Popular National Parks in the “Land of Sandalwood” Karnataka

Updated [26/July/23] Karnataka is one of the most beautiful states in India. Earlier till the year 1973, this state was popularly named the state of Mysore. The state is the 6th largest Indian state as it covers an area of 191,791 square kilometers. It also holds the 8th position as the largest state according to the population of the state. The state covers 5.83% of the total area of India. It is well known for its rich architecture. The state is not only popular for its architecture but also offers many places to visit its visitors such as B R Hill, Chikmagalur, Coorg, Agumbe, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Madikeri, Nandi Hills, Kundadri Hill, Anthargange, etc.

For people who are into natural wonders, you will be amazed to know that the national park is home to 6 National parks, 18 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 9 Bird Sanctuaries. Isn’t it amazing that you can have it all in the same state? In this state, you can find things and place to explore for every individual. But today we will be focusing on the people who are nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. So in this blog, we will be discussing some popular national parks in Karnataka.

Some Famous Natural Wonders in the State of Karnataka:

Bandipur National Park: It is the largest national park in Karnataka. It is situated in the district of Chamarajanagar. Reaching this national park is very easy and if you are traveling via air then you can go to Mysore Airport as it is the nearest airport to the national park. The airport is just 63.7 kilometers away from the park. If you are traveling via train then you should go for Mysore railway station, though it is the second closest railway station but most tourists prefer this railway station because Nanjangud railway station services are available for a few trains only. So even though it is just 5 kilometers away from the national park people still prefer the railway station which is situated at a distance of 80 kilometers from the beautiful national park.

It is one of the most visited national parks in Karnataka and the reason is that it is home to a varied range of flora and fauna. Some of the popular fauna of the park is the Bengal tiger, Indian Elephant, Gaur, Chital and various deer species. You will be amazed to know that this national park has the second-highest population of tigers in India with a total of 173 tigers. So if you are a wildlife enthusiast then this is a must-visit for you.

Nagarahole National Park: It is the second largest national park in Karnataka and also one of the most loved national parks as well. It is situated in the district of Kodagu. It covers an area of 848 square kilometers. For the people who are traveling via air, the nearest airport from the national park is Mysore Airport as it is situated at a distance of 98 kilometers and for the people who love traveling via train, the nearest railway station is Mysore railway station as it is situated at a distance of 96 kilometers. So now you can choose accordingly which means of transport you want to travel by.

The national park is popular for so many reasons but the main reasons are its diverse range of flora and fauna and another is the activities offered by the national park. Some of the popular fauna that you can witness in the national park are the Bengal tiger, Leopards and Asiatic elephants. Another is the jeep safari, people always prefer the Nagarahole jeep safari tour as it gives you the best experience when it comes to exploring the national park. So these two reasons make this national park worth visiting.

Mudumalai National Park: This Park has a different fan base because it is one of the popular national parks in India. The national park is situated in the district of Nilgiri. The park spreads over an area of 321 square kilometers. This national park was earlier notified as “Critical Tiger Habitat”. The national park was one of the most important parts of the Oscar award-winning short documentary named “The Elephant Whisperers.” If you are planning to visit this wonderful national park then the nearest airport for the people who are traveling via air is Coimbatore International Airport and for the people who are traveling via train then the nearest railway station is Udhagamandalam Station with a distance of 64 kilometers.

This park is popular for the presence of elephants in this park. Other exclusive animals that you can witness in this national park are leopards, tigers, langurs, gaurs, chitals, etc. and you can also enjoy the activities like bird watching, nature walking, elephant safari and jeep safari as well. So it is another must-visit destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts as well.