Bandipur National Park Mysore
Karnataka is a South Indian state in India that is very famous for its efficient management of Wildlife and Forestry. The entire geographical area of Karnataka measures 1, 91,791 sq kms, out of which 43,356.95 kms constitutes of forest area which is about 22.6%. There are 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 5 National parks in Karnataka that cover around 6576.76 sq. kms forming 15.17% of the entire forest area in the state. The Government of India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act is 1972 in order to safeguard the birds, plants and animals of the country and also to ensure the environmental and the ecological security of the entire country. The population of elephants in India is about 25,000 out of which it is estimated that 5590 elephants are found in Karnataka forming about 22% of the whole population.
The Establishment
The Bandipur National Park Mysore was established in the year 1974. This park came into being major in the form of a reserve for tigers under Project Tiger. The park is located in Mysore Karnataka and previously it served as a private reserve for hunting for the Maharaja of the Mysore Kingdom. The Bandipur National Park is very famous for the wildlife that it possesses and its biomes. However, it has to be noted that deciduous forests are almost dominant in the forest.
Area Covered
The park covers an area of 874 square kilometers and protects different species of endangered wildlife in India. The park adjoins the Mudumalai National Park, the Nagarhole National Park and the Wayanad Wildlfe Sanctuary totaling an area of about 2,183 square kilometers and is an important division of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Bandipur National Park is also considered to be the largest area for the protection of wildlife in the southern part of India.
The Attractions
There are a large number of tigers found in the park along with other natural inhabitants like sambhar, gaur (a bull type), four-horned antelope, wild boar, wild dogs, sloth bear, jackal, porcupines, chital, black knapped hare, panther, Malabar squirrel and mouse deer. Different birds like green pigeon and jungle fowl are also instituted at the park.
The Bandipur National Park is very famous because of the wildlife reserve that it possesses and also because of its beauty. The park serves as a shelter for various endangered and conserved species of plants and animals. A detailed description of the various plants, animals, birds and flowers found at the park has been enumerated below:
Fauna 
The Bandipur National Park Mysore engulfs various species both threatened and conserved. The species and the categories have been mentioned below:
- Mammals: Mammals like Indian Giant Squirrels, Elephants, Chital and Grey Langurs are very common in the park.
- Reptiles: The most dangerous and poisonous species of snakes called the King Cobra are found residing at the park. Apart from this reptiles like flying lizards, Indian pond terrapin, rat snake, spectated cobra, Indian chameleon, vipers, agamids and Indian rock python are also very common. The less dangerous species like adder, tree frog, marsh crocodile tortoise and toad are found in large numbers at the Bandipur National Park.
- Insects: Dung beetles, ants and butterflies are some of the insects that can easily be spotted at the park. The butterflies present in the park serve towards making the park even more beautiful and colorful. The popular names in the category of insects present in the park are Red disk bushbrown, large salmon Arab, spotless grass yellow, chestnut streaked sailer, dark grass blue, pioneer or caper white, indicus, meranoplus and copris. Other species of butterflies found in the park are crimson rose, Red Helen, common palmfly, banded blue Pierrot, common castor aridane merione, common tiger or striped tiger, metallic cerulean, common evening brown and color sergeant.
- Birds: In the list of birds the most common names are Peacock, grey junglefowl, woolly -necked stork, red-headed vulture, grey-headed fish eagle and Malabar pied hornbill. There are some other important species of birds that can be spotted during a visit to the Bandipur National Park.
Flora 
The Bandipur National Park Mysore is also famous for the rick flora that it possesses. The park consists of scrubs, deciduous forests and evergreen forests. People who visit the park can easily spot Grewia Tillaefolia, Indian kino tree, clumping bamboo, satinwood, Indian laurel, black cutch, golden shower tree and flame of the forest.
Endangered species
The Bandipur National Park also consists of some of the most endangered species in India such as the mouse deer, tiger, panther, four horned antelope and the sloth bear. These animals get great shelter at this park.
Bandipur is an area that is located in the Gundlupet Taluq of the
Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka. The village is 80 kilometers from
Mysore city and lies on the route of Ooty which is considered as one of
the most important tourist destinations in India. The tourist traffic at
Bandipur is very large every year because it is very close to Ooty but
the traffic is banned during the hours of dusk to dawn in order to
decrease the count of wildlife death due to accidents.Accommodation
The people
who visit the Bandipur National Park Mysore should worry the least about
their accommodation because there are a large number of resorts, guest
houses, inns and hotels available very close to the park. Some of the
famous accommodations around the park are:
Location and Best Time to Visit
- Safari lodge of Bandipur
- Ambuja farms
- Tusker trails hotel
- Bush Betta Wildlife Resort, and
- Mc Resort
Other Tourist Attractions Nearby
There can
be absolutely no doubt in the fact that the Bandipur National Park
Mysore itself serves as a major tourist attraction in Bandipur because
of its rich treasure of wildlife and varies vegetation. Not only
wildlife but there are different species of birds, insects and
butterflies also found at the park. The park serves as a great venue for
an elephant safari or a Jeep safari because of its roads that are very
well engineered and managed. The safaris serve as the best method to
explore the beauty and the wonderful content of the park. Apart from the
park, there are two other options that also serve to be the best
tourist attraction around the area and they are:
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary: The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary has been transformed into a tiger reserve of late and it also possesses a wide variety of greenery in the form of evergreen forests, birds, reptiles as well as wildlife. This sanctuary was established in the year 1940 along with the Nilgiris and the sanctuary is divided into five ranges or segments.
Gopalaswamy Betta: Gopalaswamy Betta is also known as Hamavad and it is considered as the highest peak of the Bandipur National Park Mysore. Gopalaswamy Betta also possesses Lord Venugopal’s temple on the top which is considered to be ancient and is visited by thousands of people every year. This temple is said to be built during the reign of the Cholas because it reflects the architecture and the style of this dynasty in Karnataka.
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary: The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary has been transformed into a tiger reserve of late and it also possesses a wide variety of greenery in the form of evergreen forests, birds, reptiles as well as wildlife. This sanctuary was established in the year 1940 along with the Nilgiris and the sanctuary is divided into five ranges or segments.
Gopalaswamy Betta: Gopalaswamy Betta is also known as Hamavad and it is considered as the highest peak of the Bandipur National Park Mysore. Gopalaswamy Betta also possesses Lord Venugopal’s temple on the top which is considered to be ancient and is visited by thousands of people every year. This temple is said to be built during the reign of the Cholas because it reflects the architecture and the style of this dynasty in Karnataka.
Location and Best Time to Visit 
The Bandipur National Park Mysore is considered as a better managed and beautiful park in India. The park is located in the picturesque and wonderful surroundings of the Western Ghats on the highway that connects Mysore and Ooty in Karnataka. There is a very special place occupied by the Bandipur National Park in the Eco conservation effort of India.
The Bandipur National Park is open for it visitors all throughout the year but the richness in beauty and wildlife of the park can be witnessed during the months of September and November and March and July. Therefore, it is advisable for the people to visit the park during these months.
How to Get There
Bandipur National Park Mysore can easily be accessed by air, road and rail from the city of Mysore which is considered to be the closest city to the park.
By Road: Bandipur is an area which is located about 80 kilometers away from Mysore, 70 kilometers away from Ooty and 220 kilometers away from Bangalore. The area is very well connected by road and there are private buses and State transport buses available for the people. These buses stop at the office of the Forest Reception. If you hire a taxi from Mysore, it will take about two hours to reach the park.
By Rail: the distance of the Mysore railway station is about eighty kilometers from the park and the Mysore railways station serves as the major station for the people who visit the park. There is another railway station named Nanjungud railway station which is also considered to be very close to Bandipur as it is only 55 kilometers away from Bandipur. This railway station is another option that can be tried out by visitors.
By Air: Mysore airport is the closest airport from Bandipur as it is only 70 kilometers away from Bandipur while the Bangalore International airport is 260 kilometers away from Bandipur.
By Road: Bandipur is an area which is located about 80 kilometers away from Mysore, 70 kilometers away from Ooty and 220 kilometers away from Bangalore. The area is very well connected by road and there are private buses and State transport buses available for the people. These buses stop at the office of the Forest Reception. If you hire a taxi from Mysore, it will take about two hours to reach the park.
By Rail: the distance of the Mysore railway station is about eighty kilometers from the park and the Mysore railways station serves as the major station for the people who visit the park. There is another railway station named Nanjungud railway station which is also considered to be very close to Bandipur as it is only 55 kilometers away from Bandipur. This railway station is another option that can be tried out by visitors.
By Air: Mysore airport is the closest airport from Bandipur as it is only 70 kilometers away from Bandipur while the Bangalore International airport is 260 kilometers away from Bandipur.