Bandipur National Park

Once the private hunting reserve of the maharaja of Mysore, Bandipur National Park is now a famous wildlife destination attracting wildlife lovers from far and wide. Known for its tigers and other wildlife, the Park is located in the state of Karnataka. It was established as a Tiger Reserve in 1974. Sprawling across around 874 sq km, the Park is also home to some of the endangered wildlife species. Along with the adjoining Mudumalai National Park, Nagarhole National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary; Bandipur National Park is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Flora
The Park consists of a range of biomes including moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forest and shrublands. And the Park is bordered with the Moyar river in the south and the Kabini river in the north.

Fauna
A wide variety of wildlife creatures inhabit the Park. A few to name are sloth bear, tiger, leopard, wild boar, barking deer, hyna, dhole, elephants, gaurs, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, chital, gray langurs, Indian giant squirrels and jackals.

The Park is home to around 200 species of birds. The most commonly spotted birds in the Park are peafowl. Some of the enchanting birds found here are honey buzzards, red-headed vultures, Indian vultures, flower peckers, hoopoes, Indian rollers, brown fish owls, crested serpent eagles, changeable hawk-eagles, bee-eaters and kingfisher.

The reptile seen at the Park are spectacled cobra, Indian rock python, vipers, rat snake,muggers, monitor lizards, Indian chameleon, Indian pond terrapin, agamids and flying lizards.

Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
It is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. Located on the highest peak in the Park, the temple is visited by several devotees every day.

How to reach
The nearest airport is at Mysore (around 70 km) and the nearest railway station is also at Mysore (around 80 km).