Karnataka
Wildlife
( Bandipur )
Part
of the lushly-forested Deccan Plateau, Bandipur, in Karnataka, offers
a rich and varied wildlife habitat. It is a part of a larger national
park, which also includes the neighbouring wildlife sanctuaries,
of Mudumalai Tamil Nadu and Wynad in Kerala. This sanctuary is one
of the 15 sanctuaries selected across India for Project Tiger, a
scheme launched in 1973, by the World Wide Fund for Nature - India,
to save the tiger and its habitat.Covered with a mix of deciduous
forests, evergreen forests and scrub, and well - irrigated by the
Moyar river, Bandipur has a fairly open forest area, making it easy
for visitors to spot wildlife. This sanctuary sprawls over an area
of 874 sq. kilometres. The prominent fauna of this reserve, include
the Asian elephant, gaur, sambar, chital, mouse deer, four horned
antelope, wild pig, black naped hare and the Indian porcupine.
BEST
SEASON TO VISIT
It is warm for most part of the year in this area. During the months
of October to March, the weather is cool and pleasant. The ideal
time for viewing the wildlife, is during May and June, and again
from September to November.
ANIMALS
AND BIRDS SIGHTED
Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, Chital, Sambar, Sloth Bear, Barking
Deer, Wild Boar, Wild Dog, Jackal, Mouse Deer, Four-Horned antelope,
common Langur, Porcupine, Otter, Pangolin, Malabar Squirrel, Civet
Cat, Leopard, Hare, Jungle Cat, Bonnet Macaque, Land monitor, Crocodile,
Tortoise, Python, Cobra, Krait, Viper, Rat Snake, Flying lizard,
Peafowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Partridge, Quail, Paradise Fly-Catcher,
Hornbill, Woodpecker, Thrush, Crested Hawk Eagle, Serpent Eagle,
Drongo, Cuckoo, Oriole, Minivet, Wagtail, Myna, Blue Jay, Kingfisher.
LOCATION
Nesting in the foothills of the Nilgiris, the Bandipur National
Park was formed by extending the Venugopal Wildlife Park, set up
in 1931 by the Mysore Maharajas. It is one of the tiger reserves
in the country. A popular game resort of the erstwhile rulers of
Mysore.
AIR:
The nearest airport is Bangalore, at a distance of 215 Kms.
RAIL:
The nearest railhead is Mysore, which is 76 Kms, and connects
most of the major junctions of Karnataka.
ROAD: Bandipur is accessible by Road, either from Mysore
or from Ooty (Tamil Nadu). It is at a distance of 215 Kms from Bangalore,
76 Kms from Mysore and about 70 Kms from Ooty. The best way of reaching
Bandipur is either by your own transport which is recommended or
government buses as no private buses go to Bandipur.
LOCATION
Nesting in the foothills of the Nilgiris, the Bandipur National
Park was formed by extending the Venugopal Wildlife Park, set up
in 1931 by the Mysore Maharajas. It is one of the tiger reserves
in the country. A popular game resort of the erstwhile rulers of
Mysore.
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