South India · Karnataka
Bandipur National Park
Elephants and the Nilgiri biosphere
- Karnataka
- Open Round the year, except during cases of heavy rainfall or forest fires.
- Closed None
History & Overview
Discover Bandipur
These forests are contiguous with Nagarhole, Wayanad and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, hence providing safe haven for a number of species – notably the Indian Elephant and Royal Bengal Tiger. Once a private Hunting Reserve for the Maharajas of Mysore, this landscape is now part of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve – one of India’s conservation success stories.
The habitat of Bandipur is dominated by Dry Deciduous Forests along with Dry Deciduous Scrub, Mixed Forest as well as Moist Deciduous Forest. The open-ness of the park provides for huge Elephant herds and one of the last strongholds of the Indian Wild Dogs – the extremely intelligent pack hunters of the Indian Forest.
The Kabini River separates Bandipur from Nagarhole, yet the denizens are able to traverse freely between the 2 parks when the water levels recede. The elusive Black(melanistic) Leopard has been spotted here on more than one occasion, and it is believed that there are multiple individuals living inside the park.
Flora & Fauna
What you may see
Wildlife
- Indian Elephant
- Indian Wild Dog or “Dhol”
- Gaur
- Indian Wild Dog
- Jackal
- Sloth Bear
- Rhesus Macaque
- Sambar
- Barking Deer
- Wild Boar
Birds
- Malabar Whistling Thrush
- Malabar Trogon
- Asian Fairy Bluebird
- Malabar Pied Hornbill
- Lesser Whistling Duck
- Blue Bearded Bee Eater
- Pheasant Tailed Jacana
- Stork Billed Kingfisher
- Plum Headed Parakeet
- Yellow Crested Woodpecker
Geography & Climate
Park at a glance
- Area 874 km²
- Co-ordinates 11.7584° N, 76.4454° E
- Weekly Off None
- Functional Days Round the year, except during cases of heavy rainfall or forest fires.
- Rainfall 2103 mm
- Forest Type The park has a variety of biomes including dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests and shrublands.
Location
Finding Bandipur
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