Highlights: Madikere, Bandipur National Park and Mysore

How To Reach:

By Air: Mysore and Bangalore are the nearest airports.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Mysore (at a distance of 80 kilometers)

By Bus: Nagarhole can be approached from all parts of the country. The sanctuary is well connected to various states by a fine network of roads.

The foundation stone of the Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary was laid in 1955. Later on in 1975 the area of the sanctuary was expanded. Nagarhole word is derived from the compounding of two Kannada words Nagar (meaning snake) and hole (meaning streams). A few streams flow through this park in a serpent like zigzag movement. The park is recently renamed after the late prime minister of India and is known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of Arikeri, Hatgat and Nalkeri reserve forests, along with adjoining Mysore reserve forests.

Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary is ranked among India's best wildlife parks. There are approximately 250 species of birds in the Park. In the North of the park there is Kabini River and towards the South there is Bandipur national park. The dam built on the Kabini River acts as a dividing line between the two well-known National Parks.

Commonly found birds in the Park are 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. The Park has a large elephant and bison population.

The Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary provides home to a number of 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, pangolin, Cobras, crocodiles, kraits, pythons, vipers, and several species of lizards.

A visit to the Park should be made before dusk as the road leading to lodges closes at 6 p.m.Throughout the year you can visit the sanctuary but avoid paying a visit during monsoons.

Here is a list of various Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks:

Ranthambore National Park	Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary	Sariska Tiger Reserve	Corbett National Park	Gir National Park
Bandipur National Park	Bandhavgarh National Park	Kanha National Park	Kaziranga National Park	Manas National Park
Sultanpur National Park	Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary	Sunderbans	Shivpuri Wildlife Sanctuary	Nagarjuna Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
Ranganathittu Wildlife Sanctuary	Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary	Sasangir Wildlife Sanctuary	Tal Chhapar Sanctuary	Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Dudhwa National Park	Indravati National Park	Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary	Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary	Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Eravikulam National Park	Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary	Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary	Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary	Silent Valley National Park