Bandipur National Park Tourism

"Tiger reserves in the Nilgiris" Bandipur National Park Tourism Situated in the state of Karnataka, Bandipur National Park was once the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore. It was later established as a reserve in 1974, and these deciduous forests rich in wildlife and flora have become a popular tourist attraction since then. Due to a lot of wildlife casualties due to tourist traffic, a ban on traffic between 9 PM to 6 AM has been established to ensure the safety of the animal population. Replete with a wide range of beautiful wildlife and multitudes of teak and sandalwood trees, this is the first Biosphere Reserve of the country. Once a private hunting ground to the Maharaja of Mysore, this one travelled a bit through irony, only to be transformed into a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Neighbors with theNagarholeand theWayanad Wildlife sanctuaries, and at a distance of a few minutes from theMudumalai National Park, the park is home to a number of endangered species. Situated in Nilgiris the are is blessed with a unique natural beauty. The area is the habitat for a number of animals such as elephants, hornbills, deers, pythons, sloth bears, pythons, panthers etc. An enjoyable town nearby that one must visit isOoty. Download Bandipur National Park PDF Guide > What's Great? Scenic Beauty. Various species of flora and fauna. What's not so Great? Difficult to reach. For Whom A visit here is perfect for wildlife photographers and people who are fascinated by wilderness.

History The Bandipur National Park was originally created as a sanctuary by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1931 and served as his hunting grounds. The original area of 90 sq kms was later continually expanded over the years, and now the park is spread over a sprawling 900 sq kms. Originally known as the Venugopala National Park, the area was later converted to a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1973 and renamed the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. It is a part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, which is India?s largest biosphere reserve. Flora and Fauna Bandipur supports a rich biodiversity. The flora found here include a wide range of trees such as teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian laurel, Indian kino tree, giant clumping bamboo and Grewia tibiae folia. There are also many flowering and fruiting trees such as flame of the forest, Indian gooseberry, golden shower tree and black cutch. The forests are home to a large population of wildlife, many of them belonging to endangered and vulnerable populations. Some of the common animals found here include Indian elephants, gaurs, tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, jackals and dholes. Peafowl, crows, red headed vultures, crested serpent eagles and kingfishers are some among the 200 odd varieties of birds found in the region. Bandipur also has a sizeable population of reptiles, ant and dung beetles. It is also known for its butterfly population, and a great many beautiful and colorful species can be found here. Safari The Bandipur National Park charges INR 250 for the entry fee. There are buses and gypsies available for the safari, the general timings of which are 6:30 am to 9:30 am in the mornings, and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the evenings. The gypsy rides, which can accommodate 6 people at a time cost INR 3000 while the bus rides cost INR 350. The best time to visit the park is considered to be in the months of October to February, before the monsoon season. The general visiting hours are between 6:30 am to 8:30 am. Camcorders can also be purchased ( at INR 200), to capture the experience of the park and its wildlife. The boat safari at Bandipur is also an attractive option, and it takes you along the Kabini river for a relaxing 2 hours and 45 minutes. The picturesque landscape, as well as the wildlife, can be enjoyed on this boat ride. The timing for the boat safaris are the same as the land ones, and the costs range from INR 2000 for Indians, with lower rates available for children. Around 15 people can be accommodated in one trip. Bandipur also offers elephant rides through the park for its visitors, at INR 50 per head. The timings are generally between 10 AM and 11 AM in the mornings. Please note that most of the rates charged are higher for foreign nationals. Wildlife at Bandipur National Park Bandipur supports a wide range of timber trees including teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian laurel, Indian kino tree, giant clumping bamboo, clumping bamboo and Grewia tibiae folia. Bandipur also holds a good population of endangered and vulnerable species like Indian elephants, gaurs, tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, jackals and dholes. Madumalai National park Given the proximity of this park to the Bandipur National Park, in spite of lying in separate states, the two are usually visited together. Recently declared as a tiger reserve, this wildlife sanctuary is situated on the banks of River Moyar, and on the north-western side of the Nilgiri hills. Home to the huge herds of elephants for which it is famous, tigers, leopards, gaurs, hyenas, sloth bears, sambars, mouse deer and wild animals are also seen here. Various reptiles like crocodiles, pythons, turtles etc are found here. This park is known for its avian population, consisiting of resident as well as migratory birds like hawk eagles, scops owls, brown dove, black woodpecker, king vultures, falcons etc. Tropical evergreen forests are maintained here, along with mosit mixed deciduous, dry teak and grasslands.

Itinerary Day 1-Arrive, check-in and rest. Then visit Needle View Point, Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Gopalaswami Betta.Day 2-Visit Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Restaurants and Local Food in Bandipur National Park Being a national park, the area does not house too many restaurants and your options for food and cuisine can get limited to the hotels, resorts and lodges that serve food across popular cuisines. You might find local delicacies here likeDosa, Bisi Bele Bath, Jolada Roti, Idli, Vada, Sambhar, Rasam, Kesari Bath, Mysore pak etcto relish. View 2 Restaurants in Bandipur National Park >>

Oct-Mayis the best time to visit Bandipur National Park October to May are the best months to visit Bandipur, skipping the monsoons. Weather in Bandipur National Park Loading... Bandipur National Park in Summer (March - June) Summers in this part of the country usually remain normal and pleasant, hence the temperature fluctuations vary in range from 32 to 38 degrees Celsius. Bandipur National Park in Monsoon (July - September) Humidity remains high throughout this time. The temperatures range between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius. Bandipur National Park in Winter (October - March) Winters in Bandipur remains misty and full of dew but the temperature remains 15 to 18 degrees Celsius. Monthly Weather in Bandipur National Park Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 21 32 February 22 34 March 24 34 April 26 35 May 25 34 June 24 31 July 24 31 August 24 31 September 23 31 October 23 32 November 23 32 December 21 32