Bandipur National Park

Location : Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka
Nearest Town : Gundulpet (20 kms)
Area Coverage : 87,420 hectares
Best Time to Visit : From March to June and September to November
Main Attractions : Jungle Cat Tiger Wild Boar Chital Gaur
Status : Comes under Project Tiger.

¤ About The Park

The Bandipur National Park is one of the most engaging wildlife reserves nestling in the southern Indian State of Karnataka. The Maharajah of Mysore established the park in 1930's and was used as Maharaja's private hunting reserve. Later in 1941, it was expanded to adjoin the Nagarhole wildlife reserves, Kerala's Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu. Niligiri Biosphere Reserve is the new name given to the three united parks, one of India's most extensive tracts of protected forest.

Bordering on the Mysore - Ooty highway the Bandipur National Park covers an area of 874.2 square kilometers. The park observes the most moderate climate, the temperature ranges from 10 degrees and 30.5 degrees that make it an all season favorite.

The region is well dotted with deciduous and evergreen forest covers along with open grassy woodlands. The Moyar River is the center of attraction as it plays a major role in forest irrigation along with other two minor streams. Bandipur is also one of the foremost and most accessible habitats of the Asiatic elephant. Its vast open tracks make it a most preferred elephant-siting zone for its visitors also making it a idle destination for photography sfari


¤ Launch of Project Tiger Scheme

It has been declared as a tiger reserve in 1973. It became one of the sanctuaries selected across India for Project Tiger Scheme by the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature. The main aim of the project is to preserve and regenerate these endangered species in their natural habitat. In 1974, the Bandipur was declared as a National Park under the Wildlife Protection Act.


¤ The Vegetation

The park has densely populated forest cover with vegetation dotted with Teak, Honne, Nandi, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Bamboo, Dindalu, making up a major portion of the forest. The entire park is well irrigated by four rivers.


¤ Wild Life Attractions

Some of the main mammal species found in the park are tigers, leopards, elephants, gaurs, sambar, chital, barking deer, sloth beer, wild dog, langur, Indian giant red squirrel, 4 horned antelope, porcupines, jungle cat, leopard cat, jackal, 4 varieties of mongoose, flying squirrels, and striped hyenas.
Siting a wild life is not a problem, as many can be easily seen near the accommodations available in the park. One can also take up jeep safari or book a 'Machan' (raised tower to watch animals) near the watering hole to have a close encounter of these majestic creatures.


¤ Aerial Attractions In The Park

Over 230 species of birds have been identified in the park. Some of the most notable ones are the Serpent Eagles, Shaheen Falcons, Gray Headed Firhings, Honey Buzzards, Malabar Pied Hornbills, Stork, Egret, Kite, King Vultures, Gray Partridges, Black Woodpeckers, Indian Pittas, Ducks, Gray Jungle Fowl, Blue Bearded Bee-Eaters, Fairy Blue Birds, Malabar Whistling Thrushes, Owls, Green Imperial Pigeons, and lot more.


¤ Reptile Population

The park is also the home to diverse variety of Reptile family, rock pythons, cobras, crocodiles, monitor lizards, wolf snakes, russel's vipers, rat snakes, Indian python, vines snakes, common kraits, turtles, flying lizards and many other varieties of snakes.


¤ The Diverse Safaris

In Bandipur National Park the private vehicles are not allowed inside the park. The park can be explored through the open van and jeep operated by park authorities. The authorities provides with their own well expert guides who have their expertise in spotting and identifying wildlife in their most natural habitat.
There are also facilities of elephant safari organized by Forest Department, these safari are normally of about an hour that takes you into the more deeper forest. Mainly early morning rides are more preferred then the noon ones. Visitors are not allowed in the park after dark.

There is also a vast scope for photograph safari. The park offers wildlife photograph in close proximity with the nature. All visitors to Bandipur have to get entry permits at the entrance to the park. There are also charges for the handy cam and the still cam. Additional charges are levied for vehicles, and elephant or jeep rides.
Forest Rest house for accommodation should be reserved in advance at the Forest office in Bangalore or Mysore.


¤ Accessibility To The Park

Air : Mysore is the nearest airport to the park at a distance of 80 km, one can avail taxis, tourist coach from the airport that runs frequently.
Rail: Nanjungud - 55 km from the park is the nearest Railway Station. Frequent bus services are available from the station to the park.
Road : There are regular bus services from Bangalore to Bandipur. Tourist coaches and taxis are easily available. There are also buses run from all the neighboring cities, mainly Mysore- 80km that takes just 2 -3 hour by road.