Bangaluru.org - "Nagarhole National Park " Wildlife in Karnataka

Nagarhole National Park (also known as 'Rajiv Gandhi National Park') is located 94 km away from Mysore . It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore districts. The national park has rich forest cover, little streams, valleys and waterfalls.

The place derives its name from Kannada - Naga meaning snake and hole referring to streams.

Nagarhole National Park

The area was an exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore.

It was set up in 1955 and is one of the best-managed parks in the country. This park is located to the northwest of Bandipur National Park. In 1975 its area stretched to 575 km². Kabini reservoir separates this park from Bandipur National Park. The climate is tropical; summer is hot and winter is pleasant. The park boasts a healthy Tiger-predator ratio. Tiger, Bison and Elephant are much denser here than in Bandipur.

The office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests is situated in Hunsur , about 47 km away from Nagarhole.

The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve . The Western Ghats , Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000 + km²), including all of Nagarhole National Park , is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site .

Mostly moist mixed deciduous forest ( Tectona grandis , Dalbergia latifolia ) in the Southern parts, Dry tropical forest ( Wrightia tinctoria , Acacia) towards east, i.e. Bandipur and Sub mountain hill valley swamp forest (Eugenia)

Fauna and flora

Mammals : Elephant, Jackal ,Tiger, Panther, Gaur , Muntjac , Sambar, Spotted deer, Elephant, Mongoose, Civet cat, Hyena

Reptiles : King Cobra, Krait, Python, Viper, Tortoise, Monitor Lizard ,Toads etc

Birds : Herons, storks, egrets, ducks, kites, eagles, falcons, partridges, peafowl, lapwings, sandpipers, woodpeckers, sunbirds, wagtails, warblers, babblers, shrikes and owls are some of the species found here.

The main trees found are Rosewood , Teak , Sandalwood and Silver oak .

Climate

In summer the temperature is usually around 33 °C. Winter is brief from November to January and has the temperature dipping to 14 °C and rains from June to September.

Tribes like Jenu Kurubas (honey-gatherers), the Betta Kurubas (hill tribes) and the Hakki-Pikki (bird trappers) inhabit this park.

Visiting Hours
6 AM to 9 AM and 4 PM to 6:30 PM
Safari ride by Forest Department Bus
Fare : Rs. 30/- / Trip. Rs. 10/- / Child

Distance:-	210 km South West of Bangalore
By Road:-	5 hours - 210 Kms from Bangalore, 90 Kms from Mysore via Hunsur, 80 Kms from Mysore to Jungle Lodges, Karapura via HD Kote Hand Post
By Air:-	Nearest Airport Bangalore : 225 Kms Coimbatore : 304 Kms Mangalore : 225 Kms
Route:-	Take SH17 to Srirangapatna via Maddur bypass to Coorg via Ranganathittu then SH88 to Hunsur then state roads to Nagarhole via Veeranahosahalli and Murkal.
When to go:-	Nagarhole can be visited all through winter and through the pre-monsoon half of the summer. The winter months from November-February are exceedingly pleasant, and are the best time to go if you don't like being hot and sweaty. The summer, on the other hand, though it may be pretty hot, is a great time to see wildlife, including the tiger. The dry, hot season (March-May) is the time when the animals gather at the lake, allowing for great wildlife viewing. The monsoons (June-September) are best avoided, as the entire road network gets washed out, and leeches and dense undergrowth proliferate in the forest.
Tourist offices:-	Dy. Conservator of Forests HUnsur Wildlife Division , Hunsur, Mysore District: Email : dcfwlhun@rediffmail.com Field Director Project Tiger Aranya Bhavan, Ashoka Puram, Mysore, Phone : 0821.2480110 Chief Wildlife WardenAranya Bhavan 18th Cross, Malleshwaram, Bangalore 560003, Phone : 080.23341993 KSTDC(bookings and info) Badami House, NR Square, Bangalore Tel: 080-2275869, Fax: 2352626 Email: kstdc@vsnl.in
Where to stay :-	Kings Sanctuary - Nagarhole For reservations Contact Prestige Meridian I, Unit # 909, 9th Floor, 29 M G Road, Bangalore - 560 001 Tel : 91-80 - 41122661, 41512761/62/63/64 Fax : 91-80-41122662 Cell : 98450 05659 / 93424 05659 Email : sales@vivekhotels.com www.kingssanctuary.com Tariff: Rs. 7000/- to Rs. 12000/- Cicada Resorts Survey No 60/1, Nishana, Karapura Village, Antarasante, Hobli H D Kote Taluk, Mysore District-571114 Tel: 91-8228-264444 Fax: 91-8228-264507 Email : info@cicadaresorts.com www.cicadaresorts.com Tariff: Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 7000/- Kabini River Lodge H D Kote Taluk, Mysore - 571 114 Tel: 08228-264402 - 03, 264515 (Resort) Tel: 080-5597021, 24, 25 (Reservations) Fax: 080-5586163 Tariff Range: Indian Citizens Tented Cottages - Rs. 2750/- Rooms - Rs. 3000/- Cottages - Rs. 3500/- Tariff for Foreign Nationals: USD 120/- Rates per person per day Email: info@junglelodges.com Web site: www.junglelodges.com Jungle Inn Veeranahosalli, Hunsur, Murkal-Nagarhole Road, Hejjur Post, Hunsur Taluk, Mysore - 570 011 Tel: 08228 - 264500, 264403/4 Email: jungle_inn123@rediffmail.com Forest Department Cottages Tariff: Indians - Rs. 750/- Foreign citizens - Rs. 1500/- For reservations contact Conservator of Forests, Kodagu Circle, Aaranya Bhavan, Madikeri - 571 201 Tel: 08272-225708 Fax: 08272-28439 State-owned forest resthouses, private lodges and cottages are among the accommodation options in Nagarhole. Reservations for the forest resthouses must be made at least 15 days in advance by contacting the warden's office in Bangalore or Mysore. There is also a posh river lodge (state-run) at the Kabini River, which, though it comes for a high-end price, also offers a great experience. Bookings at the lodge can be made by calling 08228-52160 /32181 /44405. A double room at the Kabini River Lodge costs about Rs 2,750 (or US$125, for foreigners) per night, while cottages come for around Rs 2,000- all inclusive of meals, sightseeing, safaris and more. Rooms at private lodges range between Rs 2,000- 3,000 per night. Similarly-priced accommodation options exist in towns just outside the Park, at Veerana Hosahalli and at Siddapura in Coorg. For bookings at the resthouses contact Conservator of Forest, Kodagu Circle,Aranya Bhavan, Madikeri, Tel:08272-25708. Further information on Nagarhole National Park can be obtained from the Field Director, Project Tiger, Aranya Bhawan, Ashokpuram, Mysore (Tel: 0821-480901) or the Chief Wildlife Warden, Aranya Bhawan, 18 th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore (Tel: 560003). All accommodation is within tourist complexes in Nagarahole and Karapura. Cauvery Lodge (I & II) : 2 beds each, Rs. 1000/- per day for (Foreigners) Rs. 2000/- per day. Gangothri Lodge : 4 rooms, 2 beds each, Rs. 750/- day. for (Foreigners) Rs. 1500/- per day. Dormitories : 2 Nos, 12 beds each : Rs. 50/- per bed per day for (Foreigners) Rs. 70/- per bed per day (Entrance Fee, Camera, Video Charges Extra) Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd., Karapura. Kabini Plantations Ltd., Karapura. Raman Water Wood Ltd., Karapura. Jungle Inn Private Resorts, Veeranahosahally.