Nagarhole National Park of
Karnataka was established in the year 1955, spanning an area of about 644 sq km. It got its name from two word ‘nagar’ meaning snake and ‘hole’, meaning streams. Now it is also called Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Nagarhole is part of the protected area that includes
Bandipur National Park,
Wayanad Sanctuary and
Mudumalai Sanctuary.
The sanctuary has an amazing wealth of flora and fauna. The park is home to numerous species of endangered wildlife, especially the tiger. The Indian royalty of the past used this area as their hunting ground, and this helped the forest preserve its natural beauty, though its wealth must have been plundered variously in earlier times.
Besides the tiger, other attractions are various kinds of snakes,
four-horned antelope, sloth bear, crocodiles and several species of lizards. The park also houses nearly 250 species of birds.
Though this is an all-weather park, the best time to visit is from September to May.
