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The Bandipur National
Park is situated in southern state Karnataka's
Chamarajanagar district. It covers a forest area of
865 square kilometres. The park stands between the
Western Ghats and Nilgiri mountains. Bandipur was
declared a national park in the year 1974 . It was
one of the 9 tiger reserves originally chosen under
the ambitious 'Project Tiger' of Central government.
The area is blessed with moderate climate which
reaches a maximum of 35 degrees in summer. The
period between March-June and September-November is
the best time to plan the Bandipur trip. The park
receives an average annual rainfall of 1200 mm.The
park is surrounded by the reserves of Nagarhole,
Madhumalai and Wynaad. Together, they constitute the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Accommodation and Connectivity
Bangalore is the nearest airport from Bandipur
National Park at a distance of 220 kms. The nearest
railhead is Mysore located 80 kms away from the
park. By road, the cities nearest to Bandipur are
Mysore (80kms) and Bangalore (220 kms). Bandipur
falls on the widely travelled Mysore-Ooty highway.
Limited accommodation arrangements are available in
Bandipur National Park for visitors. Therefore, it
is always advisable to check availability
beforehand. Generally, advance booking is done by
tourists who plan to stay at the park. Bandipur has
also become a favourite weekend getaway from the big
cities of Bangalore and Mysore.
Park
Attractions
Diverse Geographical Features
The diverse geography of the park is a matter of
great interest. Within the park, the altitude ranges
from 680 metres to 1454 metres. The mist-covered
ridges of the enchanting Nilgiri hills provides a
breathtaking scenery. While a few places of the park
are dry, there are many water bodies within the park
also. The temperature too varies from a minimum of
10 degrees in winter to 35 degrees in summer. A
remarkable variety of trees, plant and animal
species enriches the flora and fauna of the place. A
temple on top of the highest peak in the park-
Himavad Gopalaswamy Hill further adds to the
diversity of the place.
Mammals
Bandipur is home to a wide variety of mammals. There
are an impressive number of elephants, tigers and
leopards in the park. A few endangered species like
sambar, spotted deer and barking deer are also found
in the park. The park is also a safe habitat for
gaur, sloth bear, asiatic wild dog, striped hyena,
mouse deer and the mongoose. There are an estimated
1900 elephants in the park. A serious effort has
also been made to increase the dwindling tiger
population under 'project tiger.' Wildlife
conserving steps are continuously taken here to
increase the population of the endangered species.
Reptiles
Bandipur is also fortunate to have many reptile
species living in it. The ferocious cobra and Indian
python are found in sizeable numbers here. The
common rat snake, Russell’s viper and flying snake
are also to be found.
Birds
Bandipur National Park also boasts of the presence
of over 230 species of birds. At the advent of
spring, Bandipur's air is filled with the melodious
songs of birds. Some of the noteworthy bird species
include the sandpiper, lapwing, woodpecker, heron,
stork, egret, falcon and peafowl. Census has
revealed that the numbers of many bird species have
increased in Bandipur over the years.
The Elephant Safari
On the back of the majestic Asiatic elephant, a tour
of Bandipur National Park is an enthralling
experience. As the mammoth creature takes all the
trouble by walking along bouldered roads, lakes
streams, shrubs and bushes, the lucky tourist can
see most of the wild creatures from close quarters
and capture them in their camera. Spending a night
on a watchtower is another thrilling experience.
Boating and angling facilities inside the park are
also arranged for the visitors.
A Photographer's Delight
The Bandipur National Park is regarded as one of
India's finest game sanctuaries where wildlife can
be observed and photographed in close proximity. It
is common to find the majestic elephant walking
leisurely or the tiger prowling amidst evergreen
forests. The abundance of animal and bird species
available in the park makes the photographer's job
more engrossing and exciting. The Bandipur creatures
have found themselves in the pages of many
newspapers, magazines and also on celluloid.
In this heaven for wildlife enthusiasts, the only
nagging problem has been sandalwood and ivory
smuggling. But park authorities deserve kudos for
standing up to the menace courageously. Steps have
also been initiated to give a significant boost to
the infrastructure of the park in recent times.
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