Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park covers about 1,456 square kilometres in Chamarajanagar district, at the junction of the Deccan Plateau and the Western Ghats. It began in 1931 as the Maharaja of Mysore's 90 square kilometre Venugopala Wildlife Park, became a Project Tiger reserve in 1973 and joined the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986. The Kabini river marks its northern edge and the Moyar its southern, and the highest point, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, carries a temple on its summit.

Dry and moist deciduous forest with teak, rosewood, sandalwood and bamboo supports Asian elephants, gaur, tigers, sloth bears, four-horned antelope and dholes. Chital, grey langurs and Indian giant squirrels are often seen along the public roads. More than 200 bird species have been recorded, from peafowl and grey junglefowl to vultures, hawk-eagles, ospreys and brown fish owls, along with cobras, pythons and mugger crocodiles.