The Bandipur National Park is situated in southern state Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district. It covers a forest area of 865 square kilometres. The park stands between the Western Ghats and Nilgiri mountains. Bandipur was declared a national park in the year 1974 . It was one of the 9 tiger reserves originally chosen under the ambitious 'Project Tiger' of Central government. The area is blessed with moderate climate which reaches a maximum of 35 degrees in summer. The period between March-June and September-November is the best time to plan the Bandipur trip. The park receives an average annual rainfall of 1200 mm.The park is surrounded by the reserves of Nagarhole, Madhumalai and Wynaad. Together, they constitute the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Accommodation and Connectivity

Bangalore is the nearest airport from Bandipur National Park at a distance of 220 kms. The nearest railhead is Mysore located 80 kms away from the park. By road, the cities nearest to Bandipur are Mysore (80kms) and Bangalore (220 kms). Bandipur falls on the widely travelled Mysore-Ooty highway.


Limited accommodation arrangements are available in Bandipur National Park for visitors. Therefore, it is always advisable to check availability beforehand. Generally, advance booking is done by tourists who plan to stay at the park. Bandipur has also become a favourite weekend getaway from the big cities of Bangalore and Mysore.

Park Attractions

Diverse Geographical Features

The diverse geography of the park is a matter of great interest. Within the park, the altitude ranges from 680 metres to 1454 metres. The mist-covered ridges of the enchanting Nilgiri hills provides a breathtaking scenery. While a few places of the park are dry, there are many water bodies within the park also. The temperature too varies from a minimum of 10 degrees in winter to 35 degrees in summer. A remarkable variety of trees, plant and animal species enriches the flora and fauna of the place. A temple on top of the highest peak in the park- Himavad Gopalaswamy Hill further adds to the diversity of the place.

Mammals

Bandipur is home to a wide variety of mammals. There are an impressive number of elephants, tigers and leopards in the park. A few endangered species like sambar, spotted deer and barking deer are also found in the park. The park is also a safe habitat for gaur, sloth bear, asiatic wild dog, striped hyena, mouse deer and the mongoose. There are an estimated 1900 elephants in the park. A serious effort has also been made to increase the dwindling tiger population under 'project tiger.' Wildlife conserving steps are continuously taken here to increase the population of the endangered species.


Reptiles

Bandipur is also fortunate to have many reptile species living in it. The ferocious cobra and Indian python are found in sizeable numbers here. The common rat snake, Russell’s viper and flying snake are also to be found.

Birds

Bandipur National Park also boasts of the presence of over 230 species of birds. At the advent of spring, Bandipur's air is filled with the melodious songs of birds. Some of the noteworthy bird species include the sandpiper, lapwing, woodpecker, heron, stork, egret, falcon and peafowl. Census has revealed that the numbers of many bird species have increased in Bandipur over the years.

The Elephant Safari

On the back of the majestic Asiatic elephant, a tour of Bandipur National Park is an enthralling experience. As the mammoth creature takes all the trouble by walking along bouldered roads, lakes streams, shrubs and bushes, the lucky tourist can see most of the wild creatures from close quarters and capture them in their camera. Spending a night on a watchtower is another thrilling experience. Boating and angling facilities inside the park are also arranged for the visitors.

A Photographer's Delight

The Bandipur National Park is regarded as one of India's finest game sanctuaries where wildlife can be observed and photographed in close proximity. It is common to find the majestic elephant walking leisurely or the tiger prowling amidst evergreen forests. The abundance of animal and bird species available in the park makes the photographer's job more engrossing and exciting. The Bandipur creatures have found themselves in the pages of many newspapers, magazines and also on celluloid.


In this heaven for wildlife enthusiasts, the only nagging problem has been sandalwood and ivory smuggling. But park authorities deserve kudos for standing up to the menace courageously. Steps have also been initiated to give a significant boost to the infrastructure of the park in recent times.