Bandipur National Park

Location of Bandipur : Karnataka
Nearest Access to Bandipur : Mysore & Ooty (80-kms)

Elephant, Bandipur National Park

Coverage Area of Bandipur : 874.20-sq-kms
Climate of Bandipur : Winter : varies between18°C and 24°C, Summer: 21°C - 37°C
Major Attractions in Bandipur : Elephants ,Gaurs, Tigers, Leopard, Wild Dog and sloth bear
Best Time to Visit Bandipur : April – October

Bandipur National Park lies at the heart of an extensive forest at the confluence of the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills. It is situated within Chamarajanagar district in the southern state of Karnataka. In 1973, Bandipur became one of the first of India's Tiger Reserves and the southernmost of the nine reserves specially established under Project Tiger. In 1974, under the Wildlife Protection Act, Bandipur was notified as a National Park.

Major Wildlife Attractions

Tiger, Bandipur National Park

Former hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Mysore, Bandipore today hosts a sizable population of Indian Elephant, Gaur and other mammals. It forms a continuous forest zone with Nagarhole, Madumalai and Wynad. The terrain of the park is undulating with rocky hills and valleys interspersed with meadows and seasonal watercourses. The reserve consists of southern tropical moist mixed deciduous and southern tropical dry deciduous forest types.

The ecosystem diversity is manifested in the variety of fauna like tiger, leopard, wild dog, jungle cat, Indian civet, common and stripped neck mongoose, black-naped hare, sloth bear, monitor lizard, Giant squirrel, crocodile, chital, sambar, muntjac, mouse deer, chausingha, wild boar, jackal, striped hyena. This park also boasts of over 200 species of birds including commonly found Peafowl, Grey Jungle-Fowl, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Honey Buzzard, King Vulture, Greyheaded Fishing Eagle, Brown Hawk Owl, Bay Owl, Malabar Trogon, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Little Spiderhunter, Nilgiri Flowerpecker.

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

Hornbills, 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.

When to Visit Bandipur National Park
Bandipur is a tourists' paradise from April to October. During summer, the backwaters of the Kabini Reservoir provide the best opportunity to the tourists to observe large mammals, especially the elephant and the gaur. The best time to spot elephant herds is in the rainy season. Other animals found in this 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-naped hare.

Leopard, Bandipur National Park

How to Get there

Air : The nearest airport is at Bangalore which is 220 km from Bandipur.

Rail : Mysore is nearest railhead, at a distance of 80-kms.

Road : 220 km from Bangalore; 80 km from Mysore; 80 km from Ooty.