Bandipur National Park (Photo Gallery)

Bandipur National Park is a beautiful forest reserve located in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. This national park occupies a special place in India's efforts towards natural conservation. It was created in the 1930s from the local Maharaja Voodiyar's hunting lands, and named Venugopal Wildlife Park. Apart from being home to the Asiatic elephant, Bandipur also has a sizable number of tigers. Other natural inhabitants of this lovely forest are gaur (a type of bull), sambhar, chital, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, Malabar squirrel, porcupines and the black-knapped hare. Birds like jungle fowl and green pigeon are also found here.

Getting There:
Air: The nearest airport is Bangalore, 220 km.

Rail: The nearest railhead is Mysore, 80 km.

Road: Motorable roads connect Bandipur to Bangalore (220 km) via Mysore (80 km).

Accommodation:
Bandipur Safari Lodge (Jungle Lodges), Tusker Trails (Jungle Resort), Ambuja Farms (Farm House)

Weather and Best Season to Visit:
The region is warm and comfortable for most parts of the year with temperatures ranging from 24 to 28°C, except for the brief winter that lasts from October to January when the temperature hovers around the 19°C mark. Monsoon is erratic, but it generally rains from June to September.

The best season to visit would be from March-July and September-November.