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Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park is a beautiful forest reserve located in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. This national park occupies a special place in India's efforts towards natural conservation. It was created in the 1930s from the local Maharaja Voodiyar's hunting lands, and named Venugopal Wildlife Park. Apart from being home to the Asiatic elephant, Bandipur also has a sizable number of tigers. Other natural inhabitants of this lovely forest are gaur (a type of bull), sambhar, chital, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, Malabar squirrel, porcupines and the black-knapped hare. Birds like jungle fowl and green pigeon are also found here.

Location : Karnataka
Nearest Access : Nagarhole, Madumulai and Wynad National parks
Main Wildlife Found : Jungle Cat Tiger Wild Boar Chital Gaur
Coverage Area : 87,420 hectares

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About Bandipur National Park
Bandipur National Park The Bandipur National Park is one of the most intriguing wild-life locales. Established in 1931 by the Mysore Maharajahs, this park is nestled in the foothills of the Nilgiris. Stretching along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, the park lies on the Mysore-Ooty highway. It has an excellent internal network of roads through its hilly, forested landscape, and the many water holes and salt licks that provide wonderful opportunities for wildlife viewing.

The scrub jungles towards the eastern limits of the park consist of stunted trees, interspersed with bushes and open grassy patches. Towards its north-western fringes, there is a gradual shift in the vegetation from open dry deciduous forests to tropical mixed deciduous forests. These diverse habitats support an enormous diversity of animal life.

It is one of the largest habitats in south India for the elephant which may be encountered regularly. The elephant rides are a wonderful way to get a feel of the jungle and view the avian wildlife. The flora and fauna here exist in perfect harmony, one of the major reasons why the site was chosen as the centre for Project Tiger, a step which has shown a positive impact on the Tiger population in the area.

Flora and Fauna in Bandipur National Park
The Bandipur National Park is covered with a mix of deciduous forests, evergreen forests and scrub, which is provided by the waters of the Moyar River. The major types of fauna in this reserve are the Asian elephant, gaur, sambhar, chital, mouse deer, four horned antelope, wild pig, black naped hare and the Indian porcupine. Apart from being home to the Asiatic elephant, Bandipur also has a large number of tigers, which count around 66 in number. The scrub jungles consist of stunted trees, bushes and open grassy patches. In the northwestern area, the vegetation contains the open dry deciduous forests to tropical mixed deciduous forests.

Avian Population in Bandipur National Park
The Bandipur region is also rich in avian population. Peafowl and the game birds like the grey jungle fowl, red spur fowl etc. are the most common avians found in the national park. The Kabini backwaters and the larger tanks attract cormorants, ducks, herons, teals, and waders. Among the woodland birds the hawk eagle, serpent eagle, the collared scops owl, the yellow-legged green pigeon, parakeets, woodpeckers and barbets, hornbills, drongos, scarlet minivets, and diverse warblers can be easily seen in the national park.

Geography
Bandipur National Park's altitude between 680-1454 metres and is situated south of the Kabini river at the foothills of the Western Ghats.The rivers of Kabini, Nagur and Moyar flow through the reserve. Climate - Winter minimum 10, Summer maximum 28 degrees, Monsoon from June to September and best time to visit is open throughout the year but preferably in monsoon when wildlife is plenty and forest is green. Greenery is quite lean when viewed from road but gets thicker as we proceed into the forest.

The Avi-fauna in the Bandipur National Park
There are a few canopy tress in the park that are as high as thirty meters and are hom eto some of the rarest species of birds in India like Malabar Trogan, Malabar Pied Hornbill and the Crested Hawk eagle. In all there are 250 variety of birds that are found here. Visit this park to explore the vivacious bird life...

Safaris
Jeep and elephant safaris are two major means of moving around inside the park. A jeep safari lets you experience the thrill of watching the wild animals at close quarters but it may sometimes be a deterrent as the noise it creates may scare away the animals or still worst may make them aggressive. Elephant safari is the best and most exciting option to get at close proximity to animals. It is the best option for bird watchers as there is no noise that would scare away the avians of the park. Rides into the park on especially laid out roads, called the 'game roads' that offer excellent views of wildlife. The visitors can enjoy safaris twice a day, once in the morning and then during the evening.

How to Get there
Air : The Bangalore airport is the nearest airport and is 220 kms away from Bandipur.

Rail : The nearest railhead is Nanjangud, 55 kms away followed by the Mysore station at a distance of 80 kms. One can easily hire a taxi or catch a bus or train from Mysore or Ooty.

By Road : The Bandipur National Park is 220 kms from Bangalore; 80 kms from Mysore and 80 kms from Ooty. The Gundulpet town is 20 kms away from Bandipur and is the nearest road head in Bandipur. The national park is well connected through road with every big or small town.