What to expect
Highlights
- Jeep safaris from the Kutta / Nanachi gates.
- Elephants, gaur, deer, wild dogs and rich birdlife.
- A chance (never guaranteed) of tiger or leopard.
Nagarhole National Park
Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park is a major tiger reserve of teak and rosewood forest straddling Kodagu and Mysuru districts; its Kodagu side is entered from the Kutta and Nanachi gates in the far south of the district. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Practical guide
Plan Nagarhole National Park
Who's going?Tailor Nagarhole National Park to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseSrimangala
DistrictKodagu
Best timeOctober to May
Time neededA half day for a safari, or an overnight…
EntrySafari and camera charges apply
Places to visit4→Forest-department jeep safaris offer a good chance of elephants, gaur, spotted and sambar deer, wild dogs and abundant birds, with tigers and leopards the elusive stars. The Kabini backwaters on the Mysuru side form the park’s other, better-known face.
Getting there
How to visit
- The Kutta gate is about 45 km south of Gonikoppal / Srimangala; safaris are booked through the forest department, usually as a resort stay.
- Safari slots are limited and timed — book ahead and arrive for the morning or afternoon drive.
Distance by road
- Mysuru120 km
- Bengaluru260 km
- Mangaluru135 km
- Kannur115 km
- Ooty210 km
Road km to Kodagu; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to May; the dry months concentrate wildlife near water. The park may close on some days — confirm.
Weather in Nagarhole National ParkSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Nagarhole National Park
Sunrise6:15 am
Sunset6:36 pm
Golden hour best light5:36 pm–6:36 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:36 pm–7:01 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 279°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 77%
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
- Safari and camera charges apply; follow forest rules — stay in the vehicle and keep quiet on drives.
Photos
Nagarhole National Park in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Nagarhole National Park
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Nagarhole National Park — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
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Top experiences around Srimangala
3 more places around Srimangala, each worth a day of its own.
waterfallIruppu Falls
27.6 km · 50 min drive
A 52 m waterfall on the Lakshmana Tirtha in south Kodagu near Srimangala, sacred for its Rameshwara Shiva temple and set at the foot of the Brahmagiri hills; it is the starting point of the Brahmagiri trek and is fullest during and after the monsoon.
trekBrahmagiri Peak
53.6 km · 643 min walk
A shola-grassland peak and wildlife sanctuary on the Kodagu–Wayanad border, trekked from Iruppu Falls in south Kodagu; the ridge marks the state line, with rich birdlife and views over both Karnataka and Kerala (forest permits required).
wildlifeSAI Sanctuary
30.9 km · ~52 min by cab
A private rainforest reserve of about 120 hectares near Brahmagiri in south Kodagu, created to protect Western Ghats forest and wildlife; it offers guided nature walks and eco-stays amid elephants, birds and rich flora.
Roampedia is commission-free — own or know a stay, eatery, guide or shop near Nagarhole National Park? List it and it appears here once verified.
Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Nagarhole National Park — at a glance
TimingsSafari slots morning and afternoon; book ahead
Best timeOctober to May; may close some days
Entry: Safari and camera charges apply
Getting here
How to reach Nagarhole National Park
Kutta gate ~45 km south of Gonikoppal/Srimangala
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Nagarhole 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 Nagarhole 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 Nagarhole 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 Nagarhole National Park
Walking and driving times are real routed distances, except the few marked “straight line”, which are direct-line estimates and will read short. Routing: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
On the map
Where Nagarhole National Park is
Good to know
Nagarhole National Park — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Nagarhole National Park?
October to May; the dry months concentrate wildlife near water. The park may close on some days — confirm.
What are the entry fee and timings at Nagarhole National Park?
Entry: Safari and camera charges apply. Timings: Safari slots morning and afternoon; book ahead.
How do I reach Nagarhole National Park?
The Kutta gate is about 45 km south of Gonikoppal / Srimangala; safaris are booked through the forest department, usually as a resort stay. Safari slots are limited and timed — book ahead and arrive for the morning or afternoon drive.
How much time do I need for Nagarhole National Park?
A half day for a safari, or an overnight stay.
What else is near Nagarhole National Park?
Nearby you can pair Iruppu Falls (27.6 km), SAI Sanctuary (30.9 km), Brahmagiri Peak (53.6 km), Dubare Elephant Camp (75.2 km).
Read before you go
Nagarhole National Park guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Nagarhole National Park itself yet. These cover Srimangala, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Photographs: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my phot (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.
Image credits
- Nagarhole National Park:Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0