Halfway
down the Mysore-Ooty highway, the Deccan Plateau rises
to meet the wrinkled folds of the Western Ghat mountains.
Here lies one of India's best-known wildlife reserves
- Bandipur National Park. It is situated within Chamarajanagar
district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka,
and abuts the states of Tamil Nadu & Kerala. Endowed
with a moderate climate and diverse geographical features,
the park supports a remarkable variety of flora and
fauna, making it a veritable paradise for wildlife.In
1973, Bandipur became one of the first of India's Tiger
Reserves and the southernmost of the nine reserves specially
established under Project Tiger. In 1974, intention
was declared under the Wildlife Protection Act to notify
it as a National Park. |
Flora
& Fauna
The
scrub jungles towards the eastern limits of the park
consist of stunted trees, interspersed with bushes and
open grassy patches. Towards its northwestern fringes,
there is a gradual shift in the vegetation from open
dry deciduous forests to tropical mixed deciduous forests.
These diverse habitats support an enormous diversity
of animal life. With the onset of pre-monsoon showers
in April, Bandipur begins to unfold in all its glory.
The resident birds commence their breeding activities.
The air is filled with their melodious calls. Sprouting
grass in the meadows and view lines attract elephants
and the majestic gaur in large numbers. For the tourist
who comes to watch the larger mammals in their natural
surroundings, Bandipur is a paradise from April to October.
Even before this, during summer, when dryness prevails
over most parts of Bandipur, the backwaters of the Kabini
Reservoir in the northwestern portion of the park host
huge congregations of large mammals, especially the
elephant and the gaur. This unique feature makes a breathtaking
spectacle, and is almost the only one of its kind.
Climate
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.
Access The
nearest railhead is Nanjangud, 55 km away, while the
nearest roadhead is the town of Gundulpet, 20 km from
Bandipur. Both are, however, fairly small places, with
few transport connections to the rest of the state.
A better idea, therefore, would be to arrive at Bandipur
via Mysore or Ooty. Bandipur is 80 km from Mysore, and
a similar distance from Ooty, and takes 2 ½ hours
by road. Mysore is further connected to the rest of
south India by train, while a narrow gauge train comes
to Ooty from the plains station of Mettupalayam. Mettupalayam
has train connections to a number of other towns in
Tamilnadu. Once you’ve got to Mysore or Ooty,
you can take a bus or hire a car or taxi to get to Bandipur.
Private vehicles are not allowed to tour the park, so
buses abound, rumbling and roaring their way around,
drowning out any chance of seeing animals. Better options
for getting around in the park are the forest department
jeeps and vans. The Forest Department also organises
elephant rides of about an hour (or more) each, which
take you deeper into the forest than you’d otherwise
be able to go. At Bandipur, you can book a machan near
a watering hole for the best viewing of all. |
