What to expect
Highlights
- Morning and afternoon safaris in the reserve.
- Elephants, gaur, deer and, with luck, big cats.
- The Nilgiri Biosphere forest scenery.
Bandipur National Park
Bandipur is a famous tiger reserve and former Mysore royal hunting ground on the Mysuru–Ooty highway, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Practical guide
Plan Bandipur National Park
Who's going?Tailor Bandipur National Park to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseGundlupet
DistrictChamarajanagar
Best timeOctober to May
Time neededA safari of 2 to 3 hours, or an…
EntrySafari/entry fee at the reserve
Places to visit2→Jeep and bus safaris through its teak-and-scrub forest offer chances of tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, dhole and abundant deer and birds.
Getting there
How to visit
- On NH-766 about 80 km from Mysuru and 220 km from Bengaluru; book the forest-department safari at the reserve.
- The highway through the park is closed to traffic at night (9 pm–6 am) to protect wildlife — plan drives accordingly.
Distance by road
- Mysuru60 km
- Bengaluru180 km
- Ooty130 km
- Mandya90 km
- Kozhikode200 km
Road km to Chamarajanagar; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to May; the dry months bring animals to water. Safaris run morning and late afternoon.
Weather in Bandipur National ParkSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Bandipur National Park
Sunrise6:13 am
Sunset6:04 pm
Golden hour best light5:04 pm–6:04 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:04 pm–6:29 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌓 First quarter · 54%
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- Take only the official safaris, stay in the vehicle, keep quiet and do not litter; night travel through the park is banned.
Photos
Bandipur National Park in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Bandipur National Park
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Bandipur National Park — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
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Top experiences around Gundlupet
One more place around Gundlupet worth a day of its own.
viewpointHimavad Gopalaswamy Betta
7.8 km · ~19 min by auto
The highest peak of the Bandipur range, about 1,450 m, topped by the Venugopalaswamy temple and often wrapped in mist (himavad = "misty"); reached by a park bus from the checkpost, with sweeping views over the forest.
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Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Bandipur National Park — at a glance
TimingsSafaris morning and late afternoon; park highway shut 9 PM - 6 AM
Best timeOctober to May; dry months bring animals to water
Entry: Safari/entry fee at the reserve
Getting here
How to reach Bandipur National Park
NH-766, ~80 km from Mysuru, ~220 km from Bengaluru
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Bandipur National Park
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at Bandipur National Park
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Bandipur National Park
viewpointHimavad Gopalaswamy Betta
The highest peak of the Bandipur range, about 1,450 m, topped by the Venugopalaswamy temple and often wrapped in mist (himavad = "misty"); reached by a park bus from the checkpost, with sweeping views over the forest.
7.8 km · ~19 min by auto · straight lineA
Anjaneya Swami Temple, Chamarajanagar
Place
templeAnjaneya Swami Temple, Chamarajanagar
The Anjaneya Swami shrine near Doddarasina Kola is a distinct local temple, not Chamarajeshwara under another name. Visit respectfully during confirmed worship access and ask before photographs.
44.4 km · ~74 min by cab · straight lineK
Kolada Ganapathi Temple
Place
templeKolada Ganapathi Temple
A separately mapped Ganapathi shrine near Doddarasina Kola in Chamarajanagar. Keep the worship entrance clear, remove footwear where directed and confirm access before entering.
44.5 km · ~74 min by cab · straight lineV
Veerabhadreshwara Temple, Chamarajanagar
Place
templeVeerabhadreshwara Temple, Chamarajanagar
OpenStreetMap identifies this local Veerabhadreshwara shrine in Kannada near the town centre. It is a smaller worship stop with no verified tourist timetable; follow local instructions at the entrance.
44.6 km · ~74 min by cab · straight line
templeChamarajeshwara Temple
Chamarajeshwara Temple is the living Shiva temple at the centre of Chamarajanagar, where a Mysuru royal dedication, a sculptured entrance tower and an annual chariot festival give the district headquarters a story of its own.
44.9 km · ~75 min by cab · straight line
templeBiligiri Rangaswamy Temple, BR Hills
The hilltop temple of Lord Ranganatha (Biligiri Ranga) that gives the Biligiriranga (BR) Hills their name, set amid the forests of the BRT Tiger Reserve where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet — a Soliga-tribal pilgrimage centre and a base for wildlife safaris.
67.0 km · ~112 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where Bandipur National Park is
Good to know
Bandipur National Park — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Bandipur National Park?
October to May; the dry months bring animals to water. Safaris run morning and late afternoon.
What are the entry fee and timings at Bandipur National Park?
Entry: Safari/entry fee at the reserve. Timings: Safaris morning and late afternoon; park highway shut 9 PM - 6 AM.
How do I reach Bandipur National Park?
On NH-766 about 80 km from Mysuru and 220 km from Bengaluru; book the forest-department safari at the reserve. The highway through the park is closed to traffic at night (9 pm–6 am) to protect wildlife — plan drives accordingly.
How much time do I need for Bandipur National Park?
A safari of 2 to 3 hours, or an overnight stay.
What else is near Bandipur National Park?
Nearby you can pair Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (7.8 km), Anjaneya Swami Temple, Chamarajanagar (44.4 km), Kolada Ganapathi Temple (44.5 km), Veerabhadreshwara Temple, Chamarajanagar (44.6 km).
Read before you go
Bandipur National Park guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Bandipur National Park itself yet. These cover Gundlupet and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Image credits
Photographs: Namisharun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Soumendra Kumar Sahoo (CC BY-SA 4.0), Dineshkannambadi at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0), Jaseem Hamza (CC BY 3.0). Wikimedia Commons.