874.20 sq. km.
ESTABLISHED1931 as a sanctuary, 1941 as a national park, 1973 as a tiger reserve.
The Bandipur National Park situated in the Mysore district which is also a tiger Reserve with its open grassy woodland, lies to the south of the Kabini River. This is one of the finest habitats of the Asian elephant. Drained by the Moyar River, its open forest makes it easy for visitors to see the elephant and gaur in natural surroundings. The park has good facilities for viewing wildlife, include gaur, elephant, sambar, chital and even the occasional tiger or leopard. Among other mammals are the muntjac, the tiny mouse deer, wild boar, pangolin, giant squirrel, slender loris, langurs and macaques. The Park has about 250 species of birds and Malabar trogan, the Malabar pied hornbill, the great black woodpecker, the Indian pitta and the green imperial pigeon are part of its avian variety.
This is a good destination which can be added for almost all the tours starting from Bangalore and heading towards Ooty and Kerala. You can easily make a circuit covering Nagarhole, Bandipur, Mudumalai and B R Hills which are the prime jungles of the area.
The drier SE corner of Bandipur National Park has scrub forests. During the dry months of March-May, Indian Elephants stay close to rivers and lakes. Nearby, at Mastigudi large gatherings of 100 or so Indian Elephants on the banks of the Kabini Lake are known, a sight unrivalled anywhere. Bandipur National Park is probably the best place in the subcontinent for seeing Dhole, and the Indian Giant Squirrel, lying curled in trees holes or crooks of brances during the day.
SEASON
Best period being March-August.
ACCESS
By road it is 220 kms from Bangalore & 80 kms from Mysore.
The nearest railway station is Mysore(80 km).
The nearest airport is Bangalore (220kms).
TEMPERATURE (C)
| Season | Min. | Max. |
| Summer(April-September) | 34 | 21 |
| Winter(October-March) | 28 | 16 |
CLOTHINGS
Summer: Light Tropical
Winter: Light Woolen
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 01: Bangalore-Bandipur (220 KM): Depart for Bandipur by car. Late afternoon jeep excursion into the Park to view wildlife.
Day 02: Bandipur- Mudumalai-Bandipur (14 KM): Morning depart for Mudumalai by car. Game viewing on elephant back. Later return to Bandipur. Late afternoon jeep safari into the Park for wildlife photography.
Day 03: Bandipur-Bangalore: Depart for Bangalore by car.
