About
Nagarhole
National
Park:
Nagarhole
national
park
(NNP),
the enchanting
247 square-mile
park in
Karnataka
has an
astonishing
abundance
of wildlife
including
large
mammals
such as
tiger,
leopard,
wild elephant,
dhole
(Indian
wild dog),
and gaur
(Indian
bison).
Other
species
present
are chital
spotted
deer,
muntjac
(barking
deer),
mouse
deer,
four-horned
antelope,
wild boar,
sloth
bear,
hyena,
mongoose,
civet,
otter,
and more.
The landscape
is one
of gentle
slopes
and shallow
valleys.
Dry deciduous
forest
trees
are leafless
in the
summer
rather
than in
the winter.
There
are grassy
swamps
where
the soil
is clayey,
perennially
moist,
and which
support
a luxuriant
growth
of green
grass
all year.
The change
in terrain
throughout
the park
in refreshing
and the
river
system
provides
a unique
wildlife
viewing
experience.
Nagarhole
National
Park
derives
its name
from the
combination
of two
Kannada
words.
'Nagar,'
meaning
snake,
and 'hole,'
meaning
streams.
True to
its name,
quite
a few
serpentine
streams
fork through
the rich
tropical
forests
of the
park.
Nagarhole
Park was
set up
in 1955.
In 1975,
its area
was increased
to include
a greater
expanse
of forest
reserve.
The original
forest
was once
an exclusive
hunting
ground
for the
erstwhile
Maharajas
of Mysore.
The park
has been
recently
renamed
as Rajiv
Gandhi
NationalPark
after
the late
Prime
Minister
of India.
Nagarhole
National
Park
is counted
among
India.
s best
wildlife
parks.
It has
a large
elephant
and bison
population.
It also
hosts
a variety
of animal
species
along
with approximately
250 species
of birds.
On its
northern
confines
is the
Kabini
River
and on
its southern
fringes
is the
Bandipur
national
park.
A dam
on the
Kabini
River
and its
picturesque
reservoir
demarcates
the two
national
parks.
During
the dry
season
(February.
June),
this artificial
lake attracts
a large
number
of animals,
making
it an
ideal
spot for
sighting
wildlife.
Climate
in Nagarhole
National
Park:
The summer
(March.
May) temperature
does not
cross
the 33°C
mark.
The brief
winter,
which
lasts
from November
to January,
has temperature
plummeting
to 14°C.
Monsoon
is erratic,
but it
generally
rains
from June
to September.
Flora
in Nagarhole
National
Park:
The predominant
vegetation
in the
Nagarhole
National
Park is
of southern
tropical,
moist,
mixed
deciduous
type with
a substantial
eastern
portion
intergrading
into dry
deciduous
type.
The upper
tree canpy
is dominated
by Terminalia
tomentosa
is association
with Tectonia
grandis,
Dalbergia
latifolia,
Pterocarpus
marsupium,
Lagerstroemia
lanceolata,
Anogeissus
latifolia,
Adina
cordifolia,
Boambax
malabaricum,
Schleichera
trijuga,
Ficus
sp. and
others.
The lower
canopy
has Kydia
calycina,
Emblica
officinalis,
Gmelina
arborea
etc. Several
shrubs
belonging
to Solanum,
Desmodium
and Helicteres
sp. etc.
are abundantly
found
but weedy
shrubs
like Eupatorium
and Lantana
now dominate.
Fauna
in Nagarhole
National
Park:
The important
predators
and carnivora
in the Nagarhole
National
Park are
tiger, leopard,
wild dog
(dhole or
Cuon alpinus),
sloth bear
and the
hyena (Hyaena
hyaena).
The herbivores
are spotted
deer, sambar,
barking
deer, four-horned
antelope
(Tetracerus
quadricornis),
gaur (Bos
gaurus),
wild boar
(Sus scrofa)
and elephant.
Nagarhole
National
Park provides
an opportunity
to see some
of the southern
population
of Gaur
(jungle
Bison).
Also, this
park in
Karnataka
is a good
place to
see elephants
in the luxuriant
forests
and bamboo
thickets
which they
most enjoy.
Their total
population
in southern
India is
now about
6500,nearly
all living
in the area
where Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu
and Kerala
adjoin in
the shadow
of the Western
Ghats.
Wildlife
Resorts
in Nagarhole
National
Park:
Nagarhole
National
Park Weekend
Tour Packages:
