Karnataka is the home town for bio-diversity. Here we come across many forest areas. As the Western Ghats passes through our land, teh State is the home for many wild animals.
Among the bio-diversity zones, Nagarahole National Park is heaven for those who love nature. Located in Kodagu and Mysuru Districts, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve is Karnataka’s jewel. It is also known as Nagarahole National Park and Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
It is a 247-square mile-long bounty of nature sitting right beside the Kabini River. The park stands on the West side of the river and is one of the best-managed national parks in India. Nagarahole is also one of the best national parks to spot a Black Panther in India.
The Nagarahole National Park experiences moderate temperature variations owing to its geographic location. The summer temperature hardly reaches 33 Degree Celsius. The mercury, in winter, falls to about 14 Degree Celsius and above. Even though the monsoons are erratic in this area, several water sources ensure lush greenery and sufficient hydration for the animals in the reserve.
The reserve gets its name from a concoction of two words: ‘Nagara’ meaning snake and ‘hole’ meaning streams. The name seems aptly chosen when one comes across the many pristine streams that run across the landscape in a serpentine fashion. These streams cut through the tropical forests to go Eastward through the centre of the reserve.
The areas of Nagarahole used to be hunting grounds for Maharajas of Mysore back in history. In those years, it included the forest areas of Arkeri, Hatgat, and Nalkegin in Kodagu. In the year 1974, certain adjoining areas were added to it and the place received a new identity as the Nagarahole Game Reserve. This game reserve was then updated to the status of a National Park in 1988. The update meant further extension of the area by 643.39 kms. The park was made into a tiger reserve in 1999. To date, it has survived its reputation well and maintains a healthy tiger-predator ratio.
Madikeri, Mysuru, and Bandipura are the near by places one can visit during Nagarahole trip. This place can be visited between September to June.
