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
A famous tiger reserve and former Mysore royal hunting ground on the Mysuru–Ooty highway, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere; jeep and bus safaris in the teak-and-scrub forest offer chances of tigers, leopards, elephants, gaur and dhole. This wildlife guide is organized from Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district, with practical planning for routes, timing, nearby stays, food, operators and direct local inventory. Use it to compare what to see, how long to spend, when to go and which verified stays, local guides, jeep or taxi operators, food stops, permits and safety-aware activity providers should be verified around Bandipur National Park.
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→Bandipur is a famous tiger reserve and former Mysore royal hunting ground on the Mysuru–Ooty highway, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
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
Sunset6:32 pm
Golden hour best light5:32 pm–6:32 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:32 pm–6:57 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌗 Last quarter · 55%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Karnataka. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.
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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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
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Bandipur National Park is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- 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
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
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
On 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), Chamarajeshwara Temple (44.9 km), Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple, BR Hills (67.0 km).
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.