Tiger Reserves In India

Karnataka Bannerghatta Tiger & Lion Reserve

Introduction

The Bannerghatta Tiger and Lion Reserve, is located in southern Karnataka, just outside Bangalore - the state capital. The terrain there is hilly and dry with moderate forest cover.

Being located very near to a metropolitan area, the Bannerghatta Reserve is also home to a Zoological Reserve and Park. There are many species available for easy viewing of visitors, apart from the Tiger and Lion Safari that one can take into the National Park. The total area of the Bannerghatta Reserve is s little over 104 sq km and is an important Elephant corridor that is a part of a larger cluster including the Waynad Sanctuary.

History

The Bangalore city was a summer headquarters of the British Colonial government of India and among the regions around it, which were forest and game reserves, was Bannerghatta. After independence, the government of Karnataka notified it as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974. Much later in 2002, the Bannerghatta National Park was created along with the zoological park. In 2006 India’s first ever Butterfly Park was established in the Bannerghatta Zoo.

Weather And Best Time To Visit

The weather of the region is typical of the Deccan Plateau and it is characteristically dry most of the year. The only rains are in monsoon and the winters are especially pleasant. The summers are hot and dry. The best time to visit is from October to May, although tourists flock here all year round.

Places To Visit

The Bannerghatta Tiger and Lion Reserve have quite a lot of attractions nearby.

First, being the Bannerghatta Zoo with all its sub-parks like the Reptile Park, Butterfly Park and the Zoological Museum, is an easy way to watch animal in captivity.

The city of Bangalore has many attractions for tourists, from historical sites to museums, palaces and so on.

How To Reach

By Air

The Bangalore international airport is the nearest airport, which is only 22 km away from Bannerghatta.

By Train

There are two railway stations in Bangalore and either is convenient. The specific trains arrive and depart from different stations.

By Bus

The Bangalore city buses and state transport buses of Karnataka government have routes from the city’s two principal bus depots towards Bannerghatta Zoo and Tiger and Lion Reserve.

Flora And Fauna

Flora

The vegetation in the Bannerghatta Reserve is that of deciduous broad-leafed trees mixed with dwarfed deciduous trees, a part of the Sathyamangalam forest. The region is characteristically dry because the soil there does not have enough water retention capacity. There are occasional bamboo colonies near natural and artificial sources of water.

Fauna

Mammals

The chief animals in Bannerghatta are Asiatic Elephant, Tigers, Lions various species of deer like the Four Horned Antelope, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer and other animals like Leopard, Bison and so on.

Wildlife

The wildlife in the Bannerghatta Reserve is quite vivid and easily spotted. One of the concerns is that a heavy inflow of visitors is disturbing the solitude of the animals in their habitat and there have been reports of tourists getting too close to tigers with fatal consequences. The Zoo is also an important factor, with its Butterfly and Reptile Parks.

Timings

The Bannerghatta National Park and Reserve is open all year and there is a weekly off on Tuesday. Daily timings are from 9 AM to 7 PM.

Where To Stay

Bangalore is a very comfortable and convenient place for tourists to stay at.

Map

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