Official Guide Collection for Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, India

Tiger reserve and wildlife sanctuary in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park represents one of India's most important protected areas for large mammal conservation. Located in the southern Indian state of Karnataka within Chamarajanagar district, the park encompasses approximately 1,456 square kilometers of varied terrain where the Deccan Plateau transitions into the Western Ghats mountain range. This geographic positioning creates a unique ecological setting that supports multiple forest types and a remarkable diversity of wildlife species. The park was formally established as a tiger reserve in 1973 under India's Project Tiger initiative, which aims to protect endangered tiger populations and their habitats. However, the area's conservation heritage extends much further back, having been established as the Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1931, making it one of the oldest protected areas in the region. The park forms an integral component of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a sprawling protected landscape that encompasses parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka and represents one of India's most significant ecological zones. The Karnataka Forest Department manages the park in coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, implementing conservation programs focused on habitat protection, wildlife monitoring, and community engagement. Bandipur's ecological significance extends beyond its boundaries, serving as a critical wildlife corridor that facilitates gene flow between disconnected protected areas and maintains ecological connectivity across the Western Ghats region.