Located about 96 kms from Mysore in Karnataka, Nagarahole National Park is spread over 644 sq km. Home to a large number of birds and animals, Nagarahole National Park Karnataka is part of the Mudumalai Sanctuary. The word, Nagarahole is a combination of two Kannada words: Naga – means snake, and Hole – means streams. The Nagarhole National Park India shares its boundary with Bandipur National Park.
Lying within the Coorg and Mysore districts, Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1955. In 1974, Mysore forests were included in the park as the area of the park was extended. The original forest was a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Mysore. The Nagarhole National Park has now been renamed and is known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
A few rivers flow through the national park and among them Kabini is the largest river. A dam was built on it in the year 1974. Other rivers include Lakshmana, Teentha and Nagarahole.
The park has deciduous forest and a beautiful landscape. The Nagarhole National Park is home to diverse flora and fauna. The wild animals that can be spotted in the park include elephant, panther, tiger, chital, sambar, sloth bear, jungle cat, leopard, jackal and wild dog. Besides wild animals, the Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a large number of birds. There are about 250 species of birds are present in the park. Some of the birds that can be spotted include Malabar trogon, crested serpent-eagle, crested hawk-eagle and Malabar pied-hornbill.
Places around Nagarahole National Park
You can also visit Bandipur National Park from Nagarahole. You can also plan to visit Mysore, a wonderful tourist attraction, from Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Madikere is also a beautiful scenic place, about 93 kms away, to visit.
Tips
The ideal time to arrive at the park is before dusk, because the road leading to lodges closes at 6 pm. People who are interested in trekking avoid to visit the park during monsoons. And the best time to visit Nagarahole is September-May. During summer (March-May) the temperature does not rise above 33°C. Winter lasts from November-January and temperature drops to 14°C.
How To Reach Nagarhole National Park
Mysore and Bangalore, which are two nearest airports and railway stations from Nagarahole, can be easily reached from any part of the country as well as from across the globe. Nagarahole is well connected with other parts of the state by road as well.
A number of lodges and rest houses are also there within the park. Two rest houses are also run by the forest department, which can be booked in advance.
Birds in Nagarhole National Park
Flora in Nagarhole National Park
Wildlife in Nagarahole National Park
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