Wildlife

Bandipur National Park  

Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole)
 
Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary  

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary  

BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

Mudumalai Sanctuary

Bhimeshwari Sanctuary

Bandipur National Park
Location : Karnataka
Area : 874.20 Sq.Km
Major Variety of
Animals found here : Asian Elephants and Gaurs

In Karnataka, the two attractive wildlife parks of Nagarhole and Bandipur, though separate entities, are part of a larger contiguous wildlife reserve that includes the Mudumalai Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and the Wynad Reserve in Kerala. Both the parks are easily accessible from Mysore.

A dam on the Kabini and its picturesque reservoir separate the two parks. In the dense moist deciduous forests of this area the upper canopy reaches heights of 30m and valuable hardwoods like teak and rosewood are also to be found here.

The 874.20 sq. km. Bandipur National Park, which is also a Tiger Reserve, with its open grassy woodland, lies to the south of the Kabini River while Nagarhole, 643.39 so. km. in area, to the north of the river, has taller and denser forests.

Bandipur, lying in the shadow of the Western Ghats, is one of the finest habitats of the Asian elephant. Drained by the Moyar River, its open forest makes it easy for visitors to see the elephant and gaur in natural surroundings.

Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole)
Location : Karnataka
Set Up In : 1955
Attractions : Snakes, Four-Horned Antelope, Sloth Bear

Nagarahole (check spelling please) is derived from the combination of two Kannada words-'nagar' meaning snake and 'hole' meaning streams and true to its name a number of streams snake through its rich tropical forests.

Once an exclusive hunting preserve of the erstwhile rulers of Mysore, the terrain of this Park is gently undulating with lush green vegetation, swamps and numerous water resources, rendering it an ideal habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.

Nagarahole is situated in the picturesque districts of Kodagu and Mysore in southern Karnataka. The Nagarahole National Park was first set up in 1955. In 1975 its area was increased to include a greater expanse of forest reserve.

The Wild Population of Nagarhole National Park
The forest is home to animals like the four-horned antelope, sloth bear, jungle cat, civet, spotted deer, elephant, wild dog, flying fox, tiger, panther, gaur (Indian bison), sambhar, wild boar, black-naped hare, bonnet macaque, and pangolin.

Cobras, crocodiles, kraits, pythons, vipers, and several species of lizards are also found here. Among the 250 bird species found here, the prominent ones are the common babbler, bee-eater, bulbul, dove, crested serpent, hornbill, Malabar pied, alexandrine, peacock, woodpecker, warbler, great Indian reed, eagle, crested hawk, golden-back parakeet, and the southern tree pie.

Nagarhole is worth visiting at the height of the dry season, when wild animals can be spotted in large numbers near sources of water.

Viewing The Wild
At Nagarhole, there are excellent facilities for viewing wildlife and large groups of gaur, elephant, sambar, chital and even the occasional tiger or leopard are seen. Vehicles and guides are available to take you around the Nagarhole National Park.

If this natural heaven awakens the 'spirit of adventure' in you then consider heading for the Brahmagiri Mountains-an inviting destination for those who wish to go trekking. Prior permission is required from the authorities before embarking on a trekking trail.

Location :
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the banks of River Kali, amidst thick forests and hills of Uttara Kannada District. The sanctuary is at a distance of 125 kms from Goa, 117 kms from Karwar, 95 kms from Belgaum and at 400 kms from Banglore.

Rich in both flora and fauna, the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary spans over 834 sq.km and is the second largest in Karnataka. The sanctuary was established in 1975 and undulates with lofty hills with captivating river valleys and thick forests. Tourists can take an evening ride in a coracle (a circular boat, woven with bamboo and lined with buffalo hide) in the River Kali.

Best time to visit :
The best time to visit the sanctuary is September to May.

How to get there ?
» By Air - The nearest airport is in Dabolim (Goa) at a distance of 145 kms.
» By Rail - The nearest railhead is in Londa (25 kms). Other railheads are in Dharwad (57 kms) and Hubli (72 kms).
» By Road - The nearest destination by road is Dharwar (50 kms). The best way to reach Dandeli is to travel from Karwar which is at a distance of 120 kms.

Major Attractions:

» Flora - Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary predominantly has moist deciduous and semi-evergreen trees, with pockets of evergreen trees. Bamboo and Teak plantations are common here. Some natural forest tree species include Dalbergia Latifolia, Terminalia Paniculata, T. tomentosa, T. bellerica, Logerstroemia Isnceolata, Xylia xylocarpa, Pterocarpus marsupium, Mitragyna parviflora, Adina cordifolia, Grewia tiliaefolia, Cordia macleodic, Kydia clycina and Vitex altissima.

» Fauna - Mammals in the sanctuary include elephant, gaur, wild pig, sloth bear, tiger, leopard (black panther), wild dog, jackal, slender loris, common langur, bonnet macaque, sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, Malabar giant squirrel, giant flying squirrel and mongoose. The most prominent avifauna species in the sanctuary are Magpie Robin, Blue Headed Ground Thrush, Golden Back Woodpecker, Indian Cuckoo, Crested Serpent Eagle, Pied Hornbill, and Malabar Grey Hornbill.

Nearby Cities :
» Banglore (485 kms)
» Goa (125 kms)
» Hubli (75 kms)
» Karwar (93 kms).

Best time to visit :
The BR Hills Wildlife sanctuary is open throughout the year. Best time to visit this sanctuary is June to October when the animals come out for water. But winters too are really pleasant.

How to get there ?
» By Air - Banglore (160 kms) is the nearest airport.
» By Rail - Mysore (80 kms) and Banglore (160 kms) are the nearest rail junctions.
» By Road - BR Hills is easily accessible by road. Bangalore (160 kms), Mysore (80 kms) and Ooty (245 kms). There is couple of buses leaving from Mysore everyday.

Travelling within the park :
For trips within the park one can either trek up on foot or opt for jeep safaris or elephant rides.

Major Attractions:

» Flora - The flora in BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary ranges from deciduous, evergreen and grassland vegetation, which home a wide variety of wildlife.

» Fauna - The B R Hills Wildlife sanctuary homes many species of wild animals. It has a large population of Gaurs, chitals, sambhars, bears, elephants, panthers and tigers. The mammal population in this sanctuary include the elephant, tiger, leopard, wild dog, jungle cat, sloth bear, civet, mongoose, Malabar giant squirrel, porcupine, common langur, bonnet macaque, wild pig, gaur, sambar, spotted deer and the four-horned antelope. Moreover, the sanctuary has about 270 species of birds. The Malabar whistling thrush, yellow throated bulbul, paradise flycatcher, racquet-tailed drongo and the crested hawk eagle are some of the birds found here. Also there are a variety of exotic butterflies

Nearby Cities :
» Mysore (80 kms)
» Bangalore (160 kms)
» Ooty (245 kms)
» The nearest town is Chamrajnagar (40 km).

Mudumalali wildlife reserve was the first sanctuary in south India. The terrain is extremely varied with hills, valleys, ravines, watercourses and swamps. The vegetation comprises of tropical moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and scrub forests. Compared to the nearby reserves, the climate is warmer in Mudumalai.

Langur, bonnet macaque, tiger, leopard, wild dog, hyena, jackal, sloth bear, elephants, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, Indian muntjac, mouse deer, wild boar, rodent and flying squirrel are part of the wildlife in Mudumalai. It has a rich bird life that includes Malabar trogan, Grey hornbill, crested hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, etc.

Flora
The vegetation is quite varied in this region. The hilly terrain of the Western Ghats, clothed in dense mixed and moist deciduous forests, make Mudumalai (the ancient hills) a most attractive wildlife reserve. Bamboos (Bambusa Arundinacea) Natural teak (Tectona Grandis), Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia, Crenulata/Terminalia Tomontosa, Grewia, and blooming trees like Indian Labumusum, Aredesia, Solanancea are some of the flora.

Fauna
The fauna include Elephants, Gaur, Banner, Macaque, Common Langur, Tigers, Leopards, Chital, Panther, Sloth Bear, Python, Barking Deer, Four Horned Antelope, Otter, Crocodiles (Mugger), Giant Flying Squirrel, Sambar, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Hare, Porcupine and Mongoose.

The birds listed in this sanctuary are Peacock-our National bird, Grey Jungle Fowl, Red Spur Fowl, Grey Partridge Quails, Goggle Eyed Plower, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Large
Racket-Tailed Dronge, The Magpie-robin, Spotted Babbler, Small Green Barbet, Green Pigeons, Brown Dove, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Bulbuls, Mynahs, etc. Among birds of prey, Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Harriers, Falcons and King Vulture are predominant, besides some migratory water birds.

Time to Visit
The best time to visit the reserve is from February to June.

Travel Information
Air: The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, 160-km away.

Rail: The sanctuary is located at a distance of 65-km from Udhagamandalam railway station and 95-km from Mysore station.

Road: Gudalur (16-km) is the nearest town to the sanctuary, which is situated along the Udhagamandalam - Mysore highway. This sanctuary could be reached from Mysore as well. There are regular buses from Udhagamandalam, Mysore and the neighbouring towns to the sanctuary.

The sparkling blue waters of Cauvery wind through rocks and ravines and fall off the Deccan Plateau to form the twin falls of Barachukki and Gaganachukki.

About 35 kms downstream is yet another set of falls called Mekedatu (Goat's Leap). Lying between these breathtaking cascades is Bhimeshwari. A perfect picnic spot. Where nature has created a natural habitat for the Mahseer fish and a variety of exciting animals.

Bhimeshwari in Manday district is an ideal place not only for the wildlife but also for people on a holiday spree. The lush forest sheltered by steep valleys and scattered by little streams, invites large groups of animals and birds. You can see herds of elephants amongst the thick tree. Deers springing in the air. Wild boars, monkeys, Jackals, crocodiles, otters and even leopards! And of course, there are plenty of birds too! Heron, ibis, cormorant, kingfisher … have all made their home here. Giving you a never-before opportunity of no-stop viewing.

And what's nore exciting is you have a Fishing Camp! The banks of the River Cauvery provide enthusiastic anglers a chance to try their luck a t fishing. And mind you, it's no ordinary fishing. Because the Cauvery abounds with Mahseer - the finest game fish (weighing 100 lbs) that can fight like a tiger! So don't forget to take your fishing rods. Because, it may be a catch of your life - time.

The Fishing Camp here has comfortable tents equipped with all basic facilities like cots, mosquito nets, shower, toilet and even a kitchen. Food is served in the 'Gol-Ghar', open air dining room. As the sun gives way to the moon, and the bonfire is lit up, the evening casts mysterious shadows. Building up the excitement for the night. And unfolding another about of surprises. Waiting to be discovered.

Best time to visit : December - March