Located in the southern part of the beautiful state of Karnataka, Bandipur is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in India. The Bandipur National Park was made by the Maharaja of Mysore in the year 1931 and was then spread over an area of 90 sq kms. However, it was later increased to 800 sq kms and renamed the Venugopala Wildlife Park after the residing deity of the shrine located here at Gopalswamy Betta. The name Bandipur National Park was given in the year 1973 when the Government took over the park under the Project Tiger Scheme and it was then made into a Tiger Reserve.
Bandipur Wildlife sanctuary forms the connecting link between the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary in Tamilnadu and the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary in Kerala and thus, is a long beautiful stretch that you would fall in love with.
There are three beautiful rivers that flow through the Bandipur sanctuary namely the Moyar river, the Kabini river and the Nagur river. The weather is ideally suited for a great vacation amidst nature. Bandipur is a lovely destination that can be visited all year round. The summer months from March to May would be a great time to watch the animals at the watering holes. However, the period between June to October (during the monsoons) is when Bandipur comes alive with greenery all over.
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 in Asia.
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