888 sq.km of the reserve forest is designated as the core, and is supported by an1862 sq. km buffer zone. 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.

During summers, light cotton clothing is essential whereas woolens would suffice during winters. Permit for entry to the park must be collected at Baripada. The Santhal tribes that live in the Simlipal forest celebrate feast and dance during January, which tourists may attend by prior notification.
A team headed by the Field Director carries out research under Project Tiger. Rights of admission to the laboratory and field facilities of Project Tiger are restricted, but officials do not discourage the visits of tourists/ecology students and extend all possible help by providing information/literature about the park as well as the tiger conservation project.

Places Nearby
Excursions from Simlipal National Park include the temple town of Bhubaneshwar and the former colonial capital of British India, Calcutta. Both destinations have direct air, rail and road links.