Trea d the path of the etwhile Maharaja of Mysore
with a visit to Bandipur, about 80 kms south of
Mysore on the Mysore-Ooty Road. Trshe reserve is a
playground for wildlife, with elephants taking the
lead role. Be prepared for an unforgettable
experience - you might see a tiger prowling amidst
the mix of deciduous, evergreen forest and
scrubland vegetation. Set against the picturesque
backdrop of the enchanting Niligiri mountains with
its mist-covered peaks, Bandipur was once the
Mysore Maharaja’s private hunting ground. It was
brought under Project Tiger in 1973. This is one
of the best game sanctuaries in India to observe
and photograph wildlife in close proximity. A
temple perched atop Himavad Gopalaswamy Hill, the
highest peak in the Bandipur range, is worth a
visit.
Best Season: June to October |
Location and
Area:
Chamarajanagar District; 874.2 sq. kms. Bandipur
is flanked by Karnataka’s Rajiv Gandhi National
Park (Nagarhole) to its northwest, Tamil Nadu’s
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary to its south and
Kerala’s Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary to its
southwest. Together, these constitute the Niligiri
Biosphere Reserve. |
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Flora and
Fauna:
Deciduous, evergreen and scrubland vegetation.
Mammals:
They include the tiger,
leopard, elephant, gaur, sloth bear, Asiatic wild
dog, striped hyena, sambar, spotted deer, barking
deer, mouse deer, mongoose and the slender loris.
Reptiles:
The common rat snake,
Russell’s viper, common krait, Indian python,
flying snake and the cobra can be seen.
Birds:
Over 230 species of
birds have been identified. Some of the most
notable ones are the heron, stork, egret, kite,
eagle, falcon, peafowl, lapwing, sandpiper,
woodpecker, drongo and the warbler. |
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How To Get There : |
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By Road |
Mysore – 80 kms.
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Ooty – 80 kms. |
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Bangalore – 220 kms. |
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By Rail |
Mysore – 80 kms. |
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By Air |
Bangalore – 220 kms. |
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Accommodation: |
[Bush Betta Holiday Wildlife]
Adventure Resort
Mangala Village,
Gundulpet Taluk,
Chamarajanagar – 571 126
Tariff: Rs. 1990/-
[Tusker Trails]
Mangala Village,
Gundulpet Taluk,
Chamarajanagar – 571 126
Tariff range: Rs. 1700/- to
Rs. 1900/-
[KSTDC Mayura Prakruti]
Hangala Post,
Melkamanahalli,
Near Bandipur,
Gundulpet Taluk,
Chamarajanagar – 571 126
Tariff range: Rs. 300/- to Rs. 400/- |
[Forest Department Cottages]
Bandipur National Park,
Tiger Division, Bandipur,
Gundulpet Taluk,
Chamarajanagar – 571 111
[For reservations contact:]
The Field Director,
Project Tiger,
Aranya Bhavan,
Ashokapuram,
Mysore – 570 008
Tariff range:
Indians: Rs. 200/- to Rs. 300 /-
Foreign citizens: Rs. 400/- to Rs. 600/-
6-Bed Dormitory – Rs. 250/-; 10-Bed Dormitory
– Rs. 400/-; 20-Bed Dormitory – Rs. 700/-.
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