NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE DESTINATION OF INDIA
Nagarhole National Park, the enchanting 247 square-mile park in Karnataka has an astonishing abundance of wildlife including large mammals such as tiger, leopard, wild elephant, Dhole (Indian wild dog), and Gaur (Indian bison).
The park derives its name from the combination of two Kannada words. 'Naga,' meaning snake, and 'hole,' meaning streams. True to its name, quite a few serpentine streams fork through the rich tropical forests of the park. The landscape is one of gentle slopes and shallow valleys. Dry deciduous forest trees are leafless in the summer rather than in the winter. There are grassy swamps where the soil is clayey, perennially moist, and which support a luxuriant growth of green grass all year. The change in terrain throughout the park in refreshing and the river system provides a unique wildlife viewing experience. The park has been recently renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park after the late Prime Minister of India.
Nagarhole National Park is counted among India’s best wildlife parks due to the large elephant and bison population. It also hosts a variety of animal species along with approximately 250 species of birds. On its northern confines is the Kabini River and on its southern fringes is the Bandipur national park. A dam on the Kabini River and its picturesque reservoir demarcates the two national parks. During the dry season (February till June), this artificial lake attracts a large number of animals, making it an ideal spot for sighting wildlife.
Climate & Rainfall
The summer (March to May) temperature slightly crosses 30°C mark. The brief winter, which lasts from November to January, has temperature plummeting to 14°C. Monsoon is erratic, but it generally rains from June to September. The annual rainfall recorded is 1,440 millimeters (57 in).
Flora
The predominant vegetation in the Nagarhole National Park is of southern tropical, moist, mixed deciduous type with a substantial eastern portion intergrading into dry deciduous type. The upper tree canopy is dominated by Terminalia tomentosa in association with Tectonia grandis, Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Anogeissus latifolia, Adina cordifolia, Boambax malabaricum, Schleichera trijuga, Ficus sp. and others. The lower canopy has Kydia calycina, Emblica officinalis, Gmelina arborea etc. Several shrubs belonging to Solanum, Desmodium and Helicteres sp. etc. are abundantly found but weedy shrubs like Eupatorium and Lantana now dominate.
Fauna
Mammals
The important predators and carnivora in the Nagarhole National Park are tiger, leopard, wild dog (dhole or Cuon alpinus), sloth bear and the hyena (Hyaena hyaena). The herbivores are spotted deer, sambar deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), gaur (Bos gaurus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and elephant. Nagarhole National Park provides an opportunity to see some of the southern population of Gaur (jungle Bison). Also, this park in Karnataka is a good place to see elephants in the luxuriant forests and bamboo thickets which they most enjoy. Their total population in southern India is now about 6500, nearly all living in the area where Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala adjoin in the shadow of the Western Ghats. Other mammalian miscellany includes the common langur (Presbytes entellus), Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), jungle cat, slender Loris (Loris tadigradus), leopard-cat (Felis bengalensis), civet cat (Viverricula indica and Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), mongoose (Herpestes fuscus and Herpestes vitticollis), common otter (Lutra lutra), giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), porcupine, jackal, mouse-deer (Tragulus meminna), hare and pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).
Birds
Over 250 species of birds are found at Nagarhole National Park. Besides the enormous variety of woodland birds, there are large congregations of water fowl in the Kabini River. Birds range from blue-bearded bee-eater, scarlet minivet and Malabar whistling thrush to the more common ospreys, herons and ducks.
Reptiles
Among reptiles, the marsh crocodile, monitor lizard, rock python and several other species are represented. Aquatic and terrestrial tortoises, frogs, toads and tree frogs and myriad insects, including some very colourful butterflies, adorn this lovely southern jungle of India.
How to Reach
By Air
Nearest airports are Mysore (96 km.), Bangalore (236 km.). Regular flights are available to Bangalore from all the key cities in India. Bangalore is connected with several international cities as well.
BY RAIL
The nearest railway station, Mysore railway station is which is 80 km away from Nagarhole. Mysore is connected to Bangalore, which is 220 km away from Nagarhole. Bangalore is well connected to all the other cities in India. Taxi services are available from Bangalore to Nagarhole which costs about Rs 5,000 and from Mysore to Nagarhole costing about Rs 2,000.
BY ROAD
Bus services are available from the places around Nagarahole like Mysore (96 km.), Bangalore (236 km.), Madikere (93 km.) and Hunsur.
Travel Tips
One must arrive at the park gates well before dusk, for the road through the park that leads to the lodges is prone to elephant blocks and closes at 6 pm. Those interested in trekking should avoid visiting the park during monsoons as floods wash out most of its dirt tracks and leeches render trekking impossible.
Best Time to Visit
The best season to visit Nagarhole National Park is October to May. The park usually remains closed during monsoon season (June to September).
The park derives its name from the combination of two Kannada words. 'Naga,' meaning snake, and 'hole,' meaning streams. True to its name, quite a few serpentine streams fork through the rich tropical forests of the park. The landscape is one of gentle slopes and shallow valleys. Dry deciduous forest trees are leafless in the summer rather than in the winter. There are grassy swamps where the soil is clayey, perennially moist, and which support a luxuriant growth of green grass all year. The change in terrain throughout the park in refreshing and the river system provides a unique wildlife viewing experience. The park has been recently renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park after the late Prime Minister of India.
Nagarhole National Park is counted among India’s best wildlife parks due to the large elephant and bison population. It also hosts a variety of animal species along with approximately 250 species of birds. On its northern confines is the Kabini River and on its southern fringes is the Bandipur national park. A dam on the Kabini River and its picturesque reservoir demarcates the two national parks. During the dry season (February till June), this artificial lake attracts a large number of animals, making it an ideal spot for sighting wildlife.
Climate & Rainfall
The summer (March to May) temperature slightly crosses 30°C mark. The brief winter, which lasts from November to January, has temperature plummeting to 14°C. Monsoon is erratic, but it generally rains from June to September. The annual rainfall recorded is 1,440 millimeters (57 in).
Flora
The predominant vegetation in the Nagarhole National Park is of southern tropical, moist, mixed deciduous type with a substantial eastern portion intergrading into dry deciduous type. The upper tree canopy is dominated by Terminalia tomentosa in association with Tectonia grandis, Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Anogeissus latifolia, Adina cordifolia, Boambax malabaricum, Schleichera trijuga, Ficus sp. and others. The lower canopy has Kydia calycina, Emblica officinalis, Gmelina arborea etc. Several shrubs belonging to Solanum, Desmodium and Helicteres sp. etc. are abundantly found but weedy shrubs like Eupatorium and Lantana now dominate.
Fauna
Mammals
The important predators and carnivora in the Nagarhole National Park are tiger, leopard, wild dog (dhole or Cuon alpinus), sloth bear and the hyena (Hyaena hyaena). The herbivores are spotted deer, sambar deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis), gaur (Bos gaurus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and elephant. Nagarhole National Park provides an opportunity to see some of the southern population of Gaur (jungle Bison). Also, this park in Karnataka is a good place to see elephants in the luxuriant forests and bamboo thickets which they most enjoy. Their total population in southern India is now about 6500, nearly all living in the area where Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala adjoin in the shadow of the Western Ghats. Other mammalian miscellany includes the common langur (Presbytes entellus), Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), jungle cat, slender Loris (Loris tadigradus), leopard-cat (Felis bengalensis), civet cat (Viverricula indica and Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), mongoose (Herpestes fuscus and Herpestes vitticollis), common otter (Lutra lutra), giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), porcupine, jackal, mouse-deer (Tragulus meminna), hare and pangolin (Manis crassicaudata).
Birds
Over 250 species of birds are found at Nagarhole National Park. Besides the enormous variety of woodland birds, there are large congregations of water fowl in the Kabini River. Birds range from blue-bearded bee-eater, scarlet minivet and Malabar whistling thrush to the more common ospreys, herons and ducks.
Reptiles
Among reptiles, the marsh crocodile, monitor lizard, rock python and several other species are represented. Aquatic and terrestrial tortoises, frogs, toads and tree frogs and myriad insects, including some very colourful butterflies, adorn this lovely southern jungle of India.
How to Reach
By Air
Nearest airports are Mysore (96 km.), Bangalore (236 km.). Regular flights are available to Bangalore from all the key cities in India. Bangalore is connected with several international cities as well.
BY RAIL
The nearest railway station, Mysore railway station is which is 80 km away from Nagarhole. Mysore is connected to Bangalore, which is 220 km away from Nagarhole. Bangalore is well connected to all the other cities in India. Taxi services are available from Bangalore to Nagarhole which costs about Rs 5,000 and from Mysore to Nagarhole costing about Rs 2,000.
BY ROAD
Bus services are available from the places around Nagarahole like Mysore (96 km.), Bangalore (236 km.), Madikere (93 km.) and Hunsur.
Travel Tips
One must arrive at the park gates well before dusk, for the road through the park that leads to the lodges is prone to elephant blocks and closes at 6 pm. Those interested in trekking should avoid visiting the park during monsoons as floods wash out most of its dirt tracks and leeches render trekking impossible.
Best Time to Visit
The best season to visit Nagarhole National Park is October to May. The park usually remains closed during monsoon season (June to September).
