The state government has decided to allow night stay of tourists in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) for the first time after the Maoists' offensive in reserve's tourism zone on March 28 to 30, 2009 and repeated attack on April 4 to 6, 2009. The night stay will, however, be limited to the buffer area of Gudugudia and Jamuani, official sources said.

The Red rebels had ransacked the tourists' rest houses at Chahala, Nawana and other places and damaged the entire VHF wireless network. The state government, therefore, closed the park for tourism from March 28, 2009 to December 22, 2010, when the park was opened for day tourism only.

But after the monsoon closure from June 16, 2011, the reserve authorities decided to reopen the tourism zone from Monday for day tourism as well as for night halts at two new places namely Gudgudia and Jamuani, located in the buffer zone.

Not far from the Pine Villa at Gudgudia where the tourists will be provided with accommodation and food, a posse of armed policemen have been stationed since the Maoists' attack on March 2009. Besides, the reserve authorities are regularly keeping in touch with the Mayurbhanj collector and superintendent of police regarding the security of tourists, said Anup Kumar Nayak, regional chief conservator of forests (Northern region). The security aspects for tourists will be reviewed from time to time by the district administration and police, Nayak added.

The food and accommodation for Gudgudia and Jashipur has been outsourced so that the tourists will be relieved from the hassles of carrying their lunch. Nayak, who is also the field director of the reserve, said the tourists staying at Gudgudia can also go for trekking and bird watching.

Similipal forest is blessed with rich biodiversity comprising of 1,076 plants, 42 mammals, 264 avifauna and 20 reptile species.

 TOI