Bandipur
National Park is a beautiful forest reserve located in the southern
Indian state of Karnataka. This national park occupies a special
place in India’s efforts towards natural conservation. It
was created in the 1930s from the local Maharaja Voodiyar’s
hunting lands, and named Venugopal Wildlife Park. Bandipur National
Park was expanded later in 1941 to adjoin the Nagarhole National
Park, which lay towards its northern edge, and Wynad and Madumulai
Sanctuaries, which lay towards its southern edge in the states of
Kerala and Tamilnadu, respectively.
The
entire area now constitutes the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve,
one of India's most extensive tracts of protected forest. It has
been a designated tiger reserve in 1973. Bandipur National Park
lies in the Indian Deccan plateau area, thus being totally in the
shadow of the Western Ghats. The region is well endowed in terms
of vegetation and flora that ranges from deciduous and
evergreen forest covers to open
grassy woodlands. Valuable hardwoods
including
rosewood
and teak are also found here. The lifeline of the forest is the
Moyar River, which irrigates the area along with two minor rivulets.
The river also acts as a boundary between the Park and the Madumulai
Sanctuary. Bandipur is one of the finest and most accessible habitats
of the Asiatic elephant. Its vast open spaces make it a pleasant
and convenient outing for visitors to see the elephant in its natural
surroundings.
»Mammals at Bandipur National park
Bonner
Macaque Nilgiri Langur (adjoining areas) Dhole, Smooth-coated Otter
Common Palm Civet Stripe-necked Mongoose, Jungle Cat Tiger, Wild
Boar Chital Gaur, Indian Palm Squirrel Grizzled Indian Squirrel
Liontail Macaque, Golden Jackal Sloth Bear, Indian Grey Mongoose
Striped Hyaena Rusty-spotted Cat, Ratel Indian Spotted Chevrotain
Sambar, Nilgiri Tahr (adjoining areas) Indian Porcupine Hanuman
Langur, Bengal Fox Eurasian Otter Small Indian Civet, Ruddy Mongoose
Leopard Cat Leopard, Indian Elephant Indian Muntjac Four-horned
Antelope, Indian Pangolin Indian Hare Red Giant Flying squirrel,
Indian Giant Squirrel.
The region is warm and comfortable for most parts of the year
with temperatures ranging from 24 to 28°C, except for the
brief winter that lasts from October to January when the temperature
hovers around the 19°C mark. Monsoon is erratic, but it generally
rains from June to September.
»Best
time of visit
The ideal time
to visit the Bandipur National Park is between the months of April
and October.
» How
to reach Bandipur
By
Air : The nearest airport is at Bangalore which is 220 km from Bandipur.
By Rail : Mysore is nearest railhead, at a distance
of 80-kms.
By Road : 220 km from Bangalore; 80 km from Mysore;
80 km from Ooty.
