 Bandipur
National Park, one of India's best known wild life reserves,
is located in Chamarajanagar district, on the Mysore-Ooty highway.
Bandipur was declared a National Park in 1974 and spans an area of
874.2 sq. km. The Park is divided into four zones, the core zone comprising
523 sq. km., the buffer zone of 274 sq. km., the 82 sq. km. tourism
zone and the 1 sq. km. administrative zone.
The Park is drained by the Rivers Kabini, Nugu, Moyar and innumerable
small streams. It is full of rocky hills and valleys with the beautiful
Niligiri Mountains and their cloud-covered peaks forming
a picturesque backdrop. The highest peak  is
the Himawad Gopalaswamy Hill which reaches a height of 1455
m. The spectacular Moyar gorge marks the boundary between
Bandipur and Madumalai, and is as deep as 260 m. at some places.
With a temperature that never crosses 30 degrees C even in the hottest
months of summer, this Park draws scores of visitors every year.
The flora at the Park ranges from dry deciduous forests on the
eastern limits to tropical mixed deciduous forests towards the north-western
fringes. The diversity of habitat supports many kinds of animal
life.
Bandipur can be viewed in all its glory when the pre-monsoon showers
begin in April. The resident birds commence their breeding activities
and the air resounds with their melodious calls. Elephants and the
majestic gaur are attracted to the lush grass sprouting in the meadows.
For tourists who come to watch the larger mammals in their natural
surroundings, Bandipur is a veritable paradise from April to October.
Even in summer, when dryness prevails over the  region,
the backwaters of the Kabini Reservoir in the north-western portion
of the park host huge congregations of large mammals. This unique
spectacle is by far the only one of its kind in Asia.
The mammals in the park include tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur,
sloth bear, Asiatic wild dog, hyena, jackal, sambar, chital among
others. Smaller animals such as the mangoose, slender loris, Indian
pangolin and squirrel are harder to spot. Over 230 species of birds
have been identified here. Some of them include herons, storks,
egrets, sandpipers, peafowl, babblers, flowerpeckers, sunbirds and
larks. Reptiles include marsh crocodile, star tortoise, Russel's
viper, common krait, Indian python, green whip snake and trinket
snake to name a few.
Approach:
By rail or road from Bangalore to Mysore: 140 km
By road to the Park's reception centre via Nanjangud and Gundlupet:
80 km
By road from Ooty: 80 km
 Information
for visitors:
Anytime between April and October is ideal to visit the Park.
Departmental vehicles are available for wildlife viewing from
6 am to 9 am and again from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.
Elephant rides are also arranged into the forests adjoining the
tourist complex from 6 am to 9 am and again from 3.30 pm to 6.30
pm.
The Park is open to visitors between 6am and 6.30 pm.
All accommodation is within the tourist complex. The complex
has 16 double-bedded rooms and 3 dormitories with 6, 10, and 20
beds which can accommodate upto 68 persons.
Contact Address:
Chief Wildlife Warden
Aranya Bhavan, 18th Cross, Malleshwaram, Bangalore 560003
Phone: 080-2334 1993
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