Bannerghatta National Park

Area of the park: 104.27 sq km
Year of Establishment: 1974
Best season to visit: The weather of the park remains moderate all through the year ranging from 20 to 32 Degree Celsius, yet the best time to visit the park is between September and January.

Located in the district of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka, India, Bannerghatta National Park is a popular national park home to a large number or rare and endangered animals like the tiger, lion, bison, leopard, and wild boar. Bannerghatta National Park has also managed to capture the imagination of animal lovers for it acts as an important corridor for the elephants migrating from the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats. Founded in 1971, the park was given the status of a national park in 1974. More recently in 2002, a segment of the park has been transformed into a biological reserve, the Bannerghatta Biological Park. The park is also unique in the sense that it hosts a zoo, a butterfly enclosure, an aquarium, a snake house, a safari park, in addition to a full-fledged animal rescue centre. The rescue center since in inception has saved the lives of many wild animals, especially those from circuses.

Geography

The elevation of the park ranges from 1245 m to 1634 m, and it is located 22 km to the south of Bangalore. The landscape is dominated by hilly terrains, and there are three types of vegetation that can be found: Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests, and Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests. There are 16 villages that lie on the edge of the park. The channel that facilitates the migration of elephants is a part of the wildlife corridor and connects BR Hills with Sathyamangalam forest.

Important water sources

Suvarnamukhi stream, the main source of water for the animals of the park, runs through the center of the park and originates at Suvarnamukhi hills, which extend to over a km in length. At a distance of around two km from the hills is the Suvarnamukhi, the water of which according to legends has curative powers. Also, to supplement the natural water sources and to counter exigencies, four bore wells have been constructed this year in the park.

Spirituality and adventure come together in the park.

Animal lovers would be able to get in touch with their spiritual side in the park as there are a number of ancient temples scattered across the park. Also, keeping in mind the winding mountains and consistently varying attitude of the park, it has been turned in a trekking destination and in the process garnering a lot of eyeballs and appreciation.

Flora of the park

Mainly three types of vegetation have been observed in the park: Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests, and Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests.

Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests or Scrub Type: This type of vegetation is symbolic of stunted growth and is found in areas which are near human habitation. Repeated felling and chopping of trees by humans, as well as grazing by livestock are responsible for this type of vegetation. Some of the important trees belonging to this category are Anogeisses latifolia, Chloroxylon sweitenia, Acacia leucophloea, Acacia catechu, Stereospermum chelonoides, Zizyphus spp, Diospyros spp, Santalum album, Shorea talura, Azadirachta indica, and Terminalia spp. The dry deciduous nature of the park means that grass grows in abundance here. The scrub forests again turn out to be a live saver for the herbivores during the rainy season when food is scarce, since they provide a sustainable foraging habitat.

Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests: In this particular type of vegetation, the canopy opening is between 10 -40 % and trees begin to shed their leaves with the onset of the dry season. Important trees of this type include Terminalia spp, Pterocarpus marsupium, Dalbergia latifolia, Dolbergia paniculata, Gmelina arborea, and Lagestroemia parviflora. A peculiarity with these types of trees is the undergrowth is mostly made up of grasses with a tinge of lantana breaks strewn in between. This second type of vegetation can be found in the valley, along the banks of the stream all through the park.

Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests: This mixed deciduous type can be found in patches all across the park and have a canopy opening of 35% and more. The ones that occupies the upper end of canopy opening includes the like of Tectona grandis, Terminalia spp, Pterocarpus marsupium, Dalbergia latifolia, Lagestroemia lanceolata, Pterocarpus marsupium, and Bombax malabaricum, while at the other end of the spectrum, those with lower canopy, are Emblica officinalis, Mallotus philippinensis, Kydia calycina, and Randia dumetorium.

Hotels & Resorts in Bannerghatta National Park

Icons Summary Restaurant Internet Service Tea/Coffe Machine Business Centre Swimming pool Travel Desk Doctor on Call Baby Sitting Health club Bar Safe Deposit Amphitheatre Library Std/Isd Money Exchange

Bannerghatta Nature Camp

Wildlife in Bannerghatta National Park

Bannerghatta National Park hosts a wide variety of rare and endangered animals. Here we take a look at some of the important members of the park.

Mammals: The biggest land mammal, the elephant is a resident of the park and its annual migration from the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats is an important ecological phenomenon which has been well documented. This natural phenomenon has contributed towards the park becoming a hot destination for research related activities, apart from helping it stay in the public consciousness. Among the predators, the leopard is the lone member of the big cat family found in the park and is placed at the top of its food chain. It is followed by other smaller predators like the Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Wild Dog, Jackal, and Striped Hyena. Prey species include the Chital, Sambar, and Mouse Deer.

Birds of the park

The avifauna of the park is very colorful with more than a hundred bird species being found in the park. The Peafowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Partridges, Quails, Flycatchers, Wood Peckers, Ibis, Storks, Sunbirds, Flower-Peckers, Thrushes, Eagles, Cuckoos, Parakeets, Orioles, Minivets, Wagtails, and Drongos are notable names that can be easily spotted here.

Reptiles

A handful of reptiles are also native to the park, important among them being the Land monitor lizard, crocodiles, tortoise, python, rat snake, cobra, krait, and viper. These animals are mostly found in the water holes of the park.

Amphibians and insects

Commonly found amphibians of the park include frogs, toads, and salamander. As for insects, there are a large number of butterflies, bees, and ants native to the park.

Animal-Human confrontation: Conflict situation normally arises when animals stray out of the park in search of food or because they are driven by sheer curiosity and come in contact with human establishments that are close to the park. But with park authorities pulling up their shocks and many effective anti-confrontational measures put in place, such incidents are on the decline.

Bannerghatta National Park Travel Info

How to reach

It is barely 22 km from Bangalore, one of the biggest cities in India. As such, there is no dearth of options for reaching the park, be it by road, rail, or air.

By Air: Kempegowda International Airport, which is 59 km away from the park, is the nearest airport. Being an international airport, apart from having flights to all the major destinations in India, it also covers a number of international destinations as well.

By Rail: The distance between the park and the nearest railway station, the Bangalore City Railway Station, is about 29 km. It is one of the busiest railway stations in the country and as such is well connected to all the major destinations. On reaching the station, one needs to travel by bus to the park.

By Road: The Bannerghatta National Park is situated at a distance of about 22 km from Bangalore. Public transport buses regularly ply from the heart of the city to the park, and if one wants to one can even book oneself an Air-Conditioned Volvo bus for a pleasurable and comfortable ride to and from the park.