Nagarhole National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Karnataka
• Area: 64,330 Hectares
• Nearest Airport: Mysore, 92.5 km away from Nagarhole
• Nearest Town: Kutta (14.4 km)
• Nearest Railway Station: Mysore (88.4 km)
• Safari: Jeep Safari
• Entry Fee: INR 50 (Indian) & INR 150 (Foreigner)
• Camera Charges: INR 50
• Best Time to Visit: October-May
• Number of Species: Over 270 Species of Birds
• Main Wildlife: Snakes, Sloth Bear, Four-Horned Antelope, Jackal, Porcupine, Mouse-Deer

The Nagarhole National Park gets its name with the combination of two Kannada words, ‘Nagar’ and ‘Hole’, meaning ‘Snake’ and ‘Streams’ respectively. The park was established in 1955 and in the year 1975 the area was expanded to be included in the forest reserve. Earlier, the forest was an exclusive hunting spot for the maharajas of Mysore. The National Park has been renamed after the name of the late Prime Minister of India as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. The national park is surrounded by the Kabini River in the north and Bandipur National Park in the south. A Dam on the Kabini River is also a picturesque site for the visitors.

Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary is open all round the year. Between October-May, especially April-May, the guests could enjoy the best of the Nagarhole National Park. 

• Forests: Mixed Deciduous Type, Southern Tropical, Dry Deciduous Type, Moist.
• Trees: Terminalia Tomentosa, Dalbergia Latifolia, Boambax Malabaricum, Tectonia Grandis, Emblica Officinalis, Gmelina Arborea, Lagerstroemia Lanceolata, Kydia Calycina, Pterocarpus Marsupium, Schleichera Trijuga, Adina Cordifolia, Ficus Sp., Anogeissus Latifolia, etc.
• Shrubs: Desmodium, Helicteres Sp., Lantana, Solanum, Eupatorium, etc.

• Predators: Tiger, Wild Dog (Cuon Alpinus or Dhole), Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Leopard, sloth bear, etc.
• Herbivores: Deer, Barking Deer, Gaur (Bos Gaurus), Elephant, Sambar, Four-Horned Antelope (Tetracerus Quadricornis), Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa), etc.
• Other Mammals: Common Langur (Presbytes Entellus), Leopard-Cat (Felis Bengalensis), Jungle Cat, Common Otter (Lutra Lutra), Jackal, Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista Petaurista), Hare, Porcupine, Pangolin (Manis Crassicaudata), Mongoose (Herpestes Fuscus & Herpestes Vitticollis), Giant Squirrel (Ratufa Indica), Civet Cat (Viverricula Indica & Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus), Mouse-Deer (Tragulus Meminna), Slender Loris (Loris Tadigradus), Bonnet Macaque (Macaca Radiata), etc.
• Birds: Water Fowl, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Herons, Woodland Birds, Ducks, Scarlet Minivet, Blue-Bearded Bee-Eater, Common Ospreys, etc.
• Reptiles: Monitor Lizard, Terrestrial & Aquatic Tortoises, Marsh Crocodile, Rock Python, etc.

• Airport: Mysore, 92.5Km from Nagarhole
• Railway Station: Mysore (88.4Km)
• Roadways: The National park is linked with the town such as Mysore (96 Km) and Madikere (90 km), through Motorable highways. It takes almost 2 hours drive to reach the park from these destinations.

• Free entry to the park and there is no requirement of any permission.
• The opening hours of the national park are from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
• No safaris are organized during monsoon.
• The visitors are advised to reach the gates of the park before dusk. The road that leads to the lodges through the park is generally closed by 6:00pm as it is likely to face elephant blocks.
• The guests interested in trekking are advised not to visit the park during monsoon as heavy rains cause floods. The dirt tracks and leeches make trekking impossible.
• Private jeep safaris are allowed only after permission. A guide from the Forest Department is must accompany all jeep safaris.
• Hotels also arrange jeep safari or you could also hire a jeep yourself from the Forest Department.
• Jeep entry cost (around INR 500 per jeep) is to be paid at the park, entrance. the cost of a guide would be additional.

There are two rest houses managed by the Forest Department. For accommodation in these rest houses, it is advisable to make bookings well in advance. Apart from this, the Kabini River Lodge, near Karapur, also offered great accommodation. The guests could also choose from accommodation facilities available on the Manathavadi highway.