Karnataka
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Not far from Mysore are the nature reserves of Kabini (also known as Nagarhole) and Bandipur.
The National Park at Kabini/Nagarhole is 640 sq km. The Kabini river has been dammed forming a huge reservoir close to the town of Sargur. The Kabini reservoir is very rich in wildlife, especially in summer when the water level recedes and herds of animals venture onto the open grassy meadows in search of water. The forest is moist deciduous providing thick jungle, excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife. The wildlife seen at any National Park is always a matter of luck but we have had customers who have seen tigers and leopards here.
Bandipur is immediately adjacent to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala and together they form the Nilgiri Biosphere. There is a main road running through Bandipur and Mudumalai and wildlife maybe spotted from the road as you pass through. But if you stay in the area then you will have the opportunity to leave the road and take tracks through the forest increasing your chances of seeing wildlife. Bandipur has a very large population of elephant and other mammals that live in the area include the Indian wild dog, Indian bison (gaur), Nilgiri langur, bonnet macaques, jackal, hyena and sloth bear.
Highlights
Bandipur National Park
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Bandipur National Park was established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. The mammals commonly seen along the public access roads in the park include chital, gray langurs, Indian giant squirrels and elephants. Bandipur also has some exciting trekking opportunities, with trails that range from moderate to highly challenging.
Kabini River
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The Kabini dam submerged a large tract of forest creating a huge lake. During the dry season, the lake dries out, leaving only the main river visible. The resulting open plain quickly grows plentiful amounts of grass, more reminiscent of African savanna than tropical India. This unique habitat has proved to be a boon for the park, attracting a large concentration of Elephants other herbivores and their prey.
Nagarhole National Park
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Nagarhole is perhaps the best remaining habitat of the Asian elephant in the world. It is not unusual to see herds of elephants on the river bank. Gaur, the largest of the bison family, are another attraction of the park. Carnivores include the Sloth bear, Tiger, leopard, the Asiatic wild dog also called dhole, the striped hyena, jackal, jungle cat and rusty spotted cat. The Sambar, chital or axis deer, Muntjac, mouse deer and the four-horned antelope are all found in this area. The park is a mixture of semi-evergreen and deciduous forest, interspersed with grassy swamps and scrub forest.
Farming Communities
We passed through many farming communities close to the wildlife parks with the land being cultivated in traditional ways. We also saw local ladies picking cotton.
Hotels
Discover the wonderful variety of places to stay in India; including some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, intimate boutique hotels bursting with local character, charming homestays where you’ll have a chance to interact with local families, converted forts & palaces, fabulous lodges and heritage havelis.
Tours
Below are a selection of our favourite sample itineraries that we have created based on our experiences of travelling extensively throughout India. As with all our tours, every aspect can be tailor-made to your individual requirements.
