Why
Nagarhole
Bandipur's northern neighbour, Nagarhole ("Snake River") National
Park, extends 640 sq km north from the Kabini River, dammed in 1974 to form
a picturesque artificial lake. Nagarhole National Park is an all weather
park located 80 km away from Mysore. The area contains the habitat of
several rare and endangered species, notably the tiger. Much of it has been
protected from the ill effects of development because Indian royalty used
the area as a hunting park. Nagarhole is part of the protected area complex
that includes Bandipur National Park, Wynad Sanctuary and Mudumalai
Sanctuary.
Situated within the Koodogu (Coorg) and Mysore districts of Karnataka, the
sanctuary borders the Kerala State. It was originally designated as a game
sanctuary in 1955 that centered on the Nagarhole settlement. The sanctuary
was later extended to its present size in 1974 by combining the Mysore
forests and Nagarhole Sanctuary.
Key factors
State : Karnataka, in the southern part of India.
Climate : The summer (March. May) temperature does not cross the 33°C
mark. The brief winter, which lasts from November to January, has
temperature plummeting to 14°C. Monsoon is erratic, but it generally
rains from June to September.
Area : 640 sq km.
Travel Tips : Consult the Doctor before you leave for the trip. Get
enough information about the place you are going to visit.
Best Time to Visit : October - March
Nearest town : Kutta (7 km), Mysore (80 km)
Get There
International Airport : Bangalore (220 km)
Airport : Bangalore (220 km)
Railways : Mysore (80 km)
Road : Can be easily accessed from Mysore and Bangalore.
Stay There
State-owned forest resthouses, private lodges and cottages are among the
accommodation options in Nagarhole. Reservations for the forest resthouses
must be made at least 15 days in advance by contacting the warden’s
office in Bangalore or Mysore. There is also a posh river lodge (state-run)
at the Kabini River, which, though it comes for a high-end price, also
offers a great experience.
Nearby Wildlife Lodges
Venture Into The Nagarhole
Nagarhole is best visited at the height of the dry season, when its muddy
river banks and grassy swamps, or hadlus, offer better chances of sighting
its flora & fauna. The predominant vegetation in the Nagarhole is of
southern tropical, moist, mixed deciduous type with a substantial eastern
portion intergrading into dry deciduous type. The upper tree canopy is
dotted with Terminalia tomentosa is association with Tectonia grandis,
Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Lagerstroemia lanceolata,
Anogeissus latifolia, Adina cordifolia, Boambax malabaricum, Schleichera
trijuga, Ficus sp. and others. The lower canopy possesses Kydia calycina,
Emblica officinalis, Gmelina arborea etc. Several shrubs belonging to
Solanum, Desmodium and Helicteres sp. etc. are abundantly found but weedy
shrubs like Eupatorium and Lantana now dominate the forest area.
The Fauna
The faunas found in this sanctuary are - Four horned antelopa, sloth bear,
civet cat, barking deer, mouse deer, spotted deer, wild dog, elephant,
jackal, common langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, common mangoose, small
Indian mangoose, striped-necked mangoose, Otter, Pangoline, panther, wild
pig, porcupine, sambhar, giant squirrel, flying squirrel, malakar squirrel,
threestriped palm squirrel tiger.
The Avifauna
Birds you will come across here are - Pea fowl, common babbler, scinaitar
babbler, bea eater, red whiskered bulbul, red vented bulbul, little brown
dove, ring dove, spotted dove, crested hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle,
tawny eagle, malabar pied hornbill, malabar grey hornbill, loriekeet,
minivet, biyth's myna, Alexandrine parakeet, blue winged parakeet,
blossom-headed and rose ringed parakeets, southern treepie, green imperial
pigeon, adjutant stork, balabar trogon, great Indian Warbler, reed warbler,
wood-peckers.Reptiles Common cobra, marsh crocodile (in Kabini river) Krait,
Monitor Lizard, rock python, Indian python, bamboo viper, pit viper,
Russell's viper, several species of gecko, skink and agamid lizaards, etc.
Additional Punch
Go to other parts of Karnataka and add some extra punch to your tour
itinerary. After you have finished with the Bandipur National Park, go to
the temple city of Mysore and transmit some spiritual atmosphere. Also visit
Ooty (297 km), this peaceful destination is the exact place for you to
relax. If you keep interest in lazing under the sun, then head towards Malpe
or the Karwar Beaches lying on the coasts of Karnataka. Or else you can also
visit the historical city of Hassan (187 km) and Hampi (350 km). Bangalore,
the capital city of Karnataka is another attraction near the Bandipur
National Park.
NOTE : All the distances are scaled from Bangalore (By
road).
Extend the Trip
Extend your trip to the neighbouring states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and
Maharashtra. From Mysore (80 km) both Kerala and Tamil Nadu are easily
accessible. Dwell someday in the houseboats of the backwaters in Kerala and
laze under the sun on the soothing and tranquil beaches of Alleppey in
Kerala. The entire southern region of Indian will mesmerize you. You will
not only see but, also taste something different here.
NOTE : All the regions are accessible from Bangalore. So,
transportation is not a problem here.
Few Difficulties
People generally speak their local language, the educated one can speak
English. Even Hindi is not so common here. You may face difficulty in
finding your kind of food. Except from some luxurious hotels, you may not
find your choice of food.
Few Suggestions
Don't get into any unknown or illegal activity. Do not disturb the local
culture and local atmosphere. Try to be well informed about the routes and
the place you are going to visit. Contact us when and where needed, while on
a wildlife India Tour.
If you want more information on Wildlife India Tour then get back to us,
whenever needed. Let us know your requirements, so that we can make your
trip to India Wildlife completely exceptional and exciting.
