Bannerghatta National Park is situated 22 km south of Bangalore , Karnataka , India . The journey to the park takes nearly half an hour from Bangalore . This hilly place is the home for one of the richest natural, zoological reserves. The 25,000 acre (101 km²) zoological park makes this a major tourist attraction of Bangalore.
Landscape
You can find everything from avifauna to panthers in the Bannerghatta National Park . The 25,000 acre park is home to panthers, lions, tigers and a large variety of birds. Indulge your sense of adventure with a lion and tiger safari. Wander through the Zoological Garden, with its canopy of shady and sturdy trees, find a quiet resting spot beside a pond and watch waterfowl frolic. The zoo boasts an amazing reptile collection; a snake park lets you get up close and personal with the scaly, slithery creatures. A children's corner provides an added attraction. Trekking enthusiasts will enjoy Uddigebande (3.5 kms.) a natural rock formation called Hajjamana Kallu (3 kms.) and Mirza Hill (1.5 kms.)
Covering an area of 104 sq kms, including ten reserve forests of Anekal Range of the Bangalore Forest Division, the scenic hills are covered with many ancient temples.
White Tiger at Bannerghatta National Park .
The beautiful Suvarnamukhi stream running through the park, originates in the Suvarnamukhi hills. These hills spread out to a huge rock, about a kilometre long. The Champaka Dharna Swamy temple built in the Dravidian style of the Hoysala age, lies at the foot of the rock. The temple enshrines an image of Vishnu with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. The Suvarnamukhi hill also houses a small shrine dedicated to Narasimha, and two kms away is the Suvarnamukhi pond. The waters of this pond are believed to have curative powers.
A trip to Bannerghata National Park is truly an unforgettable experience for nature, history, botany and wildlife buffs.
The Zoological reserve
The Bannerghatta Tiger and Lion Reserve has a reserve of Indian tigers , lions and other mammals. A mini safari here helps to fund the reserve. The Tiger Reserve of the park has been recognised by the Forest Department of India.
Controversy
In 1992, a young child fell prey to a tiger named Bill, allegedly due to carelessness of the Forest Department staff. The incident raised questions on the security of the mini-safari and its maintenance.
The Zoo
There is a small museum in the zoo which showcases zoological exhibits. The zoo, which is a major attraction in this area, also has a reptile park and a small theatre. The zoo has been criticised for the maintenance of its exhibits. The Zoo closes on Tuesday (weekly Holiday)
The zoo has separate charges for weekdays and weekends ( or Holidays). The prices currently for A grand safari - of Lions, Tigers & Herbivorus costs Rs. 80 on regular days and Rs. 135 on weekends (and other holidays) where as, to move around the zoo would cost you Rs. 25.00. There are also Lion / Tiger Safari and Elephant joy rides.
Location and Area (Bannerghatta National Park):
22 kms. south of Bangalore; 104.27 sq. kms.
Flora and Fauna in Bannerghatta National Park:
Dry deciduous forests and thorny scrub, with patches of moist deciduous forests along the streams.
Mammals in Bannerghatta National Park :
They include the elephant, gaur, leopard, jackal, fox, wild pig, sloth bear, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, common langur, bonnet macaque, porcupine and the hare. The tourist area in the north of the Park has a lion and tiger safari, a herbivore safari, a mini zoo, a reptile park, a mini aviary and a museum.
Best Season for Visit ( Bannerghatta National Park) : Year-round
Holiday: Closed every Tuesday
Fees/Permits
Tariff: Swiss Tent: Indians: Rs. 1000/- Foreign citizens: US $30/- Dormitory: Indians: Rs. 500/- Foreign citizens: US $20/- Day Visit: Indians: Rs. 325/- Foreign citizens: US $15/-
Butterfly Park
The country's first Butterfly Park was established at the Bannerghatta Biological Park. It was inaugurated on Saturday November 25 , 2006 by Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Science and Technology.
The Butterfly Park is spread across 7.5 acres of land. It comprises a butterfly conservatory, museum and an audio-visual room. The butterfly conservatory has a polycarbonate roof and is a 10,000 sq ft (1,000 m²) . circular enclosure, inside which the living environment has been carefully designed to support over 20 species of butterflies. The environment has a tropical setting — complete with the humid climate, an artificial waterfall and host plants and shrubs that attract butterflies. The conservatory leads to the second and third domes, which have a museum that will have dioramas and exhibits
The collaborative agencies are the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, University of Agricultural Sciences and the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment ( ATREE ).
The Safari ride is one of the memorable one for going around in the Bannerghatta Nationle park.
| Distance:- |
22 km from Bangalore |
| By Road: - |
30 min. |
| Route:- |
Take Bannrrghatta road. |
| When to go:- |
Best time: September to January. |
| Tourist offices:- |
KSTDC(bookings and info) Badami House, NR Square, Bangalore Tel: 080-2275869, Fax: 2352626 Email: kstdc@vsnl.in |
| Where to stay :- |
Bannerghatta Nature Camp Bannerghatta, Bangalore - 560 083 Tel: 080-5597021 - 25 (Corporate Office) Fax: 080-5586163 (Corporate Office) Email: junglelodges@vsnl.com Web site: www.junglelodges.com |
