Odisha Odyssey: Central & North
Having had our taste of the wild side of Odisha with a visit to Tikarpada during the previous leg of this journey, we couldn’t wait to see what other secrets the state’s dense forest cover had in store. So, we headed straight for the Similipal Tiger Reserve. Before venturing into the forest, though, we learned about the legendary tigress of the same name and the equally legendary Indian Forest Service officer, Padmashri Saroj Raj Choudhary, who raised her and kept a pet python and hyena alongside. Stories of the bond between the tigress Khairi and Choudhary are amazing and well known across the country.
