Wildlife in Karnataka

into the woods. The large forest tracts south of the Vindhyas and the vast forests of South Karnataka are just the tight place to experience Nature in its true form. Some of the most notable wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of Karnataka include B.R. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary situated in the hilly tracts, 5091 feet above sea level and Gaurs and Chitals as its main attractions, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary stretching over Chikmaglur and Shimoga districts of Karnataka and Great Indian Gaurs and Barking Deers as its chief highlights, Dandeli Kali Wildlife Sanctuary known mainly because of its crocodiles and is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka stretching across 5729.07 sq km, Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary and enjoy angling and fishing camps at Bheemeshwari wildlife sanctuary featuring dangerous Masheer fish. Nagarahole and Bandipur National Park together were once a part of Wayanad and stretch across an area of more than 1,500 sq km. The convenient base to reach them is through Mysore.

captivating landscape. The sanctuary is generally undulating with steep slopes with picturesque deep river valleys and rich hilly forest terrain. The breathtaking valleys, regal looking meandering rivers and the splendid scenic beauty of the synthetic rock make it an awe-inspiring experience. The forest in Dandeli is typical moist deciduous and semi evergreen type, with pockets of every green.

Spread over 834.16 sq.km the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary is the second largest in Karnataka and is contiguous with the Mahaveer sanctuary in Goa.
The undulating streams, swaying bamboos, abundance of wildlife, sylvan surroundings and trekking tracts make Dandeli sanctuary a unique holiday destination. River /kali and its tributaries, Kaneri and Nagajhari, meander through the forest. Sighting animals is difficult and always involves an element of luck. The sanctuary is home o the barking, spotted and mouse deer, sloth bear, panther, tiger, gaur, elephant, wild dog, civet cat, bison, jackal, langur and giant flying squirrel, besides a variety of colorful birds and reptiles. The reptilian and amphibian fauna of the region include a variety of ruffles and frogs.
Evening ride in a coracle (a circular boat, woven with bamboo and lined with buffalo hide), down the river Kali is memorable. The leisurely drift of the coracle allows you to watch hornbills returning to nest in tall trees on river banks, observe darters drying their plumes on deadwood entrenched in the river and admire egrets flying against an orange sky. 35 km from Dandeli National Park is Syntheri rocks, awesome monolithic granite structure amidst thick forest, with the perennial river Kaneri flowing by its side. There are innumerable trekking trails and fishing spots at Dandeli.

Attractions

Sloth Bear, Bush Grail, Deer, Elephant, Sambar, Tiger, Gaur, Panther and Partridge are some of themanyinhabitants of the sanctuary.

Main Attractions

Crocodiles

Places Near Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

Ulavi Temple, Karwar and Kali Wilderness Camp for white water rafting and other adventure activities.

The park is open throughout the year for visitors while the best time to visit the place is between mid-June and August when the place is at its greenest and provides a beautiful eye soothing spectacle. The best time to spot wild animals however is between the months of November and June.

A downside about the place is that its close proximity to a major metro has created problems of growing industrialization and urbanization. Incidents of poisoning of animals have been a major concern for the park authorities.

Ranganathittu a favorite abode for birds. Ranganathittu attained the status of a bird sanctuary in 1940, courtesy of the visions of India. s noted ornithologist. Dr. Salim Ali. who, during his survey of the birds of Mysore, advocated for the establishment of such a sanctuary. The sanctuary is now a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers and bird watchers. The large number of birds at the sanctuary appears to have attracted a sizable number of tourists as well. A total of 2,080 foreign tourists, besides 2,02,417 domestic tourists, had visited the bird sanctuary in 1999. 2000, according to officials.

adjoining areas, the sanctuary was reconstituted as the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary boasts of a substantial tiger population and the 25th Project Tiger reserve of India in 1998. Bhadra is popularly known as Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary, after the village on its fringes.

your adventurous spirits. A view from the Kabini River Lodge proves to be absolutely breathtaking. Patches of bright blue pools hidden between the trees, the sun peeping through the thick forest and animals roaming free. Breathe in the refreshing air, whistle with the wind and carry home timeless memories. Elephants playing catch, Leopards on the prowl, Antelopes jumping across the bushes, or maybe even a tigress with her cubs. These are indeed pictures that you'll treasure for a lifetime. And no one can offer it better than Kabini.