Nagarhole National Park
Nagarhole National Park, previously known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, is a true wildlife spot located in the Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka. This spot is one of the best destinations in South India, and it’s full of stories and life. The name ‘Nagarhole’ comes from two Kannada words, ‘Naga’ meaning snake and ‘Hole’ meaning stream, because of the many winding streams that flow through the park like slithering snakes. It’s as poetic as the place itself.
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Nagarhole Fun Tour with 1 Gypsy for 1Night / 2 Days
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Nagarhole Fun Tour with 1 Canter for 1 Night / 2 Days
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Nagarhole Fun Tour with 1 Boat Safari for 1 Night / 2 Days
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Nagarhole Weekend Tour with 2 Gypsy Safari for 2 Nights / 3 Days
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Ultimate Nagarhole Tour Package with Gypsy, Canter & Boat Safari for 3 Nights / 4 Days
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Villa Katipadu
Katipadu Estate, Kurchi village, Srimangala, Karnataka 571217
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Kabini Lake View
14/98, Manchegowdanahalli, Antharasanthe Hobli, Taluk, Heggadadevankote, Karnataka 571114
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Hatti Eden Coorg
Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, SH-90, Virajpet-Mysore road, gate, Piriyapatna, Karnataka 571105
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Red Earth Kabini
Badane Kuppe, Via Antharasante, Near Hosmalla, HD Kote Taluk, Mysore, Karnataka 571114
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The Bison Wildlife Resort
Gundathur, Village, Karapura, Kabini Road, Nisana, Uttarahalli Hobli, Heggadadevankote, Karnataka 571114
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Kaav Safari Lodge
Malalli Cross, Taluk, PO, N. Belthur, Heggadadevankote, Karnataka 571114
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The Yellow Bamboo Resort & Spa
Post, Balaji Village, Mayamudi, Gonikoppa, Karnataka 571213
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About Nagarahole National Park
The famous Nagarahole National Park of Karnataka is home to a lot of animals. The total area of the park is around 847.981 square kilometers, making it one of the largest tiger reserves in the country. In that area, when you go for a safari, you can see thick teak and sandalwood forests, bamboo groves, grassy swamps, small hills, and many streams and rivers, including the beautiful Kabini River. The water areas of this park are famous for their beauty and they also offer people the thrilling opportunity to spot marsh crocodiles, snakes, and some other interesting reptiles.
The Nagarahole covers a huge area of 847.981 square kilometers (core – 643.392 sq km and buffer – 204.589 sq km ), and it’s even a part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. You can enjoy a safari here and spot the animals in these buffer and core zones. The animals that may be spotted during the ride are Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic wild dog, Asiatic Elephant, Mouse deer, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, four-horned antelope, Wild pig, Chital, Muntjac, and South-western langur, with 270 species of birds. Here, you can also spot marsh crocodiles, snakes, and some interesting reptiles near the water areas.
Weather & Climate of Nagarahole National Park
Nagarahole National Park has a Tropical Wet and Dry climate according to the Köppen climate system.
| Months | Jan | Feb | mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min (°C) | 4 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 4 |
| Max (°C) | 25 | 28 | 34 | 40 | 42 | 37 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 27 |
- The hottest month in this park is April, during this time, the temperature can go up to 42°C, especially during the daytime. On the other hand, the coldest month that this park experiences is January, when the temperature drops to 11°C.
- The park receives an average rainfall of 1,446 mm annually, thanks to the Southwest Monsoon. The wettest month is July, and during that time, the park turns into a lush green forest.
The History of Nagarahole National Park
The history of Nagarahole National Park is like a magical forest book full of elephants, tigers, ancient trees, and yes, even royal hunts. So, Nagrhole National Park of Karnataka is a forest that turned into one of India’s most loved national parks. This is a forest that grew not just in size but in importance, it slowly became a safe spot for wild animals.
Long ago, this forest was part of the hunting grounds of the Wodeyar kings of Mysore. Back in those days, royal families used to come here for big game hunting. They come here to track down majestic elephants and elusive tigers. At that time, this place was seen more as a sport than something to protect. But, time changes everything and the people’s thinking about this forest also began to change.
As years passed, people started realizing that this area needs protection, not bullets and trophies.
The Beginning of Conservation and National Park Status
In 1955, the first big step was taken to save the area of Nagarahole. The government declared this forest a Wildlife Sanctuary with an area of 285 square kilometers. It was a small but powerful beginning at that time, and the focus of people shifted to conservation instead of hunting. The word ‘sanctuary’ itself meant that animals were finally getting a safe space where they wouldn't be hunted down. People started seeing animals not as trophies, but as important parts of nature.
Then the conservation of Nagarahole National Park took an important turn. This place was upgraded to a National Park in 1983, and the area was also expanded to 571.55 square kilometers. This declaration made protection stricter for animals, and they were given proper care along with the plants of the park. At that time, this place attracted a lot of wildlife lovers and researchers from all over the country.
Some Basic Information of Nagarahole National Park
| Location | Mysore & Kodagu Districts of Karnataka |
|---|---|
| Total Area of Nagarahole | 847.981 square kilometres |
| Declared as a National Park | 1983 |
| Declared as a Tiger Reserve | 1999 (as part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve) |
| Core Area of Nagarahole | 643.392 square kilometres |
| Buffer Area of Nagarahole | 204.589 square kilometres |
| Temperature Range | 11°C to 42°C |
| Nearest Railway Station | Mysore/Mysuru Junction |
|---|---|
| Nearest Airports | Mysore/Mysuru Airport |
| Park Opens from | All year (closed during heavy rainfalls) |
| Popular Safari Entry Gates | Kakanakote, Nanachi & Veeranahosahally Gate |
| Total Bird Species in Nagarahole | 276+ |
Flora and Fauna of Nagarahole
Flora of Nagarahole
The flora of Nagarahole National Park mainly consists of two types of forests that are Tropical moist deciduous forests and Tropical dry deciduous forests. The forest type changes according to different seasons, like it becomes lush green during the monsoon and turns to golden brown in the dry season.
In this magical green beauty, when you go for a safari, you can easily spot trees like Rosewood, Axlewood, Indian Laburnum, and even the Crooked Tree that grows along the water banks. The trees like Indian Kino, Silver Oak, and Axlewood are just a few of the many species that provide food, shelter, and shade for everything from elephants to butterflies of this park.
The flame-of-the-forest and golden shower adds to the charm. In total, this park has around 182 species of trees and 18 species of grasses, and you can spot them by making Nagarahole National Park bookings.
Fauna of Nagarahole
The Nagarahole National Park is a wildlife heaven with 32 mammals, 167 species of butterflies, 276 species of birds, and 200 species of reptiles, including snakes, crocodiles, and amphibians.
This is one of the best spot for spotting animals like tigers, elephants, leopards, dholes, golden jackal, leopard cat, rusty spotted cat, striped necked mongoose, small Indian civet, smooth coated otters, sloth bears, Indian Wild Pig, Large flying fox, gaurs, sambar deer, spotted deer, four horned antelope, tree shrews, and many more.
With this much variety of animals, birds like the Indian roller, crested serpent eagle, Indian pangolin, mallard, Glossy ibis, little tern, Indian peafowl, southern coucal, Malabar, along with rare ones like greenish warbler, black redstart, Montagu’s Harrier can also be found in the trees of this park.
Planning a Visit to Nagarahole National Park
Nagarahole is a famous spot among people and coming here feels exciting to tourists. People can come to this amazing spot of Karnataka and enjoy safaris. Through them, they can get the chance to spot 32 species of mammals, 270 species of birds (avifauna), 167 types of butterflies, 31 species of snakes, 1 species of crocodile, 1 pond terrapin, 9 species of fish, and 13 types of amphibians that call this park a home.
This park offers 2 kinds of safaris, gypsy safari and bus safari. Both safaris of this park allow you to go inside with trained naturalists and forest department guides. They will help you spot animals, explain the sounds of the jungle, and share interesting facts about the park's plants and wildlife. They have deep knowledge about the park and know all the routes, because of which your safari will become exciting, and also, you will remain safe.
People get attracted because of safaris, but they should understand that Nagarahole is not just a travel spot. This is a home for animals and planning to visit Nagarahole also includes knowing about the dos and don’ts and safari rules. When you visit the park, you should follow the rules, regulations, and environmental guidelines that are made for the safety of plants and animals of the park. Following the rules will also keep you safe from the animals.
Visitors are expected to respect the natural surroundings and follow the guidelines set by the forest department. Nagarahole National Park is not only meant for tourism, this is a safe space for animals. The park encourages visitors who travel responsibly and care about nature.
Tourism here offers the people to observe wildlife quietly and understand the importance of conservation. When planning your Nagarahole trip, remember that respecting the forest and its animals is important. The Nagarahole National Park is a magical world, and one should definitely visit it for a true adventurous and meaningful vacation.
Best Time to Visit Nagarahole National Park
Nagarahole National Park of Karnataka is the best place for planning a solo vacation or for spending a good time with your friends and family, but to visit this park, you must choose the timing according to your preference. The timing here can make all the difference to your wildlife experience. This park remains open all year round, but the best time to visit Nagarahole is from October to May. During these months, the weather in Nagarahole remains pleasant, and the animal sightings are frequent. The different seasons of the park offers different experience. Read more...
Nagarahole As Biosphere Reserve and Tiger Reserve
In 1986, the famous Nagarahole National Park became part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve , which was the first biosphere reserve in India under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme. Can you imagine, it became a part of the global conservation effort? Now, you might wonder what that means. Well, biosphere reserves are special areas that are recognized internationally for balancing people and nature. By becoming part of this network, Nagarahole joined hands with other forests in the Western Ghats to protect biodiversity on a larger scale.
Then in 2000, the big elephants of the park got attention, and the park was included under ‘Project Elephant’ and became part of the Mysore Elephant Reserve . In 2003, the tiger conservation in Nagarahole National Park of Karnataka became official, it was declared under ‘Project Tiger’ and integrated with the famous Bandipur Tiger Reserve. During this time, a lot of things changed, anti-poaching measures became stronger, and the management of the forest also improved.
Just a few years later, in 2007, the Nagarahole National Park got a new identity. It was declared an independent Tiger Reserve, with a core area of 643.392 square kilometers. And, finally, in the year 2012, an area of 204.589 square kilometers was added as a buffer zone. The total area of the park became 847.981 square kilometers, with a lot of flora and fauna.
A place once used for royal hunts is now a wildlife conservation area and a proud tiger reserve.
How to Reach Nagarahole National Park
To reach Nagarahole National Park comfortably, you can travel by air, rail, or road. This beautiful wildlife destination is well-connected and easy to reach from major cities of South India and from different parts of the World. Here’s a complete guide to help you choose the best route:
 
By Air
The nearest airport to park is Mysore Airport, which is around 90km. And, you can also land at Kempegowda International Airport, which is in Bengaluru. If you’re coming from a different country, then choosing Kempegowda Airport would be the best. From either airport, you can hire a cab to reach the park.
 
By Train
If you’re coming by train, then booking a ticket for Mysuru Junction would be best for you. This one is closest to the park, around 80 to 90 km. However, if you’re coming from the Kerala side, then come to Kannur or Kozhikode railway station. After reaching here, you can take taxis or buses to reach the park.
 
By Road
Nagarahole National Park is a wild spot, and it is well connected by road to Mysore, Coorg (Madikeri), Bangalore, and Wayanad. You can reach the park by road with your private vehicle, or you can hire a cab, or take state-run buses to Kutta, HD Kote, or other nearby entry points of the park.
NOTE : Nagarahole National Park has many gates, and one should choose the reaching option based on the safari gate or the resort location.
FAQ of Nagarahole National Park
The park is located in the Mysore and Kodagu districts of Karnataka.
The Nagarahole National Park is famous for the rich biodiversity. This park offers thrilling safaris which attracts tourists.
You may spot tigers, elephants, leopards, deer, birds, and many other wild animals during safaris.
You can go on gypsy and bus safari to see the animals of Nagarahole National Park.
The best time to visit Nagarahole is from October to May because of pleasant weather and better chances of animal sightings.
Yes, Nagarahole National Park is safe for families and children, just make sure to follow the rules during your safari.
Yes, you have to provide a valid government ID for safari booking. Also keep it when you go for the ride.
Yes, Nagarahole is both a Tiger Reserve and part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Two to Three days are enough to enjoy safaris inside the park and to explore the different zones here.
No, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed as animals move freely in their natural habitat.
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