 Location: Karnataka
Ideal Time To Visit: October to May
What To See: Snakes, Four Horned Antelope, Sloth Bear and Porcupine
Overview
Come to Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka to spot tawny and black striped Royal Bengal Tiger in its natural habitat. Spread over 643 kilometers of land, the Nagarhole National Park houses diverse flora and fauna. Situated aside river Kabini, the park is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (the largest stretch of protected forest in the country).
Also bordering the state of Kerala, the Nagarhole National Park was designated as a game sanctuary in 1955. In 1974, it was extended to its present size combining the Mysore forests within the Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary. The deep valleys and the mesmerizing landscapes in the sanctuary make it a picture perfect destination in every manner. The important rivers in the national park include Kabini, Teentha, Lakshmana and Nagarhole.
High rainfall in the region leads to presence of open grassy swamps in the National Park. Dry and moist deciduous forests dot the maximum area of the landscape of the park. The floral species in the park comprise of teak and eucalyptus.
Besides being rich in flora, the park is rich in fauna as well. The animals that are commonly found in this national park include tiger, leopard, sloth bear, chital, sambhar, gaur, panther, jungle cat, rusty spotted cat and elephant. Apart from these some mammals seen in less numbers in the park include muntjac, wild boar, the tiny mouse deer, langurs, pangolin, giant squirrel and macaques. Vivid bird life exists in the park. Above 250 species of birds are found in the park. The common ones are Malabar trogan, green imperial pigeon, the Indian Pitta, the Malabar pied hornbill and the great black woodpecker.
Entry Requirements
All visitors need to obtain an entry permit from the entry gate of the park. It costs 15 rupees. Jeep safari, boat rides, carrying photographic equipments, hiring guides and accommodation are all charged extra.
Getting There
Access to the Nagarhole National Park is easy. Mysore and Bangalore are the nearest airports from Nagarhole. From the Bangalore airport, one can board a flight to all the important cities in India. Mysore is the nearest railhead (80 kilometers). Nagarhole is well connected by a network of navigable roads. It is 93 kilometers away from Madikeri, 96 kilometers from Mysore and 236 kilometers from Madikeri.
Don't Miss
The wildlife enthusiasts have a lot to explore inside and around the park. A jeep drive through the park is an amazing experience. In order to have a closer view of the park you can go for an elephant ride. It enables you to observe the less explored areas of the park. But nothing can surpass the excitement of walking through the tracks of the park. This is limited to a small area in the park as there are possibilities of becoming a tiger's prey.
Besides wildlife, there exists a scenic place called Madikere that is a big attraction. It is just 93 kilometers off Nagarhole and is known for its orange and coffee plantations. Madhumallii (also called Mudumalai), Bandipur and Wayanad National Park lie in near vicinity from Nagarhole. |
