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Similipal hill forest in Mayaurbhanj district of Orissa is known as the Himalayas of Orissa. It is spread over about 4,000 sq km area and is a compact mass of unique natural forest that controls the climatic regime of the whole of Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. The biodiversity of Similipal is determined by its typical eco-system. The south west monsoon wind passes over the Bay of Bengal and hits the hill range and causes rains in coastal areas of Orissa. It is believed that due to heavy storm in the past, a large number of grass lands have been created in higher altitudes of the forest. It is virgin sub tropical forest and is a store house of large flora, which are a mixture of south Indian, north Indian and Andaman species. There are 3,000 species of plants, ferns, orchids and mosses. Similipal as one of the greatest centre of bio diversity of plants in Asia. It is an unique natural habitat of bio diversity of endemic animals In the areas of dense wood lands, sambar, kutra, wild bear, gaur, elephant, gurandi, etc are found. With a view to conserve the flora and fauna of Similipal, a tiger project was established in 1973 and Similipal was declared as a wild life sanctuary.
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