Bannerghatta National Park established in the year 1971, lies 22 km. away
from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state. It covers around 104.27
sq.kms which includes ten Reserve Forests of Anekal Range of the Bangalore
Forest Division. Bannerghatta comprises the National Park, an Aquarium,
a Zoo, Children's park, Crocodile Farm, Snake park, Prehistoric animals
park and a Museum. Safaris to see tigers and lions in vehicles and on
elephants is the main attraction of the Park. Tickets for entry into the
Zoo and Safaris are available at the main entrance.
This park is open throughout the year, and the temperature
in Bannerghatta ranges from 15°C to 35°C during the year, with
an average rainfall of about 700mm annually. The best time to sight wild
life is the months of November to June.
 This
National Park is a treasure house of exotic species of wildlife and
a great variety of flora. The flora of the place is very rich and
beautiful with huge green trees providing shade and shelter all through
the year. The forest type of the park is mostly moist deciduous teak forest.Tree
species in the park include Anogeissus latifolia, Schleichera oleosa,
Terminalia tomentosa, sandal, neem, T. arjuna. Grewia tilaefolia, Santalum
album, tamarind, chujjullu, Shorea talura, Emblica officinalis, Vitex
altissima, jalari, Wrightia tinctoria, Randia sp. Zizphus sp. and Albizzia
sp. Bamboos are common in the park, the dominant species being Dendrocalamus
strictus. A small area of the park has plantations of Eucalyptus, Bauhinia
purpurea, Samanea saman and Peltphorum pterocarpum.
The wildlife in their natural habitat create interests
in tourists. Wild animals like Elephant, gaur, leopard, jackal, fox, wild
pig, sloth bear, sambar, chital, spotted deer, barking deer, common langur,
bonnet macaque, porcupine and the hare are found here. Other inhabitants
include wild boars, sloth bears, pangolin, slender loris, huge monitor
lizards as well as cobras, pythons, kraits and Russell vipers roam the
park. The park is a unique relocation area for tigers and lions rescued
from circuses in India. They can be seen in securely fenced areas within
the 25,000 acres of the Park.
Visitors can spot a large variety of birds in
this park. The avian population comprises cormorants, white ibis, little
green heron, grey heron, paradise flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher,
Common Grey Hornbill, White bellied Drong, Spotted Owlet, Collared Scop’s
owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Eurasian Eagle owl and Brown Fish owl.
Trekking places include Uddigebande (3.5 kms.),
a natural rock formation called Hajjamana Kallu (3 kms.) and Mirza Hill
(1.5 kms.). Besides the rides in Open jeeps, mini buses, vans and elephants
the tourists have facilities to do Amateur fishing, Coracle boat (a circular
open boat made of bamboo and buffalo hide strung together with coir) rides,
Bird watching, River rafting, Trekking, Outdoor camping etc in Bannerghatta.
Suvarnamukhi stream which originates in the Suvarnamukhi
hills, runs through the park adding to its beauty. These hills are spread
out to a huge rock, about a kilometer long. At the foot of the rock is
the famous Champaka Dhama Swamy temple, built in the Dravidian style of
architecture, belonging to the Hoysala age. Water in Suvarnamukhi pond
(two kms away) is believed to have curative powers.
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Wildlife 
