Overview of Bannerghatta National Park: A Prominent Tiger Reserve

For nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, Bannerghatta National Park is an interesting place to visit near Bangalore. The rich vegetation and diverse wildlife here attract visitors from all over the world. For a tourist to explore this place, hiring a jeep or car or a bus safari is ideal. As you cover the massive 104.27 sq. km and enjoy the different zones, you will come across multiple species, like mammals, butterflies, and more. The different zones or establishments include a butterfly park, children’s park, zoo, crocodile farm, and more. The park is situated on the outskirts of Bangalore, and tourists combine visiting the park with visiting Bannerghatta Biological Park. 

A brief history

It was in the year 1970 that Bannerghatta National Park was founded, covering an area of 260.5 km. From 1970 only, it hosted ten reserve forests of the beautiful Anekal Range. In 2002, it was declared a biological reserve, making it the single place in the entire world where experiencing wilderness near a city is possible. The safaris and zoo appeal to tourists the most, but the butterfly park here is also quite impressive. Moreover, the park is also home to a fenced, forested elephant sanctuary spanning over 122 acres, sponsored by PETA India itself.

Flora and Fauna

Fauna

Talking about fauna, you will find it in abundance here. You can witness the diverse species as you take one of the safaris here. The national park attracts many ‘Tiger’ lovers, but you also find lions, Himalayan black bears, king cobras, leopards, barking deer, jackals, wild pigs, and foxes here. You will also see the giant monitor lizard here, along with many species of birds. The avian species here include grey herons, paradise flycatchers, green herons, spotted owlets, brown fish owls, and more.

Flora

You will also find many medicinal and decorative plants in Bannerghatta Park, including Wrightia tinctoria, Anogeissus, Vitex altissima, and more. You will also see a small part of the plant dedicated to peltophorum pterocarpum and eucalyptus plants. 

Different zones/points of attraction in Bannerghatta National Park

Elephant Sanctuary

A fenced elephant sanctuary, the first of its kind in India, is a zone you have to visit. This attraction is home to gentle elephants roaming around without any fear or attraction. Here, you can interact with the giants, feed them, play with them, and even bathe them under supervision.

Zoo

Bannerghatta National Park is also a zoo, home to different wildlife species. The zoo also includes a separate reptile park along with a small theater. The zoo here is home to reptiles, mammals, and many local and migratory bird species. The 94 species of animals found here will impress you and leave you hoping for more sightings.

Butterfly Park

The first butterfly enclosure in India came into existence in 2006. It spans over 7.5 acres of land with a museum and an audiovisual room. You will see around 20 different species of butterflies here.

Champaka Dhama Swamy Temple

A tourist attraction, this temple also holds religious importance for many people. With its Dravidian style of architecture, it has a shrine of Lord Narashima/Vishnu, along with his consorts, Bhudevi and Sridevi.

Important details about the national park

Timings:

The park is open every day except Tuesday for the general public. The timings are 9:30 am to 5 pm. 

Tickets:

To ensure a smooth experience in the park, booking tickets online for Bannerghatta National Park is ideal. However, you can also buy the tickets at the main gate as per the activity you are interested in doing. The prices are:

• Entry fee: INR 100 (Indian adult), INR 60 (Indian senior), INR 50 (children)—park.
• Butterfly park entry fee: INR 50 (adults), INR 30 (children and old people).

Prices for Safari

The safari timings are from 10 am to 4:30 pm every day except Tuesday.

• Non-AC Bus Safari: INR 300 (adults), INR 200 (children)—weekdays; INR 520 (adults), INR 320 (children)—weekends.
• AC Bus Safari: INR 500 (adults), INR 300 (children) on weekdays, INR 720 (adults), and INR 520 (children).
• AC Jeep Safari: INR 4000 per person (weekday), INR 5,200 per person (weekend).
• Non-AC Jeep Safari: INR 3,600 per person (weekday), INR 3,900 per person (weekend).
• 7-seater Innova: INR 5700 per person (weekday), INR 6200 per person (weekend).

Reasons to take your kid to Bannerghatta National Park

If you are planning a day out or a weekend getaway for your kids or a school is planning an educational outing, Bannerghatta is the best option. The immersive and hands-on learning experience makes it an exceptional platform ideal for children to understand the importance of conservation and biodiversity. The park gives a child a chance to not only appreciate nature but also understand their responsibility towards preserving our planet as well.

The educational talks and interactive sessions are not just informative but engaging too. It will help your child to observe the diversity that India’s wildlife has to offer.

Ending note…

Bannerghatta National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in India and the only one within close proximity to a city. It is only 27.7 km away from Bangalore. From tigers to lions to different species of butterflies to snakes and monitor lizards and buses, you will see everything here. Apart from Tuesday, it is open to the general public for a specific period of time, and with the various safari options, you can enjoy the different zones at Bannerghatta National Park. So, are you ready to go on an adventure just an hour from Bangalore? If yes, book your tickets online now.