Wildlife in and Around Bangalore

Bangalore is a favoured tourist destination for many reasons, including its famed pubs, the great weather, etc, but not many realise that the city is also a great base if you are interested in wildlife tourism.

Bangalore’s proximity to Mysore, and the many forested regions along the Cauvery makes it a much sought-after destination.

• Bheemeshwari, Muthathi:Very close to Bangalore are two well-known spots, Muthathi and Bheemeshwari fishing camp, where there is a thick forest in the vicinity and the Cauvery running through it. The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest area that covers Ramanagar, Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts. The sanctuary is a mere 100 km away from the city. The waters of the Cauvery here are home to the famed Mahseer, the mighty fish.

• Closer home, Bannerghatta: Closer to Bangalore, or rather in the city itself is the well-known Bannerghatta National Park. There is a nice safari in the park, apart from a nature camp. The forest is a crucial corridor for pachyderms, and links Sathyamangalam and B R Hills area.

• Worth every buck: Also in the vicinity of Bangalore is the Jayamangali Reserve, famous for conservation of black bucks. The reserve is located in the district of Tumkur, easily accessible to Bangalore, over 135 km from the city.

Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve (Photo Courtesy: http://www.jlrexplore.com)

• Nagarhole, the tiger haunt: Ask anyone in the Bangalore-Mysore region about wildlife tourism, and they are bound to tell you about Nagarhole. Over 200 km from the city, the Nagarhole National Park is the perfect place to go to if you are interested in spotting a tiger or two! You can go on safaris organised by the government staff. The National Park is spread over 640 sq km, and has a good population of elephants, langurs, and birds of over 250 species. 

Nagarhole National Park (Photo Courtesy: http:// www.walkthewilderness.net)

Tiger Safari at Nagarhole National Park (Photo Courtesy: https://www.tourmyindia.com)

• Bandipur beckons: You can’t talk of Nagarhole and miss out on Bandipur. The National Park is also a tiger reserve, and your best chances of spotting the tiger in Karnataka are here. Bigger than Nagarhole, Bandipur is spread over 874 sq km, and adjoins the Mudumalai, Wayanad and Nagarhole parks. Together, these forested regions are categorised under the Nilgiri Reserve (biosphere). 

• Make it to Masinagudi: You can easily plan a trip to Masinagudi, which is at the foothills of Mudumalai (about a five-hour drive from Bangalore). Masinagudi has thick forests, and lakes, and is a great place for birding. There is also a government-organised safari here, and you can spot elephants on the journey.

Bird Watching at Masinagudi (Photo Courtesy: http://www.lakshmisharath.com)

• Elephant spotting at Dubare: Talking of elephants, you should also not miss the exclusive camp for elephants at Dubare near Kushalnagar, Kodagu district. A four-and-a-half-hour drive from Bangalore will take you there. If you have kids accompanying you, they will love the camp at Dubare. You can trek, indulge in some fishing or go on an elephant ride here. All the activities are organised by the Forest Department of Karnataka.

Dubare Elephant Camp (Photo Courtesy: http://www.birdofparadise.in)

You can make Bangalore your base and take up any of these tours over a weekend. There are plenty of hotels in Bangalore to choose from. So, book yourself in one of the Bangalore hotels and go wild!

Read More

Popular Attractions in Mysore

Mysore is the heart of culture and heritage and is one of Karnataka’s, if not the whole of India’s most popular tourist attractions. The city is known for many things: its Dasara, charming old lanes, sandalwood, its yoga centers, the famed Mysore silk, palaces, the jasmine (Mysore mallige), and the food among others. No wonder then that the city found itself on the New York Times’ list of 31 places to visit in the world, back in 2010. The city found itself at the No. 4 spot.

Mysore mallige (Photo Courtesy: http://toptropicals.com)

If you are a yoga aficionado, you must take a trip to the centre for Ashtanga Yoga, popularised by Pattabhi Jois the yoga master. You could just walk the streets and observe life go, in an R K Narayan-esque way, if one may say so. The famed author of Malgudi Days lived in Mysore, and the city’s old-world languid lifestyle makes a presence in the author’s books. Book your tickets on one of the flights to Mysore if you want to experience all of the above. The list of places to visit in Mysore is no small one, and the options are endless. Instead we’ll pick the top five places you must visit while in the city.

Ambavilas Palace: The palace defines the splendour of Mysore, and is said to have been the official residence of the Wodeyars of Mysore, the kings who ruled the city. The palace has durbar halls, gardens, courtyards and huge arches.

Ambavilas Palace (Photo Courtesy: http://pixels.com)

Jaganmohan Palace: This palace was used when the Ambavilas Palace was being reconstructed after a fire reduced the old palace to ashes. The Jaganmohan Palace was built in 1861, and houses an art gallery today.

Jaganmohan Palace (Photo Courtesy: http://worldfortspalaces.blogspot.in)

Chamundi Hills: The hills that are always a presence in R K Narayan’s books are inspired by the Chamundi Hills. The temple atop the hill is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, and has been the deity of the Wodeyars for centuries.

Chamundi Hills (Photo Courtesy: http://www.itslife.in)

Lalitha Mahal: This is a heritage property and with a huge stairway made of marble, a ballroom with three domed skylights. The palace was built back in the 1920s for the stay of the then Viceroy of India. Later, it became a guest house for European guests.

Lalitha Mahal (Photo Courtesy: http://www.fullstopindia.com)

KRS and Brindavan Gardens: No trip to Mysore is complete without a visit to the Krishna Raja Sagara dam, also known as KRS to the locals. The chief engineer of the dam was none other than the famed Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, or Sir M V. The Brindavan Gardens in the vicinity is a nice park with the famous musical fountain.

Musical Fountain in Brindavan Gardens, Mysore(Photo Courtesy: http://www.veethi.com)

Mysore Dasara

A special mention must be made of Mysore Dasara, an event that brings hordes of tourists, both national and international to Mysore. Called Nada Habba, or the state festival, Mysore Dasara, the celebrations are being held for over 400 years now. The main attraction is the palace, which is all lit up with one lakh light bulbs.

Mysore Palace lit with 1 lakh Bulbs (Photo Courtesy: http://blog.theotherhome.com)

The festival also includes music concerts, dance shows and a range of other cultural activities, so book your tickets during the Dasara festivities on one of the Mysore flights and have fun!

Read More