About

Nagarahole is named after Nagarahole (Cobra river in the local language, Kannada), a winding river which runs eastwards through its center. officially called Rajiv Gandhi National Park, thuis beautiful place Situated in the two districts of Mysore and Kodagu in the state of Karnataka. Nagarahole used to be the private hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Mysore and was converted to a 285 sq km wildlife sanctuary in 1985. It was expanded and achieved National Park status in 1983. Today the Park spans an area of 640 sq. km. Nagarahole National Park forms apart of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and together with Bandipur National Park (875 sq. km) and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (325 sq. kms) to its South East and Wayanad (350 sq. km) to the South-West, is one of the last remaining and best-protected habitats for endangered species like the Elephant and the Tiger.

Other animals that have made their habitat in Nagarhole are Indian bison, porcupines, jackals, hyenas, Sloth bears, and not to mention Nilgiri tahrs and Nilgiri langurs, among many others. The Kabini River and several smaller streams running through the forest provide great views of the natural landscape and as well as ample opportunities to spot various fauna out for a drink.

Nagarhole was ruled by the Lingayat kings of Kodagu until the British colonial administration established hegemony in the 1850s. The presence of dilapidated irrigation tanks suggests that there were agricultural enclaves within the forested landscape. From the 1890s, the forests were gradually demarcated and notified as government-owned reserved forests. In 1955, a 285 sq km area was gazetted as the Nagarhole Game Sanctuary. The same was extended in 1974 with some reserved forests from the Mysore district being added to bring the total area to the present 644 sq km. This was also accorded the status of a National Park in 1974.

the Kabini dam submerged large tracts of forest creating a huge lake, parts of which are within the national park. During the dry season when the lake dries out, it leaves only the main river visible and the resulting open plain creates an abundance of fresh grass. This microhabitat provides fresh grass when the rest of the park is drying out and it plays host to large herds of elephants and other creatures of the forest, all easy to see.

History

In past, the park was an exclusive hunting reserve of the king of the Mysore. It was set up in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary. It was upgraded into a national park in 1983. The park was declared a tiger reserve in 1999. Total area of the park is about 643.39 Km2. Between 1947 and 1955, the Indian Government’s policy turned to harvesting as much of timber as possible, and to grow more food. Tribal and non-tribal people were encouraged to occupy Nagarahole’s ‘hadlus’, they were encouraged to cultivate rice and in addition provided cheap logging labour. There were no wildlife protection laws and hunting of predators was actively encouraged. In 1955, hunting of large mammals became illegal, but logging and encroachments into the Park continued.

Between 1870 and 1980, 14% of the area of the present Park was clear-cut to raise monocultures of teak. Dense secondary forests now occur in places where these plantations failed. Until recently, both the moist and dry deciduous forests have been selectively logged. The Nagarahole National Park derives its name from two Kannada words ‘Naga’ meaning ‘snake’ and ‘Hole’ meaning ‘stream’ or the name Nagarahole is derived from the winding river which flows through the Park. Naga meaning Snake and Hole referring to streams, rightfully means the place with snake. The Kabini River separates the Nagarahole National Park from the Bandipur National Park. The park boasts a healthy tiger-predator ratio, and tiger, bison. The park has recently been renamed ‘Rajiv Gandhi National Park’.

flora

Dominant floral species of the park are Rosewood, Teak, Sandalwood, Silver oak, Crocodile bark, Indian kino tree, Grewia tilaefolia, Axle-wood, Crepe myrtle, Kadam, Cotton tree, India gooseberry, Ficus, Horse nettles, Tick clover, Lantana, Bonesets, Golden shower tree, Clumping bamboo, Mathi (Terminalia tomentosa), Nandi (Lagerstroemia lanceolata), Honne (Pterocarpus marsupium) and Tadasalu (Grewia tilaefolia) etc.

fauna

Mammals – Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic Wild dog, Sloth bear, Hyena, Jackal, Elephant, Spotted deer, Sambar, Four-horned antelope, Gaur (Bos gaurus), Wild boar, Common langur, Bonnet macaque Jungle cat, Slender loris, Civet cat, Mongoose, Giant flying squirrel,  Porcupine, Giant Squirrel etc.

Birds – Common Peafowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Racket Tailed Drongo, Stork Billed, Pied and the Common Kingfishers, variety of Woodpeckers, Malabar Trogon, Blyth’s Baza, Crested Serpent Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Peregrine, Scarlet Minivets, Black-headed Cuckoo Shrikes, various species of Barbets, Owls, Cuckoos, Flycatchers, River Terns, Ducks, Teals, Waders, Herons, Painted Stork, Ibis etc.

Reptiles – Crocodiles, Monitor lizard, Snakes, Python, Common Cobra, Rat Snake, Vine Snake, Bamboo Pit Viper, Common wolf snake, Russell’s viper, Common krait, etc.

Safari Timings: 

Morning 6.00 a.m to 8.00 a.m.

Evening 3.00 p.m to 5.00 p.m for one hour Ride.

Safari Charges:

Indian Nationals - Rs. 300/- per person.

Foreign Nationals  Rs.1100/- per person.

Tips

• Safari timings are 6 AM to 8 AM and 2:30 PM to 4 PM. One gets to go in this for a price of Rs.5000 per adult, Rs.250 per child and Rs.200 / 400 for a camera. 
• safari vehicle and can accommodate only 25-30 people. This means, the safari drive is around 40-60 minutes only and it makes only 2 trips in the morning and 2 trips in the evening safari is for 1 hour. 
• The safari tickets are very limited, morning 52 tickets for 2 slots and evening 52 for 2 slots. 
• They give only 4 tickets to each person with a valid Govt. identity proof. you won't be getting tickets if you don't show valid Govt. identity proof.
• the morning safari starts at 6 am. In winters they do not start till 07:00 as there is plenty of fog in the forest and low visibility. The other thing is the bus safari starts only if there is a minimum of 10 people. afternoon safari starts at 2:15. there is another safari at 3:30.
  
• If you really want the safari be there at least 1.5 to 2 hrs before the 1st slot time.
• There is a jeep safari as well. The booking for the jeep safari is done online and it is for 3 hours.
  
• No online booking help except for jeep safari by jungle lodges which is costly at 1500 rs and the nearly same feel as the Bus safari. Contact Info: Yashwanth- 9591139114, 9480395742 ,  Raj Naik- 9902651467 and Santhosh- 9632566454. Email Id: info@junglelodges.com
• Camera Above 500mm INR 500/- (+Tax). Video Camera INR 1,000/- (+ Tax).
  

Timings