Known to be one of the busiest and fast cities in the world, Bangalore is full of life and filled with the hustle and bustle. To escape the busy life the city offers, there are many zoos and wildlife sanctuaries present around it. Read on to know about the best wildlife sanctuaries near Bangalore.
Popular Wildlife Sanctuaries Near Bangalore
You can take a day off or visit with your family on weekends to gift them the joy of seeing wild animals living in their natural habitats.
Here is a list of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries near Bangalore
Bandipur National Park
Occupying an area of about 874 square kilometres, Bandipur National Park is a Tiger Reserve and is located at a distance of 220 km from the city of Bangalore.
It is the largest habitat for elephants in South Asia. It was primarily established as a hunting reservoir for the rulers, but later on, in 1975 it was declared a National Park.
With a perfect geographical location, the park has different biomes like shrublands, dry deciduous and wet deciduous. Two rivers, Moyar River and Kabini River, flow through the park.
Indian elephants, Tigers, Jackals, Sloth bears, Muggers, Pythons, vultures, serpent-eagles, bee-eaters, Antelopes, monitor lizards, rat snake, Dholes comprise the fauna population. The flora includes sandalwood, teak, bamboo, Kino tree, gooseberry, axle wood, etc.
Other than flora and fauna, there are numerous species of ants, beetles, butterflies that span the national park. NH 181 and NH 212 runs through the park.
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Nagarhole National Park
Located in Mysore, the Nagarhole National Park is a Tiger Reserve that is under consideration by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It has rich biodiversity and forest that spans the park.
Numerous streams and waterfalls add to the ecosystem of the park. There are small hills and valleys located along the park.
Situated on the foothills of Western Ghats, it was established in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary and later on re-established as a national park in 1988.
It has the vegetation of mostly deciduous forests comprising of trees like teak, rosewood, silver oak, sandalwood, axle wood, kino tree, beechwood, gooseberry, tick clover, etc. Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Chital, Sambal Deer, Striped Hyena, Sloth Bear are some of the predominant animals found here.
Apart from these, there are golden jackals, mongoose, grey langur, civets, greater spotted eagles, Malabar grey hornbill, Russell ’s viper, Indian Rock Python, etc.
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Bannerghatta National Park
Spanning an area of more than 260 square kilometres, the Bannerghatta National Park is one of the biggest in the country. It includes a zoo, a pet corner, an animal rescue centre, a butterfly park, a snake house, safari park, and an aquarium.
Within the premises of the park, there are multiple ancient temples and six villages. It is located at a distance of 22 km from Bangalore and thus is perfect for a day’s outing.
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While the flora of the Bannerghatta National Park includes Sandalwood, Tamarind, Bamboo, Eucalyptus, Neem, Arjuna and more, the fauna consists of Elephants, Gaur, Jackal, Fox, Sloth Bear, Langur, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Leopard, Porcupine, Tiger, Peacock, Python, Macaw, Zebra, Hippopotamus, etc.
The safari ride along the 6 km road through the dense forest is a must-have experience. You must also visit the butterfly park, which is one of its kind.
Dubare Elephant Camp
Located on the banks of the River Kaveri, Dubare Elephant Camp is a reserve specially dedicated to the wild elephants of Karnataka. The elephants are trained by naturalists.
You can visit the camp and spend hours just observing the magnificent animals. You can also interact with the trainers to know more about these elephants.
Some of the elephants had been a part of the famous Mysore Dasara and thus have a rich history. You can also take the opportunity to trek in this camp.
A must read Dubare Elephant Camp Timings, Entry Fee, Activities and more
You can interact with the elephants, play with them and stay at the JLR resorts in the forest. The flora is of deciduous type and apart from elephants; one can find tigers, leopards, dogs, gaurs, sambhar, snakes and crocodiles in this jungle.
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
Occupying an area of more than 510 square kilometres, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1987 and is located in Mandya, Karnataka.
The Sanctuary is bordered by the Eastern Ghats and the Kavery River. It is located at a distance of about 230 kilometres from Bangalore.
The sanctuary mostly comprises of dry deciduous forests. The northern parts of the sanctuary have nearly zero vegetation. The most common trees found in the sanctuary are Arjuna, Jambul, Tamarind, Mango, Figs, Acacia, etc.
It serves as home to Tigers, Langur, Antelope, Squirrels, Elephants, Wild Boars, Barking Deers, Sambars, Otters, Black-Naped hare, Leopards, etc.
Mugger crocodiles, Indian Mud Turtles, Rock Python, Russell’s Viper, Banded Kait, are some of the other animals found in River Cauvery along the sanctuary.
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Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in the Mysore district of Karnataka, the Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary spans an area of 14 square kilometres. Famous for its sandalwood and eucalyptus plantations, Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary has a population of more than 230 species of birds.
If you want to enjoy the calmness and serenity amidst nature, without the disturbance of the crowd, then this is the perfect getaway for you.
Home to numerous Leopards, spotted deers, foxes, mongoose, venomous and non-venomous snakes, the sanctuary is a must-visit for wildlife lovers. Egyptian Vultures, Little Cormorants can also be spotted in this sanctuary.
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