Forest Under the Stars

Experience an extraordinary after-dark wilderness adventure on the Forest Under the Stars trail, an exclusive twilight and astronomy expedition deep inside the protected core of Similipal Biosphere Reserve. Commencing in the late afternoon at Khairi Niwas in Jashipur, guests receive an authorized safety briefing before entering the restricted core forest under the care of armed Forest Department guards and certified naturalists. The expedition journeys along secluded jungle tracks to the Barehipani lookout, arriving just as the golden evening sun descends over India’s second-highest waterfall, illuminating the sheer canyon walls with breathtaking amber hues. As dusk transitions into the velvety mountain night, guests gather for a dedicated 45-minute guided astronomical observation session equipped with high-powered field telescopes and binoculars. Travelers marvel at crisp lunar craters, glowing planetary disks including Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus, and brilliant seasonal constellations shining through Similipal’s unpolluted dark night skies. The return drive transforms into an exciting nocturnal wildlife safari, with spotlights searching for night-active fauna along quiet forest tracks before reaching Khairi Niwas, concluding an unforgettable synthesis of astronomical wonder and raw untamed jungle mystery.