It’s snowing in Odisha national park

Baripada (Odisha): It’s a double delight for tourists visiting Odisha’s Similipal National Park (SNP) this winter. They will now have an opportunity to get drenched in raining fluffy snow as the biodiversity is witnessing mild snowfalls due to sudden dip in temperature since Friday.

Reports on Sunday said temperature dipped to six degrees Celsius on Saturday night at the tiger reserve and national park.

Similipal National Park, which also houses Similipal Tiger Reserve, Similipal Elephant Sanctuary and Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary draws thousands of tourists — both domestic and foreign — during the winter.

While heavy fog and mild snowfall is nothing new at the park, this year it is said to have arrived earlier than usual.

Wild life experts, however, are happy and said it to be a good omen for biodiversity.

“We continue to experience chilled wind after sunset. This morning we experienced the first snowfall of the season. The tourists are really happy and enjoying the weather,” said an official of the national park.

The park that had been temporarily closed from June 16 for the monsoon season  reopened for tourists on November 1.

A maximum of 35 four-wheeled vehicles from Kaliapani check gate and 25 four-wheelers from Peethabata check gate are allowed inside the park between 6 am and 9 am everyday.

There are two entry points and tourists can book their entry tickets from Jashipur counter.

According to the rules of the park, the tourists will have to leave Badheipani and Jaranda by 3 am and Chahala water fall by 4 am.

Besides, a forest guide for each tourist vehicle is mandatory and they are allowed to stay inside the park till 5 pm. Picnics are strictly prohibited inside the park. However, the tourists are allowed to bring dry or cooked food with them in containers. Plastic bags are banned in the park.