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Bandipur National Park is the beautiful
forest reserve located in the Chamarajanagar district in
Karnataka. This national park occupies a special place in
India’s efforts towards natural conservation. This park was
created in the 1930 from the local Maharaja Voodiyar’s hunting
lands and named Venugopal Wildlife Park. In 1941, the Bandipur
National Park was expanded to adjoin the Nagarhole National
Park, which is situated towards its northern edge, and Wayanad
and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuaries, which are |
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situated towards its southern edge in the
states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The entire area now
constitutes the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, one of the
most extensive tracts of protected forest in India. In 1973,
Bandipur became one of the India's first Tiger Reserves,
established under Project Tiger. In 1974, Bandipur was
declared as a National Park. The Bandipur National Park covers
an area of 231 square kms.
Vegetation in the Bandipur National Park
The vegetation in the park comprises of the open dry deciduous
forests to tropical mixed deciduous forests and evergreen
forest to open grassy woodlands. Valuable trees of rosewood
and teak are also found here. The Moyar River along with two
minor rivulets, irrigates the area. The river also acts as a
boundary between the Park and the Mudumalai Sanctuary. Due to
a moderate climate and diverse geographical features, the park
supports a large variety of flora and fauna.
Wildlife Attractions in the Bandipur National Park
The Bandipur National Park is one of the finest and most
accessible habitats of the Asiatic elephant. Its vast open
spaces make it a pleasant and convenient place for visitors to
see the herds of elephants, gaurs, spotted deer, sambar and
tiger in its natural surroundings. Jungle Cat, Wild Boar,
Barking deer, Wild dog, Jackal, sloth bear, four-horned
antelope, Langur monkey and Chital are the various other
animals which can also be seen in this national park. There is
also a wide range of bird life.
Jungle Safari in the Bandipur National Park
The best way to move around the Bandipur National Park is by
having a safari in the jeep and the open van. The open van is
run by the park authorities and carries it's own guide who is
quite experienced in spotting and identifying wildlife. The
most enjoyable way of viewing wildlife by moving around the
park is on the back of the elephant. There is no noise and it
is also possible to go into the thick jungles where vehicles
cannot go. However, the best time to sight the animals is
early in the morning and in the late afternoon or early
evening.
Best Time to Visit Bandipur National Park
The best time to visit the Bandipur National Park is between
the months of April and October. During the summers, the
backwaters of the Kabini Reservoir in the northwestern portion
of the park host huge congregations of large mammals,
especially the elephant and the gaur. This is one of the most
unique feature of the park and only one of its kind in Asia.
How to reach Bandipur National Park
By Air:
The nearest airport is at Bangalore which is about 220 km.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is situated at Ooty and Mysore,
about 80 kms. Ooty is connected by rail with Madras and Mysore.
By Road:
The Bandipur National Park is about 220 km from Bangalore, 80
km from Mysore and 78 km from Ooty. |
