Bandipur National Park, Bandipur

Bandipur National Park is a national park in Karnataka. It is the second largest tiger park in India and was established as a tiger reserve in 1974 under Project Tiger.  It is located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. 

Along with the adjacent Nagarhole National Park, it is one of the major tiger reserves in the country. It was once the personal hunting ground of the Mysore Maharaja which is now renamed as Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

History:

The Maharaja of Mysore established this sanctuary in 1931 with an area of 90 sq.km as Venugopal Wildlife Park. The Bandipur Tiger Reserve was established in 1973 under Project Tiger and the area was added up to 800 sq. km.

Bandipur National Park protects many local wildlife species in India. It includes trees like teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian-laurel, Indian kino tree, giant clumping bamboo, sedge bamboo. Animals like elephants, wild buffaloes, tigers, black beara, muggers, rock pythons, four-horned deer, jackals and wild dogs can be seen here.

How To Reach:

Gundlupet bus stand is the nearest bus stand with a distance of around 14.8 KM from the national park. There are KSRTC buses available from Gundlupet to Bandipur.