Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park is one of India’s oldest and best-managed tiger reserves, spanning 874 square kilometers of dry and moist deciduous forest in the foothills of the Western Ghats, located at the trijunction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Established in 1931 as a Mysore royal hunting reserve and declared a Project Tiger reserve in 1973, Bandipur National Park tourism today centers around its role as the most accessible core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, linking it with Nagarhole, Mudumalai, and Wayanad to form over 5,000 square kilometers of continuous forest. Among the top attractions in Bandipur National Park are its thriving wildlife populations, including around 150 tigers, over 3,000 elephants, along with gaur, dhole, sloth bear, and leopard. The forest canopy is dominated by sandalwood, teak, and rosewood. Daily forest-department jeep safaris, one of the most popular things to do in Bandipur National Park, depart from the reception center. The Mysore-Ooty highway NH-766 that passes through the park is closed after dark to reduce wildlife collisions. The adjoining village of Melukamanahalli hosts most lodges, many designed with colonial-era charm and offering private naturalist-led safaris, often included in Bandipur National Park tour packages.