Bandipur National Park (B.N.P.) is one of India's best known protected areas and is an important Project Tiger reserve. It is located in the Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka in South India.

The park stretches over 874 square kilometres (337 sq mi), protecting the wildlife of Karnataka. Together with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park (643 km2 (248 sq mi)), Mudumalai National Park (320 km2 (120 sq mi)) and Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km2 (133 sq mi)), it forms the largest protected area in Southern India, totaling 2,183 km2 (843 sq mi). It is notable as the home to around seventy Bengal tigers and over three thousand Indian elephants Bandipur is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster, including all of Bandipur National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

Geography

Bandipur National Park is situated south of the Kabini river at the foothills of the Western Ghats. The rivers Kabini, Nagur and Moyar flow through the reserve. Winter minimum temperature is 10 degrees C., Summer maximum 28 degrees. The park is open throughout the year but the best time to visit is in monsoon from June to September when wildlife is plenty and forest is green. Greenery is quite lean when viewed from road but gets thicker as we proceed into the forest.

Flora

There are several species of valuable timber trees including: Teak Tectona grandis, Rosewood Dalbergia latifolia, Sandlewood (Santalum album) (V), Indian-laurel Terminalia tomentosa, Indian Kino Tree Pterocarpus marsupium, giant clumping bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus, clumping bamboo Bambusa arundinacea and Grewia tiliaefolia.

There are also several notable flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs including: Kadam tree Adina cordifolia, Indian gooseberry Emblica officinalis, Crape-myrtle Lagerstroemia lanceolata, axlewood Anogeissus latifolia, Black Myrobalan Terminalia chebula, Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodiar, Flame of the Forest Butea monosperma, Golden Shower Tree Cassia fistula, satinwood Chloroxylon swetenia, Black Cutch Acacia catechu, Shorea talura (E), indigoberry Randia uliginosa

Fauna

There is a large population of Elephants in BNP. Significant numbers of Predator species of Mammals live in BNP including: Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Chevrotain, Dhole and Hyena. Prey species of grazing Ungulates including Gaur, Sambar (deer), Chital, Wild boar, Barking deer and Four-horned Antelope are common in B.N.P.