Located in an area of 248.41 sq miles between the Coorg, Nagarahole national park were the hunting reserves of the kings of Mysore. The area was turned into a sanctuary in 1955 after India became a republic, and was expanded into a national park in 1988, and was declared a tiger reserve in 1999.
The park is also called Rajiv Gandhi National park, the Kabini Dam divides this park from the Bandipur National Park located at the northwest of this park. Nagarahole National Park is mostly moist mixed deciduous forest in the Southern parts, Dry tropical forest towards east (Bandipur) and Sub mountain hill valley swamp forest. These kind of varied climatic conditions make this place a fauna haven, with animals such as Wild Elephants, Barking Deer, Sambar, Bison, Panther, Spotted Deer, Mongoose, Civet cat, Hyena, wild Pig and sloth Bear. Reptiles like King Cobra, Krait, the marsh crocodile, Python, Viper, Tortoise, Monitor Lizard, and Toads are also found here and is home to more than 250 species of birds such as Herons, storks, woodpeckers, sunbirds, wagtails, egrets, ducks, partridges, peafowl, lapwings, kites, eagles, falcons, sandpipers, warblers, babblers, shrikes and owls.
Apart from the varied fauna, the park also houses various aborigine tribes. Although the sanctuary is open all year round, the ideal time to visit the sanctuary is between the months of June till November.
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