Bandipur National Park

Introduction

Situated halfway down the Mysore-Ooty highway, Bandipur National Park is one of the most popular reserves of the country. Rich variety of flora and fauna in the park allures tourists from all over the world. Bandipur National Park was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973 and after a period, it was covered under the Project Tiger. Later, the park got the title of National park in 1974. Bandipur national park is noted for its diverse wildlife inhabitants and some rare species of flora. In short, the park is a paradise for wildlife lovers as well as for bird-watchers.

Tourist Attractions

Flora

Teak Tectona grandis, Grewia tiliaefolia, Indian Kino Tree Pterocarpus marsupium, Rosewood Dalbergia latifolia, clumping bamboo Bambusa arundinacea, Indian-laurel Terminalia tomentosa and giant clumping bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus are the popular species that tourists can see easily. Apart from these, floral and orchards of the park includes axlewood Anogeissus latifolia, Odina wodiar, Crape-myrtle Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Black Myrobalan Terminalia chebula, Black Cutch Acacia catechu and many more. For vegetation lovers, the parkis enjoyable.

Fauna

The first and foremost animal you will notice in this park is Elephants. Bandipur national park is loaded with a large number of elephants. Tiger, Leopard, Wild boar, Barking deer, Hyna, Dhole and sloth bear are some other animals that can be easily spotted. Four-horned Antelopes are also the highlights of the park. There are many other animals who are contributing their presence in making the park popular.

Apart from these, a large number of reptiles, butterflies, dung beetles and ants gives a closer look to the raw nature of the forest.

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta

This is located on the highest peak in Bandipur National Park. Frequented by elephants and other animals, the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The name of the temple is derived from the combination of Himavad and Gopalaswamy. Himavad means the native language and gopalaswamy is taken from venugopalaswamey(lord Krishna).

How to Reach

Location of Bandipur National Park makes it easily accessible by road from all nearby places. As the park is located on a highway, state transport is available on regular interval from Ooty as well as Mysore. It will take around 2½ hours to reach Bandipur forest from Mysore but if you are coming from Ooty, the travel can stretch an additional half hour. Mysore rail junction is the nearest railway station and is located at a distance of  around  65 km. International airport close to the region is in Bangalore.

Important Travel Information

The park provides a soothing climate throughout the year but it is advisable to choose the clothing according to the climate. Monsoon in this region is unpredictable but usually hits the area from June to September.