Nagarhole National Park, also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located 94 kilometers from Mysore in Karnataka in South India. It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the northwest of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore, the park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls.

The park stretches over 643 square kilometres, protecting the wildlife of Karnataka. Together with the adjoining Bandipur National Park, Mudumalai National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, it forms the largest protected area in Southern India, totaling 2,183 km2 (843 sq mi).

The place derives its name from Naga meaning snake and hole referring to streams. Set up in 1955, it is one of the best-managed parks in the country, with the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests situated in Hunsur, about 47 km away from Nagarhole. The climate is tropical; summer is hot and winter is pleasant. The park has a healthy tiger-predator ratio, and tiger, bison, and elephant are much more populous here than in Bandipur.

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

Tourism

The park is usually closed for safaris during mating season of animals and during monsoon. Traffic movement is restricted to 6 am to 6 pm everyday and the gates are closed on either sides of entry into the forest.

The forest department houses visitors in lodges in the Murkal guest houses and also near the RFO office in the park itself. Safaris are organized in the Forest department vans two time a day; early morning and evening.

Regular education camps are conducted for school children and the forest department provides special concessions for tours organized for school children.