At a glance Bandipur Tiger Reserve is contiguous with the forests of Mudumalai, cut off from Tamil Nadu by the Moyar Gorge About the city This is the story of a hunting ground turned around, a wildlife cemetery turned sanctuary. Where, in the years long gone, many a gun-wielding hunter dispatched many an animal. And many a tale of pathos lies smothered in the scrub, tales of shikars that lead to the selfish self-aggrandisement of the rich, the famous and the powerful. Of a place that is mercifully now a haven, habitat, home, refuge and shelter for many an occupant of the wilds around. A place widely regarded as one of the better-managed national parks in the country Bandipur National Park. To put it simply, in the bygone era, the royalty of Mysore, the Wodeyars, owned the place. All 880 sq km of it. Having realised the sheer wastefulness and worthlessness of random bullets fired at helpless wild animals in the name of sport, they decided to usher in a change of policy. Thus was born the game sanctuary. The only shooting happening regularly now is through a multitude of cameras. For the mostly dry deciduous forests of Bandipur interspersed with scrublands hold within them a truly incredible range of wildlife. From the exalted tiger to the porcupine, you will find them all here. In fact, the park has for long been designated as a tiger reserve under the aegis of Project Tiger and has seen a dramatic increase in the striped cat's population. How to reach Road: Car: A straight drive down SH17 that links Bangalore to the Nilgiris. Alternatively, you can drive to Bandipur via Kanakapura, Shivanasamudram, Kollegal, Chamarajnagar and Gundlupet Bus: KSRTC buses go direct to Bandipur at Rs 105 a ticket approx Journey Time Road: 5 hours Distances 215 km South West from Bangalore From Bangalore SH17 to Bandipur via Maddur, Mysore, Nanjangud, Begur and Gundlupet Best Seasons July to October. Bandipur is closed in March and April for fear of forest fires Places in and around Bandipur, drained by the Kabini, Nugu and Moyar rivers, is not uniformly thick as a forest. The one sure thing about these forests is that animals, for almost throughout the year except perhaps in peak summer, roam around in pretty large numbers. Elephants, gaur, sambhar, wild boar and even packs of wild dogs, those die-hard stalkers of the wild who almost always kill, once they have earmarked their quarry. This tiger reserve is a photographer's delight. Many a camera-toting enthusiast has made a name for himself here. Although you will not see the tiger here as easily as you would in Ranthambhore, Kanha or Bandhavgarh, the mere knowledge that he exists in fairly respectable numbers in these forests is enough to put you on alert as you meander along in a mini bus during the safari. Panthers, jackals and an array of snakes from the cobra to the python all live here. As for spotted deer, you will need a heavy-duty calculator to keep count of them! As night falls, you will find them congregating around the relative safety of the guest houses, their eyes shining like lustrous diamonds as they come into the glare of vehicle headlights, or even a flashing torch. The shy four-horned antelope is part of this forest but then, more often than not, he chooses to remain quite detached from the tourism zone. Sloth bears amble around even as the grey langurs with tails in the shape of a perennial question mark chatter high up in the trees. The forests of Bandipur are indeed a haven for wild animals and those who love them. On the flip side, Bandipur has become a tad commercial. The tourist influx is high and hence the mystery and aloofness associated with most Indian forests is much less here. After the safari, head to the Nature Interpretation Centre where you can pick up some pamphlets and a book on Bandipur. Safari fee: Adult Rs 75, child Rs 30, foreigner Rs 200; Camera fees: Still Rs 25, video Rs 250 Elephant ride (20 mins) Rs 100 per 4 people; Timings: Rounds (45-mins each) between 6 & 9 am, 4 & 6 pm; Interpretation Centre 8 am to 6 pm