About

The Bandipur National Park located about 80 km south of Mysuru on the Mysuru-Ooty Road from Mysore and 220 km from Bangalore located in the district of Chamarajnagar District: 874.2 sq.km. Bandipur is flanked by Karnataka ’s Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole) to its northwest, Tamilnadu’s Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary to its southwest.  Together, these constitute the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Bandipur National Park is one of the top attractions you must include in your itinerary when visiting Mysore.  

The Bandipur National Park is a sanctuary of 90 km² was created at this site in the Bandipur Reserve Forest in 1931 by Maharaja of Mysore. As it was realized that this was too small for effective wildlife conservation, leading to the instituting of the Venugopala Wildlife Park at this site, extending over 800 km². The Bandipur National Park includes the neighboring wildlife sanctuaries of Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala.  In 1974, the wildlife sanctuary was declared a National Park, under the Wildlife Protection Act. Since then, stringent anti-poaching measures have resulted in a steady increase in the big cat population. this park has boasted constant rise in the Tiger population. Also famous for Sandalwood trees and rare species of Flora.

The Bandipur Tiger Reserve forms a very important component of 5520.00 Sq. Km. landscape, the first Biosphere Reserve in the country i.e. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Notified on 01-09-1986 vide order No. J.22010/6/86.CSC, Government of India under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme of the IUCN).  This Landscape of Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai & Wayanad complex is home to the single largest Asian Elephant population in the world (Varma et al. 2005) and is part of the Mysore Elephant Reserve (MER) notified vide notification No. FEE 231 FWL 2000, Dated 25-11-2002.  The Reserve is endowed with rich floral and faunal diversity and is recognized as one of the Mega Biodiversity Areas in the country. The Tiger and the Elephants are the flagship and umbrella species for the conservation of all the Biota that this ecosystem represents.  The viable population of these two species is indicative of a healthy Ecosystem.

Biogeographically, Bandipur Tiger Reserve lies in one of the richest biodiversity areas of our country representing “5 B Western Ghats Mountains Biogeography Zone” (Rodgers & Panwar, 1988), surrounded by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the South, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in the South West & on the North West Side the Kabini Reservoir separates the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. The Northern side of the Tiger Reserve is surrounded by a human-dominated landscape with villages and agricultural lands.

The amazing Fauna in Bandipur attracts a large number of visitors to this Wildlife Reserve in Mysore, Karnataka. Wildlife lovers are sure to thoroughly enjoy a visit to it. The thrill of exploring the dense mysterious forests and witnessing a large variety of animals in their natural wild habitat is inexplicable. Fauna in Bandipur includes large mammals like the elephant and gaur. Unable to bear the summer heat, these mammals come to quench their thirst in the backwaters of the Kamini Reservoir located in the northwestern part of Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The sight of this huge collection of mammals all at the same spot is simply spectacular. A significant portion of the Fauna in Bandipur includes Tigers. It has the distinction of being one of the nine tiger reserves which were created in the country after launching of the Project Tiger. Behold the majestic tigers when you visit the Bandipur Wildlife Reserve.

Flora

Bandipur supports a wide range of timber trees including teak (Tectona grandis), rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia), sandalwood (Santalum album V), Indian-laurel (Terminalia tomentosa), Indian kino tree (Pterocarpus marsupium), giant clumping bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), clumping bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea) and Grewia tiliaefolia.

There are also several notable flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs including: kadam tree (Adina cordifolia), Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), crape-myrtle (Lagerstroemia lanceolata), axlewood (Anogeissus latifolia), black myrobalan (Terminalia chebula), Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodiar, flame of the forest (Butea monosperma), golden shower tree (Cassia fistula), satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia), black cutch (Acacia catechu), Shorea talura (E), indigoberry (Randia uliginosa).

Fauna

Bandipur supports 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.

Mammals

A golden jackal family alongside the Kabini river in Bandipur National Park, Karnataka. A gray langur The commonly seen mammals along the public access roads in the park include Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted deer, Sloth bear, Mouse deer, Wild dog, Four-horned Antelope. Of these mammals, the endangered ones include the Four Horned Antelope, Gaur, Sloth bear, Mouse deer. It is also one of the best and most accessible habitats of the Asiatic elephant.

Tips

1. Better to make advance bookings instead of waiting in the queue especially on weekends and public holidays.
2. take safari early morning you can witness tigers and many other animals.
3. if you can afford it, take the Jeep it really worth the money which you are paying.
4. if you take bus safari Seat numbers are assigned and printed on the ticket along with the Bus number.
5. Don't stop your vehicle inside the forest. It is illegal and potentially dangerous.
6. To avoid double park entry fee payment please book accommodation and safari together. Separate safari and accommodation booking is liable to pay the entry fee twice.

BUS safari timings:

MORNING

1. 06:30 AM to 07:30 AM
2. 07:30 AM to 08:30 AM
3. 08:30 AM to 09:30 AM

EVENING

1. 03:30 PM to 04:30 PM
2. 04:30 PM to 05:30 PM
3. 05:30 PM to 06:30 PM

GYPSY safari timings:

MORNING

1. 06:30: AM to 08:00 AM
2. 08:00 AM to 09: 30 AM

EVENING

1. 03:30 PM to 05:00 PM
2. 05:00 PM to 06:30 PM

Timings