Bandipur National Park Travel Essentials

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"Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiris"

Bandipur National Park Tourism

Situated in  Karnataka, Bandipur National Park was once the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Mysore. It was later established as a reserve in 1974 under Project Tiger and these deciduous forests rich in wildlife have become a popular tourist attraction since then. It is 80 km from Mysore enroute Ooty in Tamil Nadu. Due to a lot of wildlife casualties because of speeding vehicles that go through the park, a ban on traffic between 9 PM to 6 AM has been established to ensure the safety of the animals of the park.

It is located in the Nilgiris and is the first Biosphere Reserve in India. Spread over 874 sq km, the park is replete with a wide range of endangered wildlife like elephants, hornbills, deers, pythons, sloth bears, pythons, panthers etc. and multitudes of teak and sandalwood trees. Bandipur National Park is neighbours with the Nagarhole and the Wayanad Wildlife sanctuaries and is a few minutes from the Mudumalai National Park

Things to do in Bandipur National Park

1. Gopalaswamy Hills

Gopalaswamy Hills
Also known as the Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, it is a majestic and lofty hill lying in the core area of the Bandipur National Park. Located in the Chamarajanagar district of the state of Karnataka, at (Read More)the height of 1,450 metres above the sea level; the name of the hills gets the prefix Himavad since the mountain is surrounded by mist all year round. Himavad in the native language of Kannada means fog, while Betta in the same language means mountain. The hill is located in the core area of the Bandipur National Park and is frequented by wildlife, especially elephants. This hill is home to a dense forest and is also the highest peak in the park.

2. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Sprawled across the lush green hills of Nilgiris in the Western Ghats, Nilgiri Biosphere reserve is an International Biosphere reserve which was recognised as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. I (Read More)t includes the Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Wayanad and Bandipur national parks. The biosphere encompasses the area of 5,520 sqm km and is spread across the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The best way to explore the wildlife of the biosphere reserve is trekking where you can enjoy not only the sights of animals from a close distance but also the splendid views of the Western Ghats.

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Safari Cost and Timings

Entry Fee: The Bandipur National Park charges INR 250 for the entry fee. Camcorders can also be carried ( at INR 200)
Timings: 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM in the mornings, and 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM in the evenings.

Bandipur National Park

Best Time for Safari:
The best time to visit the park is considered to be in the months of October to February, before the monsoon season.

1. Gypsy Safari

Capacity: 6 People
Cost: INR 3000 

2. Bus Safari

Cost: INR 350

3. Boat Safari

The boat safari at Bandipur is also an attractive option, and it takes you along the Kabini river for a relaxing 2 hours and 45 minutes. The picturesque landscape, as well as the wildlife, can be enjoyed on this boat ride. The timing for the boat safaris are the same as the land ones

Cost
: INR 2000 for Indians, with lower rates available for children. Around 15 people can be accommodated in one trip.

4. Elephant Safari

Cost: INR 50 per head. Please note that most of the rates charged are higher for foreign nationals.
Timings: The timings are generally between 10 AM and 11 AM in the mornings.

Wildlife at Bandipur National Park

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Bandipur supports a wide range of timber trees including teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian laurel, Indian kino tree, giant clumping bamboo, clumping bamboo and Grewia tibiae folia. Bandipur also holds a good population of endangered and vulnerable species like Indian elephants, gaurs, tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, jackals and dholes.

Flora at the National Park

Bandipur supports rich biodiversity. The flora found here include a wide range of trees such as teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian laurel, Indian kino tree, giant clumping bamboo and Grewia tibiae folia. There are also many flowering and fruiting trees such as the flame of the forest, Indian gooseberry, golden shower tree and black cutch. The forests are home to a large population of wildlife, many of them belonging to endangered and vulnerable populations.

Mudumalai National park

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Given the proximity of this park to the Bandipur National Park, in spite of lying in separate states, the two are usually visited together. Recently declared as a tiger reserve, this wildlife sanctuary is situated on the banks of River Moyar, and on the north-western side of the Nilgiri hills. Home to the huge herds of elephants for which it is famous, tigers, leopards, gaurs, hyenas, sloth bears, sambars, mouse deer and wild animals are also seen here.

Various reptiles like crocodiles, pythons, turtles etc are found here. This park is known for its avian population, consisting of resident as well as migratory birds like hawk eagles, scops owls, brown dove, black woodpecker, king vultures, falcons etc. Tropical evergreen forests are maintained here, along with mixed deciduous, dry teak and grasslands.

Restaurants and Local Food in Bandipur National Park

Being a national park, the area does not house too many restaurants and your options for food and cuisine can get limited to the hotels, resorts and lodges that serve food across popular cuisines. You might find local delicacies here like Dosa, Bisi Bele Bath, Jolada Roti, Idli, Vada, Sambhar, Rasam, Kesari Bath, Mysore pak etc to relish.
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Suggested Itinerary for Bandipur National Park

Day 1- Arrive, check-in and rest. Then visit Needle View Point, Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Gopalaswami Betta.
Day 2- Visit Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Best Time to Visit Bandipur National Park

How to Reach Bandipur National Park

How to Reach Overview

Bandipur is well connected to other cities by road. Bus services are available from Bangalore and Mysore. The nearest airport is Coimbatore (84 km) and the nearest station is Mysore(80 km).

How to reach Bandipur National Park by flight

The nearest major airport to Bandipur is the Coimbatore airport. From there, you can take a private car or cab to reach Bandipur.

How to reach Bandipur National Park by road

Local city buses are available from most nearby cities and towns to Bandipur.

How to reach Bandipur National Park by train

Nearest railway station to this park is in Mysore city which is located at a distance of 80 km. From this station, you can take a taxi or bus to reach Bandipur national park.

Local transport in Bandipur National Park

Private vehicles have to be parked outside the national park and various alternatives like Gypsy ride, Bus Safari, Jeep ride and Elephant Safari are available to the visitors.

Bandipur National Park Photos

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Gopalaswamy Betta

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FAQs on Bandipur National Park

What is not so good about Bandipur national park?

Difficult to reach.

What are the places near Bandipur national park?

The top places near to Bandipur national park are Ooty which is 29 km from Bandipur national park, Wayanad which is located 58 km from Bandipur national park, Mysore which is located 69 km from Bandipur national park, Coonoor which is located 39 km from Bandipur national park, Coorg which is located 128 km from Bandipur national park

What is the best way to reach Bandipur national park?

Bandipur is well connected to other cities by road. Bus services are available from Bangalore and Mysore. The nearest airport is Coimbatore (84 km) and the nearest station is Mysore(80 km).
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What is the local food in Bandipur national park?

Being a national park, the area does not house too many restaurants and your options for food and cuisine can get limited to the hotels, resorts and lodges that serve food across popular cuisines. You might find local delicacies here like Dosa, Bisi Bele Bath, Jolada Roti, Idli, Vada, Sambhar, Rasam, Kesari Bath, Mysore pak etc to relish.
Read More

What is the best time to visit Bandipur national park?

A haven for an infiinite variety of flora and fauna, Bandipur National Park is best visited during the winter season between October - March. The national park is enveloped in lush greenery where animals and birds add up to it's enchanting beauty. Bandipur can also be visited during the monsoon season between July and September where the park looks mesmerising. The rain enhances the beauty of the national park by making the whole place seem even more greener. Summers are comparatively warmer especially during the day when the sun shines brightly. However, it's the best time to spot animals and a plethora of colourful birds. 
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Who should visit Bandipur national park?

A visit here is perfect for wildlife photographers and people who are fascinated by wilderness.

What is famous about Bandipur national park?

Scenic Beauty. Various species of flora and fauna.

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Popular Questions And Answers on Bandipur National Park

Q. What time is� Bandipur� National Park closed for traffic?

Kovid Kapoor

6 years ago
6 pm to 6 am
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Bandipur National Park Reviews

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Surbhi Parashar

6 years ago
- Monkeys can cause some menace here, so be careful. One has to make sure they don't leave their cottage doors and windows open when you go out.
- If you are driving by and see some wildlife, do (Read More) not lower your windshield when you stop your car, you'll have attracted some fearless monkeys which will enter your vehicle and not leave until it finds something to eat. Try not to feed the animals.
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