Is Kabini(Nagarhole national park) worth going or not?

4 min readMar 24, 2020

Is Nagarhole national park worth going or not

Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of Nagarhole National Park which used to be Private hunting ground for the Royal Families of Mysore, where the Wadiyars were known to have hunting scores. The forest later became a part of the Protected Tiger reserve and Nagarhole National Park. Kabini is a smaller part of the Nagarhole National Park. The name Kabini is derived from the River Kabini. The River attracts Fauna and other wildlife species.

Kabini or Nagarhole is one of the best getaway during the weekends and experience the wildlife behaviour in their natural habitat. Just a 5 hours of pleasant drive from Bangalore one can reach the destination. The first thing that can be noticed while one enters the Sanctuary is the numerous birds that were flying. It becomes a refreshing journey when someone enters the sanctuary.

Kabini or Nagarhole National Park has a lot to offer for the wildlife lovers. The richness of Flora and Fauna is an absolute beauty to experience. One of the biggest advantages of this place is that when all the National Parks are closed during the Monsoon session, Kabini or Nagarhole is opened throughout the year. There are lots to experience in Kabini, one of the best is to go for a Boat ride in the River. It is said that if you are lucky you can see numerous Animals as they come near the water bodies to quench the thirst.

Kabini or Nagarhole is considered as one of the best national parks in Southern India. The National Park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the park is backed by the Brahmagiri Mountains and filled with sandalwood and teak trees. The Kabini River winds through jungle landscapes, home to tigers, Asian elephants and a variety of birds. Nearby, the Irupu Falls cascade down tree-lined rocks.

Climate and Geographical Condition

The park receives an annual rainfall of 1,440 millimetres. Its water sources include the Lakshmmantirtha river, Sarati Hole, Nagar Hole, Balle Halla, Kabini River, four perennial streams, 47 seasonal streams, four small perennial lakes, 41 artificial tanks, several swamps, Taraka Dam and the Kabini reservoir are there in both Kabini and Nagarhole combined.

Getting to Kabini.

Kabini is 80 Kms away from Mysore, just a 2 hours drive from the town and 220 Kms away from the State capital of Karnataka Bangalore, 4–5 hours of drive.
Bangalore has the nearest Airport which connects with the Major Cities in India, Cabs can be hired from the Airport.
Nearest Railway Station is in Mysore and cabs can be easily hired from the Railway Station.

Travel Tips.

As the National Park is open throughout the year, however the best time to visit the Sanctuary from Oct- May as the chances of sighting is very high.
Dress in camouflage or in Dark colours clothes.
Cover your face with a scarf and wear glasses.
Please keep your voice low while going for the safari.
Always carry proper camera bags etc to protect the equipment from sudden showers, dust etc.
If you are carrying a big lens like a 400mm upwards or any prime lens for photography do inform the resort in advance and ask for a bean bag.