Nagarhole National Park
Location :
Located in Kodagu and Mysore districts is a fresh, green world rich in
forests, little streams, undulating valleys and fascinating waterfalls.
About Nagarhole National Park :
The Nagarhole National Park shares its huge boundary with the famous
Bandipur National Park in Karanataka including the Mudumalai Sanctuary
in Tamil Nadu and the Wayanad Reserve in Kerala; making it one of the
largest wildlife sanctuaries in India. The gushing Kabini river creates
a natural barrier between the two wildlife sanctuaries - Bandipur and
Nagarhole - in Karnataka. Home to the jungle king, the Tiger and around
250 exclusive bird species, the Nagarhole National Park in Kerala covers
about 643 kms of area. Deriving its name from Kannada, 'Naga' meaning
snake and 'hole' referring to streams, Nagarhole is truly a delightful
spot, bubbling with the activity of some of the most magnificent animals
and trees.
Climate : The summer (March. May) temperature does
not cross the 33°C mark. The brief winter, which lasts from
November to January, has temperature plummeting to 14°C. Monsoon is
erratic, but it generally rains from June to September.
Fauna :
The forest is home to animals like the four-horned antelope, sloth
bear, jungle cat, civet, spotted deer, elephant, wild dog, flying fox,
tiger, panther, gaur (Indian bison), sambhar, wild boar, black-naped
hare, bonnet macaque, and pangolin.
Cobras, crocodiles, kraits, pythons, vipers, and several species of
lizards are also found here. Among the 250 bird species found here, the
prominent ones are the common babbler, bee-eater, bulbul, dove, crested
serpent, hornbill, Malabar pied, alexandrine, peacock, woodpecker,
warbler, great Indian reed, eagle, crested hawk, golden-back parakeet,
and the southern tree pie.
Flora :
The predominant vegetation in the Nagarhole National Park is of
southern tropical, moist, mixed deciduous type with a substantial
eastern portion intergrading into dry deciduous type. The upper tree
canpy is dominated by Terminalia tomentosa is association with Tectonia
grandis, Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Lagerstroemia
lanceolata, Anogeissus latifolia, Adina cordifolia, Boambax malabaricum,
Schleichera trijuga, Ficus sp. and others. The lower canopy has Kydia
calycina, Emblica officinalis, Gmelina arborea etc. Several shrubs
belonging to Solanum, Desmodium and Helicteres sp. etc. are abundantly
found but weedy shrubs like Eupatorium and Lantana now dominate.
Accommodation :
The Forest Department manages two rest houses, but reservation has to
be made well in advance through the Forest Department offices in Mysore
or Bangalore to stay here. The Kabini River Lodge near Karapur on the
Mysore–Manathavadi highway also has good accommodation facilities.
However, this lodge cannot be reached by public transport, so you will
need to rent a car to get there. It is situated 65 km from the park’s
reception center. Another option is a lodge at Kutta, 10 km from the
reception center. Alongside the Nagarhole main road is another resortthe
Jungle Inn (at Veeranahosahalli) that is right at the main
entrance of the park. It has colonial lodges, private rooms and
dormitories with modern amenities.
Getting There :
Air :
The nearest airport is Bangalore airport about 225 km, which is linked
to most parts of the country.
Rail :
The nearest Rail-head is Mysore about 95 km.
Road :
The nearest town is Kutta about 7 km. Major towns that are accessible
by road are Mysore about 95 km and Bangalore about 225 km.
