Bandipur: India’s Biggest Biosphere Reserve

On the way from Mysore to Ooty, if you find yourself looking up at the high mountains of the Western Ghats and marvelling at the rich natural diversity around, you are possibly in the Bandipur National Park. Contiguous with the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala and Nagarhole National Park in the North, Bandipur carves out India’s biggest biosphere reserve, popularly known as the ‘Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve’.
Watered by 4 rivers – the Moyar, Kabini ,Moolehole and Nugu, Bandipur is an area rich in natural diversity. Catch the majestic tuskers in their seasonal migration from Mudumalai Sanctuary and Satyamangalam forest division in the east and south east to Nagarahole National Park and Wynad Sanctuary in the west and north west. Not only does this reserve support a sizable tiger population, you might also catch a glimpse of the Indian gaur (Bison), sambhar, chital, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild dogs, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, malabar squirrel, porcupines and the black-knapped hare. Birds like jungle fowl and green pigeon are also found here.

More at