Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park

State : Karnataka Area : 874 sq. km Altitude: 680 - 1,480 m Vegetation : Deciduous, Evergreen & open grassland 

The private hunting reserve of the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, Bandipur today is a mesmerizing wildlife sanctuary spread across mountains, forests and rivers. It supports a remarkable variety of flora and fauna that includes an incredible 3000 elephants and 70 tigers. Bandipur is one of  the best place to see wild elephants in India.

Bandipur lies in the southern state of Karnataka and covers a forest area of 865km2. It was declared a National Park in 1974 and is one of the original 9 tiger reserves under the Project Tiger administration. 

The park is bound by Nagarhole in the north-west, Kerala’s Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in the south-west and Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in the South; together they constitute the spectacular Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve - the first ‘Biosphere Reserve’ of India. Physically all three forest tracts are part of the same forest, but the federal structure of the Indian states have curved them into three different regions and given them different names.

The main perennial rivers of the Reserve are Nugu, Kabini and Moyar. The Nugu flows through the middle of the reserve and the Moyar forms the southern boundary with the Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kabini River, across which a major irrigation dam has come up at Beechanahalli, forms the boundary between this Reserve and Nagarhole. The reservoir has become the grazing area for hundreds of elephants during dry months. During summer months, the backwaters of the Kabini Reservoir host huge congregations of elephants and gaurs. This unique feature makes it a photographer’s delight. 

Park Open : Open throughout the year

Best Season : November to January

Main Attraction : Elephants & leopards

Fauna : Most famous for its elephants and tigers, Bandipur is also known for its large gaur (wild buffaloes) population, leopards, wild dogs, loth bear, Muntjac, wild boar.

Avi Fauna : More than 230 species of birds have been recorded here that include birds of prey - Serpent Eagles, Shaheen Falcons, Crested Hawk Eagles, Ospreys, Honey Buzzard.Other species include Cormorants, Egret, Grey Heron, and Spotbill, Red-wattled Lapwings, White-throated and Common Kingfisher, wagtails Gray Headed Firhings, Malabar Pied Hornbills, Stork, Egret, Kite, Peafowl, Lapwing, Sandpiper, Drongo  etc