Bandipur – Home of Animals, Birds, Bees & Trees !

Nearly 880 sq.kms here are reserved by man for ‘un-mankind’ creatures! – that’s a great move for nature – it’s prosperity, progress & the future!
Driving into this national park zone, one can visible feel the drop in climatic temperature. One can also enjoy the pristine beauty of nature in this region of three major adjacent national parks – Bandipur, Nagarahole (Karnataka) & Madumalai (of Tamilnadu). These three parks occupy a region of 2183 sq.kms! forming the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Bandipur and surrounding areas were hunting grounds of erstwhile kings of Mysore – the Wodeyars. In 1941, the Wodeyars earmarked 90 sq.kms those days and started a protected Animals National Park, ‘Venugopala Wildlife Park’. Today this has lead to forming the ‘Bandipur National Park & Tiger Reserve’ aiding ‘Project Tiger’ which started in 1973.
Bandipur is the largest habitat for wild elephants in South Asia. This Nilgiri Biosphere is a home to 100 mammals & 350 species of birds. The forests here are Biomes – dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests with shrublands. Trees like Rosewood, Sandalwood grow in abundance along with bamboo. Being a tropical climate area, this forest experiences ‘wet & dry’ seasons. Dry & hot till March, monsoons, begins in June. Apart from animals & birds, one can see a lot of butterflies & bees. The rivers Kabini flows to the north and Moyar flows to the south of the National Park. The highest point of the park is ‘Himavada Gopalswamy Betta’.
Bandipur or each of these national parks can be your destination to stay or pass through. Talking about Bandipur, one can stay at the Karnataka Forest Gueshouses or a number of resorts which have sprung up. There are luxury resorts like Serai which could set you back at Rs.25,000/- a night in season to other cheaper alternatives at Rs.1,500/-. The government accommodation at Bandipur National Park can be booked – ‘on-line’ only. Travel companies can help or surfing the internet can lead you to book accommodations to suit your budget. Or, one can avail and just enjoy the ‘safari rides’ organised by the Bandipur National Park authorities. They are best during early morning & late evenings.
Usually in safari rides one sees a lot of animals like – Indian elephants, gaurs, sloth bears, jackals, dholes etc – the lucky one’s can sight tigers & cheetas etc. This forest is a habitat to a lot of chamelons & snakes – vipers, cobras etc. It is advised during safari to maintain absolute silence, not to get down from vehicles and listen & obey the forest guide.
National Highways – NH-67 & NH-212 pass through Bandipur. Caution is advised whilst driving. Please remember this park is closed to traffic from 9 pm – 6 am. The animals have right of the way & live here. Killing, hurting, teasing animals is taken seriously out here. Offenders attract heavy fines, penalty or may be imprisoned for violations according to the Forest Act. This area is a ‘Plastic Free Zone’. Picnics are not allowed. The threats & conflicts arise in this area and it’s a battle of the beast & the mankind each day as this park is bordered by 200 villages especially more on the north-west side.
It’s worthwhile stopping or staying at Bandipur to enjoy nature and see the wildlife in its free form. Born Free to Live Free!