Proud Moment: Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district finds place in TIME magazine’s best 50 destinations
By Amar Barik
Balasore, March 20: The pristine beauty of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has duly been duly recognised by the TIME Magazine which has put it among the 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in its list of the World’s Greatest Places of 2023.
The Union Territory of Ladakh is the second place from India which has been featured in the list.
Mayurbhanj is the only place where rare black tigers are seen. The place is popular for its delicate ecosystem and the Similipal National Park.
Be it the Asian elephants or Bengal tigers, the visitors certainly feel blessed to witness a wide range of flora and fauna here.
The Time Magazine also mentions the Belgadia Palace, an elegant boutique hotel and royal residence where the visitors get a wide range of treats apart from witnessing unique dance forms.
“This April, Mayurbhanj Chhau, a captivating dance festival on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list will take place on a much larger scale following a pandemic hiatus,” the TIME Magazine noted.
The Similipal bio-sphere spreading over 2750 square kilometres is one of the finest nature tourism spots in the country. Of the total biosphere, a major portion is declared as a Similipal National Tiger Reserve. About 1,076 species of mammals, 29 types of reptiles and 231 species of birds are the proud possession of this plateau.
The average mean elevation of Similipal is 900 meters. Tall and luxuriant sal trees in large numbers stand like sentries. The handsome peaks of Khairiburu (1178 meters), Meghasani (1158 meters) and others welcome like smiling receptionists from the emerald heights.
Sweet scented Champak flowers refresh the air in Similipal. The richly hued orchids on the green foliage are soothing to the eyes. In the midst of the dense forests, the summer stands humbled and the sun gets lost. Several rivers like Budhabalanga, Khairi, salandi and Palpala originate from the hills and meander through the forest like veins and arteries in the body. Many of them have formed cascading rapids and foaming falls before leaving for the plains. The panoramic view of the waterfalls at Barehipani (400 meters) and Joranda (150 meters) are simply enchanting.
