Toshali Jungle Lodge, Simlipal

Orissa's Beautiful Jungle Retreat

Straddling 2750 sq. km of the Chotanagpur Plateau in Mayurbhanj district, Orissa, the Simlipal Bisophere Reserve-which's a part of the Mahanandian Biogeographical region-- is a uniqueunique, untainted preserve of a wide range of flora and fauna. Since 1973, it has been one of the 14 biosphere reserves of India, also shouldering the responsibility of creating a safe habitat for the tiger under the Project Tiger programme.

The 888 sq. km of the Tiger reserve Reserve forest is designated as the core, and is supported by an 1862 sq. km buffer zone. Seven rivers and their tributaries flow through the jungles of the reserve which is rich with Simul (Silk Cotton trees). These trees, laden with red flowers, look wonderful as if straight out of beautiful picture cards.

The scenic Jornada and Barehipani waterfalls inside the reserve are the famous landmarks of the place and much add to the appeal of Simlipal. The Kiriburu and Methasani Mountain peaks rise from the jungles of Simplipal inviting the visitors to scale it to have a good look of the scenic reserve. Tribals reside in the four villages within the core of the park, while 58 villages are scattered on the periphery.

Visitors to Simlipal are rewarded with a 'real' and unadulterated feel of a forest, and the park is ideal for serious bird watchers and botanists. The Biosphere Reserve supports 1076 species of flora and fairly large numbers of leopards, gaur, elephants, barking deer, sloth bears, mongoose, porcupines and flying squirrels. Watch out for the many slithery reptilian species also as the Simlipal Biosphere Reserve boasts of many of them.