In the 1930s, the Maharaja of Mysore created a small hunting ground in the beautiful locales of the Deccan Plateau, with the lush forested hills of the Western Ghats on one side. He called this 90 km² landscape the Venugopala Wildlife Park. Today the extended park, known as the Bandipur National Park is 912 km² and is one of the major Tiger Reserves of India. 

Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. The forest stretches of Bandipur and Nagarhole in Karnataka, Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu, and Wayanad in Kerala are a combination of inter-state Tiger conservation and home to the largest population of Asian elephants. If you do choose to try the tourism at Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, you’ll have an unforgettable trip. Our travel guide will help you plan a trip.

Bandipur does not have a rail station or an airport. The Park lies on the road connecting Mysore to Ooty and thus has good road connectivity. The easiest way to reach Bandipur is to travel by road from Mysore.

By Air:

Take a flight to Bengaluru and a connecting domestic flight to Mysore. Hire a cab from Mysore to Bandipur National Park.

By Rail:

Take a train to Mysore and then you have two options. You could take a connecting train to Chamarajanagar from Mysore or book a cab from Mysore rail station and hit the road to Bandipur. The Chamarajanagar Rail station is 48 km from Bandipur National Park.

By Road:

You could hire a cab from Mysore or travel in a KSRTC bus from Mysore to Ooty that stops at the Bandipur Park.

Getting Around:

Private vehicles are not allowed in the Park. You can use a minibus or a jeep for sightseeing or trek along, with a guide for company.

Winter is generally the peak season to visit Bandipur National Park, with the weather being mild and pleasant with a mist and a gentle breeze.

Summer (March-May):

Tall stately trees supply shade from the sun, but there are dry deciduous landscapes that provide little respite from the heat. If you want to see more animals, tour in summer. You find them at the streams, cooling off from the hot midday sun.

Monsoon (June-September):

The forest turns beautiful with the onset of rains. Nature has never looked so good, but roads turn slushy and slippery. Safaris might be cancelled.

Winter (November-February):

It’s misty and pleasant in Bandipur during winter. From up the Biligiriranga Hills, the forested regions around look so charming on a wintry day. This is officially the best time to visit.

Safaris and Elephant Rides:

Bandipur and its environs are basically animal land where you can go on safaris, elephant rides, and treks and photo-tours. Trek up the Betta or hills of Bandipur.

More Tiger Reserves:

Visit the Biligirirangana Betta Tiger Reserve and the Male Mahadeshwara Tiger Reserve up the hills near Bandipur. The MM Hills Tiger Reserve is the sixth of Karnataka’s Tiger Reserves.

Bird Watching:

Tall teak, rosewood and sandalwood trees on one side and vast open grassy woodlands on the other, combined with a number of rivers make Bandipur National Park home to about 250 species of birds. You would commonly find peafowl, woodpeckers, Indian Pitta, hornbills, Pigeons and a number of birds migrating in for winter.

Mysore:

Mysore is 80 km from Bandipur National Park. Visit the Mysore Palace, Brindavan Gardens, Chamundeshwari temple and the Zoological Park.

Gundlupet:

Gundlupet is located very close to the Tamil Nadu and Kerala borders and is about 17 km from Bandipur National Park. Visit Narasamangala Shiva, Terakanabi and Triyambakapura temples, Manchalli caves and Huluganamuradi Venkataramana Betta.

Nanjangud:

Nanjangud is a temple town about 75 km away from Bandipur National Park. Visit the Nanjundeshwara or Srikanteshwara Kshetra, one of the largest temples in Karnataka. The deity is believed to cure people of their ailments. Travel across the 280 year old bridge over the river Kapila (or Kabini) that connects Nanjangud to Mysore.

There are no souvenir shops near the park, but you can buy stuff at The Turquoise Gift, at the Serai Bandipur Resort. Otherwise shop for silk saris, sandalwood carved trinkets and Channapatna toys at Mysore and handicrafts, and homemade chocolates and tea at Ooty. Visit Ooty's Tibetan Flea Market opposite the Botanical Gardens for some economically priced winter wear, including hoodies, cardigans, beanies, jackets and shawls.