Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Nagarhole National Park


Nagarhole National Park
- the serpentine river’s wildlife bounty!

Go there for: Elephants, tigers, Snakes, Four-Horned Antelope, Sloth Bear, Mouse-deer

Nagarhole National Park at a glance

Spread over Mysore and Kodagu districts of the south Indian State of Karnataka, Nagarhole National Park, is edged by the Kabini River to the south, the Wynaad sanctuary of Kerela to its south-west and the Bandipur sanctuary to its south-east. This erstwhile game reserve of the Maharajahs of Mysore is spread across an area of 644 sq km and veined with streams and rivers, the promiment ones being Lakhmana, Teenth and Nagarhole. The very name, which in Kannada means Snake (Naga) and River (hole) is reminiscent of the thrill and adventure that awaits the visitors here. Nagarhole’s deciduous vegetation makes it a veritable haven for a fascinating battalion of wildlife and its almost flat terrain increases our chances of spotting the wild in the wilderness. It was renamed after Rajiv Gandhi in 1992.

Wildlife Attractions at Nagarhole National Park

Though famous for its elephant population, the Nagarhole National Park is idyllic refuge for the Tiger, Muntjjac (the barking deer), Chousingha (four horned antelope), Sambar, Cheetal, Sloth bear, Mouse-deer and the wild pig. Other common residents are leopards, Indian wild dog, Indian bison, jungle cats, jackals, hyenas and wild dogs.

A part of the Nilgiri biosphere, the park is layered with grassy swamps and shallow valleys with the slopes, an ideal passage for the rain water to drain itself into the rivers. More than 250 birds species can be spotted in the deciduous forest spread, especially around the Kabini river. Commonly seen varieties are - hawk-eagle, Malabar trogon, crested serpent-eagle, the malabar pied hornbill, blue beaded bee eater, scarlet minivet and the herons. And if you are a good observer, the multitude of colourful butterflies flitting around will surely catch your eyes.

Safari Adventure

The Forest Department runs 45-min mini-bus safaris into the parks everyday. But nothing can beat jeep safaris that give you enough time to explore leisurely and take you to the innermost recesses of the Park. The Forest Department has facilitated tourists with the ‘view-lines’ - the 10-m long areas on both sides of the roads, where the shrubbery and trees are cleared for better visibility of wildlife. Dull clothing, very light or no perfumes and less noise is recommended, lest the animals are alarmed.

What more to look out for in Nagarhole

Bandipur National Park: A trip each to the bordering national parks - Bandipur National Park and Wynaad sanctuary (Kerela) will be rewarding.
Mysore: Mysore, famous for its Sandalwood products, is a wonderful tourist attraction that you can plan to visit from Nagarhole National Park.
Madikeri: The small hill station at Madikeri, 93 kms. away, can be a wonderful destination view the sea and the old historic fort buildings situated there. This little hill township is roosted on a series of ridges that commands breath taking view of the surroundings. The coffee estates are a pleasure to watch from a distance.

How to reach there
From Nagarhole, Mysore at 96 kms. has the nearest Railway station and Bangalore at 220 kms. has the nearest airport. Buses connect Nagarhole to Bangalore and to other smaller towns across Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Kerala.

Ideal time to visit: September to May. Those interested in trekking should avoid visiting the park during monsoons.

Accommodation options
Being a popular tourist destination, accommodation options are numerous. It is ideal to arrive at the park before dusk, as the road leading to lodges closes at 6 pm. Forest Department rest houses and cottages and other private accommodations are available. The Kabini river Deluxe lodge is made of colonial style architecture and has 14 double rooms with modern amenities. The Water wood hotel is also furnished with gardens and looks like a ranch style house.

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