Bandipur National Park

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Introducing Bandipur National Park

About 80km south of Mysore on the Ooty road, the Bandipur National Park (Indian/foreigner Rs 50/150) covers 880 sq km and is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which includes the sanctuaries of Nagarhole, Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala. It was once the Mysore maharajas’ private wildlife reserve and is home to over 5000 Asiatic elephants – a fifth of the world’s population.

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Bandipur is also noted for herds of gaurs (Indian bison), chitals (spotted deer), sambars, panthers, sloth bears and langurs. More than 80 tigers reportedly roam here, but they’re rarely seen. The vegetation is a hodgepodge of deciduous and evergreen forest and scrubland. The best time to see wildlife is March to April, but November to February has the most temperate climate.

Brief elephant rides (per person Rs 50) are available for a minimum of four people. Private cars – with the exception of resort vehicles – are not allowed to tour the park so you’re stuck with the Forest Department’s diesel-minibus safari (per person Rs 25; 6am, 7am, 8am, 4pm & 5pm), which lasts one hour. The wildlife seen will be limited, as a bus lumbering through the forest doesn’t exactly entice creatures out into the open. On Sundays tourists can outnumber the chitals.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. sam_scot99 avatar
    RE: 28 days trip - Trivandrum to Mumbai

    by sam_scot99 07 February 2012

    Hi Ya because ur arrving in this sate 1st) kerala is south indian state with mostly greener with…
  2. ansh_jain_97 avatar
    RE: What is the reality on wildlife tours/spotting?

    by ansh_jain_97 05 October 2011

    I once went to Bandipur National Park in October a few years ago, and there were plenty of elephants everywhere, on the highway too. That's…
  3. piratexpress avatar
    RE: Kerala advice

    by piratexpress 12 September 2011

    1. I think your itinerary is fine. 3 days is more than enough for Mysore - so you'll have time to go spend a day at the Bandipur National…

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