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Spot Tigers and other Wildlife in Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve
Published by Nita Mukherjee
Country: India 
The Experience
The Nilgiri Biosphere reserve covers three states of South India, and is rich in flora and fauna. It includes a belt of forests essential for the migration and long-term survival of the Asian elephant, and it is also home to popular wildlife sanctuaries like the Bandipur National Park, located in the foothills of the Nilgiris.
Bandipur National Park is also a Tiger reserve, being one of the earliest to be brought under “Project Tiger”. This is a program that was started in 1973 to save India’s national animal, the tiger, from extinction in specially designated “tiger reserves”.
Located in the state of Karnataka, Bandipur National Park covers around 880 sq km, and is home to a fifth of the Asian elephants in the world, and about 130 tigers. You can see a few of them in the safari zone. This is the part of Bandipur National Park which is open to tourists, and where you can see a plethora of wildlife in its natural habitat.
Stay in one of the many resorts or hotels in Bandipur, and take a safari into the jungle. You can go into the Bandipur National Park twice a day (early morning and evening) in a bus or open jeep, accompanied by trained naturalists, and see different species of wildlife at close quarters. Naturalists can identify the tigers by their distinctive stripes, so the tigers and tigresses have been given typical Indian names like Ram, Agastya, Gowri and Kaveri.
Bandipur National Park was once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajah (king) of Mysore because of its rich wildlife, including tigers. This is due to the variety of vegetation and the presence of a number of waterholes within Bandipur National Park. The forests range from scrub and dry deciduous, to moist in the interior, bamboo forests (which are favourites of elephants) and grassy expanses, which are suitable for grazing deer (which is in turn the tiger’s prey).
As the jeep bumps over the winding dirt tracks of Bandipur National Park, remain alert for unexpected sightings. Some tourists know only of the tiger, but there is a fascinating display of other wildlife in Bandipur National Park. There is the deer like the chital (spotted deer), and sambar (the largest Asiatic deer), wild boar, langur (monkey), sloth bear, dhole (Indian wild dog), mongoose, gaur (commonly known as the Indian bison), and of course, herds of elephants. Do not be alarmed if there is a “mock” charge by a matriarch leading the herd, which is to ward off any apparent danger to the young ones in the herd. You can have this electrifying experience on almost every Bandipur Park tour. A number of reptiles can be seen, and if you’re lucky, a tiger or tigress with cubs; or the graceful leopard may just cross your path.
A bird enthusiast will soon lose count of sightings, as there are over 300 species of birds in Bandipur National Park. These include the shy jungle fowl, noisy woodpecker, flycatcher, crested serpent eagle, common hawk cuckoo, lapwing, shrike, cormorant, black winged stilt, snake bird, kingfisher and fish owl. Water birds are commonly visible around the waterholes of Bandipur National Park. A spellbinding sight is that of a peacock, India’s national bird, in a graceful dance with its colourful feathers fanned out.
Even if you do not spot a tiger or your favourite wildlife on a Bandipur Park tour, you will not be disappointed with its natural beauty—the play of light and colour in the jungle, the beauty of the light mist at dawn, the first rays of the sun highlighting the beauty of the grazing chital, and the last rays lighting up Bandipur National Park in a surreal glow. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or a first-time visitor to the jungle, it is sure to be a life-changing experience, especially if you can get a glimpse of the famed Indian tiger. Even seeing the pugmarks of the tiger on the tracks is a thrilling experience. The odds are that you will hear the call of the wild, and be drawn back to Bandipur National Park, many times over.
Bandipur National Park is also a Tiger reserve, being one of the earliest to be brought under “Project Tiger”. This is a program that was started in 1973 to save India’s national animal, the tiger, from extinction in specially designated “tiger reserves”.
Located in the state of Karnataka, Bandipur National Park covers around 880 sq km, and is home to a fifth of the Asian elephants in the world, and about 130 tigers. You can see a few of them in the safari zone. This is the part of Bandipur National Park which is open to tourists, and where you can see a plethora of wildlife in its natural habitat.
Stay in one of the many resorts or hotels in Bandipur, and take a safari into the jungle. You can go into the Bandipur National Park twice a day (early morning and evening) in a bus or open jeep, accompanied by trained naturalists, and see different species of wildlife at close quarters. Naturalists can identify the tigers by their distinctive stripes, so the tigers and tigresses have been given typical Indian names like Ram, Agastya, Gowri and Kaveri.
Bandipur National Park was once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajah (king) of Mysore because of its rich wildlife, including tigers. This is due to the variety of vegetation and the presence of a number of waterholes within Bandipur National Park. The forests range from scrub and dry deciduous, to moist in the interior, bamboo forests (which are favourites of elephants) and grassy expanses, which are suitable for grazing deer (which is in turn the tiger’s prey).
As the jeep bumps over the winding dirt tracks of Bandipur National Park, remain alert for unexpected sightings. Some tourists know only of the tiger, but there is a fascinating display of other wildlife in Bandipur National Park. There is the deer like the chital (spotted deer), and sambar (the largest Asiatic deer), wild boar, langur (monkey), sloth bear, dhole (Indian wild dog), mongoose, gaur (commonly known as the Indian bison), and of course, herds of elephants. Do not be alarmed if there is a “mock” charge by a matriarch leading the herd, which is to ward off any apparent danger to the young ones in the herd. You can have this electrifying experience on almost every Bandipur Park tour. A number of reptiles can be seen, and if you’re lucky, a tiger or tigress with cubs; or the graceful leopard may just cross your path.
A bird enthusiast will soon lose count of sightings, as there are over 300 species of birds in Bandipur National Park. These include the shy jungle fowl, noisy woodpecker, flycatcher, crested serpent eagle, common hawk cuckoo, lapwing, shrike, cormorant, black winged stilt, snake bird, kingfisher and fish owl. Water birds are commonly visible around the waterholes of Bandipur National Park. A spellbinding sight is that of a peacock, India’s national bird, in a graceful dance with its colourful feathers fanned out.
Even if you do not spot a tiger or your favourite wildlife on a Bandipur Park tour, you will not be disappointed with its natural beauty—the play of light and colour in the jungle, the beauty of the light mist at dawn, the first rays of the sun highlighting the beauty of the grazing chital, and the last rays lighting up Bandipur National Park in a surreal glow. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or a first-time visitor to the jungle, it is sure to be a life-changing experience, especially if you can get a glimpse of the famed Indian tiger. Even seeing the pugmarks of the tiger on the tracks is a thrilling experience. The odds are that you will hear the call of the wild, and be drawn back to Bandipur National Park, many times over.
When to Go to Bandipur National Park
You can take a Bandipur Park tour anytime, though the best time to view wildlife in Bandipur National Park is between May and October. Temperatures range from 10°C in winter to 35°C in the summer. There are heavy rains from May to August, and moderate showers from the north-east monsoon in November to December. However, wildlife sightings are often a matter of luck, and can occur at any time.
Bandipur is accessible by road from the state capital Bengaluru (220 km away), which is the nearest international airport. The nearest railhead is at Mysore, 80 km away. You can take a taxi from Bengaluru to Bandipur You can also take a train or luxury bus from Bangalore to Mysore, and then a bus or taxi to Bandipur. Air conditioned buses are clean and comfortable, with reasonably priced tickets.
Bandipur is accessible by road from the state capital Bengaluru (220 km away), which is the nearest international airport. The nearest railhead is at Mysore, 80 km away. You can take a taxi from Bengaluru to Bandipur You can also take a train or luxury bus from Bangalore to Mysore, and then a bus or taxi to Bandipur. Air conditioned buses are clean and comfortable, with reasonably priced tickets.
Odds n' Ends
Since a safari into Bandipur National Park is the main activity, keep some points in mind for a safe and happy experience. Wear muted “forest colours” like green, olive, khaki, brown etc. Avoid flashy accessories and perfume that disturbs wildlife. Do not play music, talk loudly or damage the environment in any way. And refrain from using flash photography. Finally, follow the instructions of the guide naturalist, for your own safety and that of others.
Each Bandipur resort used to organize safaris for its guests, but due to a recent stricture (to reduce congestion and disturbance in the forest) safaris are now conducted only by the forest department and “Jungle Lodges and Resorts,” a government of Karnataka undertaking.
The Forest department allows Bandipur safaris from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The entry fees are INR 300 for Indians, INR 1,100 for foreigners. For the use of cameras, it’s INR 1,000 for a handycam and large video camera. Children above 6 years of age have to pay full charges. Vehicles have to be registered at the reception centre before entering the jungle.
If you have your own transport, stop over for a visit to the Interpretation centre (near the reception centre) for some fascinating information through exhibits (models, charts etc.) about Bandipur National Park. You can also shop at the souvenir shop (on the other side of the reception centre) for items like bags and shirts with wildlife motifs designed by artist/conservationist Sunitha Dhairyam.
Each Bandipur resort used to organize safaris for its guests, but due to a recent stricture (to reduce congestion and disturbance in the forest) safaris are now conducted only by the forest department and “Jungle Lodges and Resorts,” a government of Karnataka undertaking.
The Forest department allows Bandipur safaris from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The entry fees are INR 300 for Indians, INR 1,100 for foreigners. For the use of cameras, it’s INR 1,000 for a handycam and large video camera. Children above 6 years of age have to pay full charges. Vehicles have to be registered at the reception centre before entering the jungle.
If you have your own transport, stop over for a visit to the Interpretation centre (near the reception centre) for some fascinating information through exhibits (models, charts etc.) about Bandipur National Park. You can also shop at the souvenir shop (on the other side of the reception centre) for items like bags and shirts with wildlife motifs designed by artist/conservationist Sunitha Dhairyam.
Places to Eat
- Pugmark Restaurant
- This restaurant is part of "Bandipur Safari Lodge" and caters to day visitors, who stop over for lunch en route to other destinations. "Pugmark" serves a variety of buffet dishes, mainly Indian. Contact: 08229-299990/ 233001 Meals are included in the packages of all resorts in Bandipur.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Bandipur Safari Lodge
- There are a number of private resorts, forest department cottages and a resort run by the Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited, (JLR) a Government of India undertaking. JLR runs “Bandipur Safari Lodge”, which is the first one on the Bangalore—Ooty highway as you approach Bandipur from Bangalore/Mysore, and is a good choice. Choose from 22 modern cottages, each named after a wild animal or bird. In keeping with the eco friendly policy, there are no TVs or ACs (which are not required). There are hammocks and benches near the cottages, set in a well maintained and scenic landscape. Look around to see the rolling Nilgiri hills in the distance. There is a restaurant for day visitors, called “Pugmark”, while resident visitors enjoy varied buffet meals at the Golghar, a circular gazebo. The main attraction is the safari (twice a day) into Bandipur National park, guided by expert naturalists like Basavanna HS. You can also go for a nature trek, visit Gopalaswamy Betta (a high peak with a temple), enjoy a wildlife documentary and a campfire. The professional service, facilities and value for money make this a highly recommended option. Cost: INR 7000--8000 per cottage per night for Indians; foreigners 12,400 INR (all inclusive) Address and contact: Melkamanahalli, Hangla Post, Gundlepet, Chamarajanagar 571126 Ph: 08229-233001, 9449599754 Details and booking at: www.junglelodges.com 080-25597944, 080-25586154 (Bengaluru head office)
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