. Scientists had discovered 4.2 million old rock from singhbhum area https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/worlds-second-oldest-rock-is-from-odisha/article23829527.ece

we couldn't trek to top because it was almost dark, 6pm. Place were crowded with (not so friendly) men and we were not that comfortable. will visit later

Dinner at Hotel. always go with amazing kababs. since it was last min plan, the resort inside national forest was booked. we stayed at hotel cipron inn in Udala

Bonfire

We started for similipal reserve at 4.30am. we had to reach the gate at earliest ( 1st come 1st entry). A maximum of 35 four-wheeled vehicles will be allowed to enter the national park area from Kaliami check gate and another 25 vehicles from Pithabata entry point between 6am and 9am every day. One guide for every vehicle has been made compulsory.

Another accidental video :D

Similipal is derived from Simul tree ( silk cotton tree) available there. It is single largest forest or SAL tree. Within forest so many tribal communities like Santal, Ho, Kol, Gond and more living here, more than fifty villages within Simlipal. The Tiger Reserve opens to tourists from November to June. But other peripheral area are open round the year. Two entry gates one is KALIANI from Joshipur Town about 15 K.M. and another one at PITHBATA from Baripada 20 K.M.

Elephant near entry gate. kept for rescue or emergency purpose inside the area

Temple of tribal deity

Endless trees. This place was major stress reliever

doing workouts even in middle of national forest

we hopped down on way and spent almost 30 mins here, much to the dismay of our tourist guide :D

Final shout, where our guide is saying that we will miss other location, and that this place is not exactly a tourist spot. To tell you the truth, we had the best time of our trip in this spot

Posing while our driver dada is completing formalities at check post

the never ending red roads

Joranda waterfall- I personally don't enjoy watching falls like this; its better to get down there and touch the water, most imp hear the thunderous sound of waterfall; here there was no such options.

Note: this place had the only proper, clean toilet facility in whole trip

Roasting of marinated chicken wrapped in leaves

must have delicacy, if you are inside Similipal. you will find these on road side on way to your lunch spot ( govt canteen). this is the only local cuisine which I had in my trip. others were mostly north Indian food. we went there on Jan'21.

As per telegraph, july'21 article- Visitors to Similipal National Park can now enjoy traditional Odia cuisine at the restaurant opened at the Kumari eco-tourism complex. Four eateries will be made functional from this season, two at Kumari and two at Muktapur.

Trying handia ( local rice wine) with roasted chicken. refreshing and tasty. If you visit this place then be a sport and try this

we had our lunch in government house with decent menu and price.

Tribal houses beautifully made with mud and locally available resources

Breath taking meadows

who can resist having such backdrop!!

sharing our dhukhrads :D

Back to hotel

being no better than a 6 yr old

paying off our food bills

On way to kolkata

Bought this beads from a small girl selling them near the road inside national park. we bought all of her beads @Rs10 each. her initial disbelief and ecstatic face was worth it

Note before visiting the reserve:

• Keep snacks with you. Donot throw it outside your vehicle. you will be given proper bags for collecting the waste

• Carry sufficient water

• download cash in Baripada or towns where you can see ATM's, you will get none near the reserve

• No network inside or around similipal reserve, so inform your family or concerned people that they won't be able to reach you on phone to avoid panic

• No proper Drinking water facilities and toilets inside except in Joranda falls. you will be there for 8-9 hrs, so be prepared

• Try to stay inside the national forest and do night safari. because in day there are lots of vehicles, so there's 98% chance of you not spotting any wild animals

• Don't go with sole expectation of seeing tigers or an other animal; since its not flat land like Kanha or others, it will be challenging to see them because they can be anywhere in rocks or higher rocks/ plains

• Don't wave to children on your way inside the forest tour; when you are waving, they think that you are about to give them money

• Locals around the reserve are not that friendly. don't expect much from them

• Travel with your own metal waterbottles, avoid plastic

This place has much more to offer. we would definitely visit again with more time. our current trip was for 1N and 2D. Total expenditure including everything was Rs 7000/ head for 3 person. Heard that they are making the reserve more tourist friendly https://www.telegraphindia.com/odisha/taste-local-cuisine-at-similipal/cid/1474995 hopefully they will implement them before we visit next time.

Pic credit: Amandeep, Koyel, overlandtrips

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