Similipal National Park

Similipal National Park, one of Odisha's largest protected forest areas, is renowned for its population of melanistic (black) tigers, a rare genetic variant found in significant numbers here more than almost anywhere else in the world, alongside substantial elephant populations and numerous waterfalls scattered through its dense sal forest. The park's sheer scale and biodiversity have made it a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, reflecting its exceptional ecological significance.

Barehipani and Joranda, among Similipal's most impressive waterfalls, add dramatic natural scenery to the reserve's wildlife appeal, and the park's relative remoteness in northern Odisha has helped preserve a genuinely wild character compared to more heavily developed reserves elsewhere in India.

Declared a tiger reserve in 1956 and later recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Similipal has become internationally notable for its unusually high proportion of melanistic tigers, a striking genetic variation that has drawn particular scientific and photographic interest in recent years.

About 260km from Bhubaneswar, roughly 6-7 hours by road.