Bandipur is a renowned National Park located in Karnataka in the Charajnagar district of southern India. Bandipur Park covers an area of about 865 square kilometers and was declared a National Park in 1974. It is one of the nine tiger reserves in India.
The Bandipur Tiger Reserve boasts of hosting nearly 70 tigers and more than 300 Asian elephants, leopards, and bears. The park, together with the adjoining Nagarhole and Mudumalai National Parks, and the Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary, form the largest protected tiger reserve in South India. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is considering converting the area that covers the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Western Ghats, together with the Niligiri subgroup, into a world heritage site. Bandipur is considered one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in the country.
Bandipur Park has a rich flora reserve comprising deciduous forests, evergreen vegetation, and patches of scrub as well. Teak, Rosewood, Satinwood, Indigo, Indian Gooseberry, Axlewood, Black Myrobalan, and Flame of the Forest are some of the common trees and shrubs found here.
The fauna is mainly understood as elephants and predatory animals such as tiger, leopards, dhole, hyena, sloth bear and Chevrotain, etc. There are also prey animals such as the guar, the chital, the barking deer, the four-horned antelope and the sambhar, which survive mainly by looking.
The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is also known for its rich bird population. There are abundant peacocks, jungle birds, red spur birds, ducks, herons, snake eagles, woodpeckers, and hornbills, among other popular species that reside here.
Bandipur Park has a predominantly warm and comfortable climate throughout the year. Temperatures here range between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius. Winters here have a brief appearance, from October to January. However, the monsoon season is marked by unexpected rains that are overwhelmingly heavy; this season lasts from June to September.
Due to the good weather conditions throughout most of the year, Bandipur Park can be visited at any time, but the months of April to October are ideal months for a tour of this park brimming with life. However, for elephant lovers, the rainy season is the best time to visit. This park is well connected by rail and air. The nearest airport is Bangalore Airport, and Nanjangud is the nearest train station.