Karnataka

The Nagarhole National Park

Area : 572.90 sq.km.
Altitude : 800-850 metres.
Temperature : Max. 33 Deg.C.Min. 14 Deg.C.
Rainfall : 1300 - 1800 mm. (June to September)
Season : September to May

The name Nagarhole is derived from the Kannada `Naga' meaning `snake' and `Hole' meaning `streams'. A number of streams snake through the rich tropical forests of Nagarhole which is situated in picturesque districts of Kodagu and Mysore in Southern Karnataka.

Infrastructure
Air : The nearest airport is Mysore (96 km) which is linked to Bombay by Goaway flights. Bangalore (236 km) is another airport which is linked to most parts of the country by Indian Airlines flights, also other private airlines like East west Airlines, Damania airways & Continental aviation operates flights from Bangalore to Bombay. 
Rail : The nearest railway station is Mysore (96 km) which is connected to Bangalore. 
Road : Motorable roads connect Nagarhole to places around it. Bangalore (236 km.), Madikere (93 km.), Mysore (96 km.). 
Bus Services: There are bus services to Nagarhole from Hunsur, Madikere and Mysore. 
Forest Department arranges for wildlife viewing in their jeeps and vans. 

Tours
The Forest Department arranges for wildlife viewing around the park by mini bus, vans and jeeps. All tours are accompanied by trained forest guides. Charges : Rs.10/- per head for 2 hours or Rs.5/- per km.Timings : 0600 to 0900 hrs. and 1600 to 1830 hrs. Visitors' vehicles are permitted to the park only when accompanied by trained guides on payment of prescribed fees.
Reservations : Range Forest Officers, Nagarhole National Park, Kutta, Tel.21 (Kutta).

Places to see
Forest Types
(a) Southern tropical semi-evergreen forests.
(b) Southern tropical dry deciduous forests.
(c) Southern tropical moist mixed deciduous forests.
(d) Scrub forests.
(e) Lush, green, grassy swamps.
Fauna 
Animals Four horned antelopa, sloth bear, civet cat, barking deer, mouse deer, spotted deer, wild dog, elephant, jackal, common langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, common mangoose, small Indian mangoose, striped-necked mangoose, Otter, Pangoline, panther, wild pig, porcupine, sambhar, giant squirrel, flying squirrel, malakar squirrel, threestriped palm squirrel tiger. Birds Pea fowl, common babbler, scinaitar babbler, bea eater, red whiskered bulbul, red vented bulbul, little brown dove, ring dove, spotted dove, crested hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, tawny eagle, malabar pied hornbill, malabar grey hornbill, loriekeet, minivet, biyth's myna, Alexandrine parakeet, blue winged parakeet, blossom-headed and rose ringed parakeets, southern treepie, green imperial pigeon, adjutant stork, balabar trogon, great Indian Warbler, reed warbler, wood-peckers.Reptiles Common cobra, marsh crocodile (in Kabini river) Krait, Monitor Lizard, rock python, Indian python, bamboo viper, pit viper, Russell's viper, several species of gecko, skink and agamid lizaards, etc.

Bandipur National Park (100 km), Madikeri (93 km), Mysore (96 km).

Informations
Range Forest Officer, Nagarhole National Park, Kutta. Tel.21 (Kutta).OR Assistant Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Sub-division, Vani Vilas Road, Mysore- 570 002. Tel. 21159.

Bandipur Nationalpark

Area : 874 sq.km.
Altitude : 780 to 1454.5 metres.
Temperature : Maximum 29 Deg. Minimum 17 Deg.
Rainfall : 1000 mm
Season : May to June & September to November

The Moyer River forms a natural boundary between the Mudumalain Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamilnadu and the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka. Nestling at the foothills of the Nilgiris, the Bandipur National Park was formed by extending the Venugopal Wildlife Park which was set up in 1931 by the Mysore Maharajas.
A popular game resort of the rulers of Mysore, the flora in the forest comprises of teak, rosewood, honne, mathi, bamboo, sandal trees. The important animals in the park are the tiger, elephant, gaur, leopard, chital, samber, etc. Birds like the pea fowl, partrige, quail, hornbill, Ibis, etc., are alsofound here.
The Bandipur National Park is one of the fifteen Tiger Reserves in the country, launched under the Project Tiger scheme during 1973. The scheme is committed to the preservation of the fast dwindling tiger population in India.

Getting there
Air : The nearest airport is Mysore (80 km) connected by Goa Way flight to Bombay. 
Fare : Bombay - Mysore : Rs. 2200/- 
Rail : The nearest railhead is Mysore (80 km) 
Fare : Bombay - Mysore ( via Bangalore ) Ist Class : Rs 732/-, IInd Class : 234/- 
Road : Motorable roads connect Bandipur to Bangalore 220 km via Mysore. Coimbatore 168 km via Udhagamandalam Mudumalai Wild Life Sanctuary 19 km Mysore 80 km. Udhagmandalam ( Ooty) 79 km via Mudumalai. 
Local Transport : Nil. Forest Department jeeps and vans are available for sightseeing. Elephants can also be hired. 

Tours
The Forest Department arranges for Wild Life viewing by jeep or van. Charges Rs.5/- per km. Elephants can be hired for rides around the Park. Charges Rs.30/- per trip for a maximum of 4 persons. Timings for wildlife viewing & elephant rides 0600 to 0900 hrs. and 1630 to 1830 hrs. Forest guides accompany visitors on all trips.
Reservation Assistant Director, Bandipur National Park, Bandipur,Tel:22/22.Visitors vehicles are also permitted into the Park only when accompanied by trained guides on payment of prescribed fees.

Entrance fees:
Park Entrance Fee Indians Re 1/-
Foreigners Rs.3/-
Visitors Vehicle Light vehicles Rs.10/- per vehicle
Heavy vehicles Rs.15/- per vehicle
Photography Fee Box cameras Re 1/-
Adjustable Cameras Rs.3/-
Movie Cameras Rs.10/- (8 mm)
Rs. 15/- (16 mm) Rs.150/- (35 mm)
Video Cameras Rs.150/- Permission is required from Chief Wild Life Warden, Bangalore for use of video camera.
Rates of Conducted Tours and Entrance Fees subject to change. 

Places to see
Forest Types
(1) Southern Tropical Moist-mixed deciduous forests.
(2) Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests.
(3) Scrub Forests.Flora Forests consists predominantly of teak (tectona grandis) with its main associate species like rosewood (dalbergia latifolia), Honne (Pterocarpus Marsupium), nandi (lagerstroemia lanceolata), mathi (terminalia tomentosa) hunal (terminalia paniculata) dindal or dindiga (anogeissus latifolia), bamboo ( bambusa arundianasia and dendrocalamus strictus), bende (kydia calycina), sandal (santalum album), mavu (mangifera indica), muthuga (butea/frondosa ) also occur in these forests.
Fauna
a. Animals Tiger, elephant, gaur, leopard, chital, sambar, sloth bear, barking deer, wild boar, wild dog, jackal,mouse-deer, four-horned antelope, common langur,porcupine, otler, pangolin, malabar squirrel, civer cat,leopard, hares, jungle cat, bonnet macaque, etc.
b. Birds Pea fowl, grey jungle fowl, partridge, quail, paradise fly catcher, hornbill, wood pecker, ibis, stork,sun bird, flower pecket, thrush, crested hawk eagle, serpent eagle, drango, cuckoo, oriole, minivet, wagtail, myna, blue jay, king fisher, etc. 
c. Reptiles Land monitor, crocodile, tortoise, python, cobra, krait, viper, rat, snake, flying lizard.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (19 km), Mysore (80 km), Udhagamandalam (Ootacamund) (79 km), Gopalaswamy Hills (20 km).

Informations
Information Centre, Bandipur National Park, Bandipur 571318. Tel:21/22 Or The Field 
Director, Project Tiger, Vanasree, Govt.Sandalkoti premises, Asokapuram,Mysore-570008
Tel: 20901/24980. Cable:PROTIGER.