BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK | WILDLIFE SAFARI, PLACES TO VISIT IN BANDIPUR
Wildlife
About Bandipur National Park
#9 of 33 Places to visit in Karnataka | #61 of 100 Places to visit in India
Ideal Trip Duration: 4 Hours/Half Day
Nearest City to Bandipur National Park: Mysore (80 Kms), Bangalore (215 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Bandipur National Park: October to March
Peak Season: October & December to January & May to June
At a distance of 70 km from Ooty, 80 km from Mysore, & 215 km from Bangalore, Bandipur National Park is one of the well preserved national parks in Karnataka. It is located in Chamarajanagar district on the border of Karnataka - Tamil Nadu between Mysore & Ooty. Nagarhole and Bandipur National Park are separated by Kabini reservoir. Bandipur National Park is one of the top attractions you must include in Ooty packages.
Spread across 874 sq.km, Bandipur is one of the best places to visit as part of your wildlife tour in India. It is part of the famous Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve along with Nagarhole National Park, Mudumalai National Park (12 Kms towards Ooty), and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Bandipur forests used to be the private game reserve of the Maharajas of Mysore. This Sanctuary is one of the 15 sanctuaries belonging to the Project Tiger Scheme. Bandipur was declared a National Park under the Wildlife Protection Act in 1974.
Bandipur National Park is home to around 70 tigers and over 3000 Asian elephants, as well as other animals like leopards, dhole, gaur, sloth bears, and a variety of birdlife. Gopalaswami Betta is the highest peak in the Bandipur range. It can be visited along with Wayanad as part of Wayanad tour packages.
Jeep Safari (90 minutes), and Mini Bus Safari (90 minutes) are arranged by the forest department. The cost and timings keep changing and sometimes they cancel the safari without any prior notice. Staying at the Jungle Lodges Resorts by JLR is the best way to explore the park as their package includes Jeep Safari into the park with experienced guides. JLR operates Bandipur Safari Lodge in at the entrance of Bandipur park on Gundlupet - Ooty road.
The entry point & interpretation center of the park is located in Bandipur village on the Highway after Melkamanahalli Village. Private vehicles are NOT allowed inside the park.
The best time to visit Bandipur National Park is from June to October.
Safari Timings: 6 to 9:30 AM & 2:30 to 6:30 PM
Bus Safari Cost (90 mins): Rs. 650 per person
Jeep Safari (90 mins): Rs. 3500 per jeep (6 pax). Prices as of Jan 2023.
Safari timings & cost changes frequently.