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Location
: Mysore District, Karnataka
Main species : Flying fox, Egrets,
Whistling Teal
Best Season : June to October
Straddling the
states of Kerala and Karna aka
Nagarahole (pronounced Naagra-holay) and Bandipur National Parks cover
some of the best-preserved tracts of forests in South India. Together
covering more than 1,500 km2of visually vibrant vistas all around,
Nagarahole and Bandipur are visitor's delight.
Nagarahole: Nagarahole, pronounced Naagra-holay, is spread over
640 km2 and was the private hunting preserve of the princely state of
Mysore. The forests are tropical mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen with
scrub and grassy swamplands (haldus). The teak forests of Nagarahole
include some of the oldest plantations of the country dating back to
1800s. In 1974 an irrigation dam was built across Kabini river creating
a water-body that forms a natural boundary between Nagarahole and
Bandipur.
Bandipur: While the jungles of Nagarahole are taller and denser,
Bandipur has superb scenery of mountains, gorges and tropical mixed
deciduous forest. The forests of Bandipur have been protected for over a
hundred years and a small area was declared a sanctuary as long ago as
1898. Today the National Park defends 875 kms of lush countryside at the
junction of the Deccan Plateau and the outer spurs of the Western Ghats.
 Birds: The
Nagarahole-Bandipur region is rich territory for birdwatchers and
provides ample opportunity for new discoveries and adding to the current
list. The Kabini river, the grasslands and the tropical forests offer
unlimited hours of birdwatching, which include ospreys, vultures,
falcons, eagles, buzzards, ducks, geese, partridges, fowl, bee-eaters,
minivets, thrushes and trogons among others.
Mammals: Southern National Parks are ruled by the "jolly
jumbos" but other animals include Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Spotted
Deer, Sambar, Wild Boar, Blacknaped Hare, Indian Porcupine, Pangolin,
Giant Squirrel, Large Brown Flying Squirrel, Giant Fruit Bat, Slender
Loris, Hanuman Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Leopard and
the Tiger. Some other animals are Striped Hyena, Jackal, Jungle Cat,
Leopard Cat, Rusty spotted Cat and the Common Otter.
Reptiles: Some of the reptiles found in the area the Marsh
Crocodile, Monitor Lizard, Rock Python, Rat Snake, Common Krait,
Russel's Viper and Bamboo Pit Viper.
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