Nagarhole National Park, National park in Kodagu district, India.
Nagarhole National Park covers 847.98 square kilometres in the Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka, from the Brahmagiri foothills down towards Kerala. The Kabini reservoir marks its southern edge and separates it from Bandipur National Park. Its dry deciduous forest holds crocodile bark, Indian kino and clumping bamboo, with the Nagar Hole stream running through it.
The park takes its name from nagara (snake) and hole (streams). It was the hunting reserve of the Wodeyar kings of Mysore, became a wildlife sanctuary in 1955, a national park in 1983, and India's 37th tiger reserve in 2003. In 2012 the reserve was expanded to 847.98 km².
The name Nagarhole combines nagara (snake) and hole (streams), referring to the winding streams of the forest. The park was once the private hunting reserve of the Wodeyar kings of Mysore. Nearby Kutta, 7 km south, is named after the son of the goddess Kali and a Kuruba man, and a festival there runs from mid-April to May.
The best months for watching animals run from October through May, when the dry season leaves fewer water sources available. Safari drives operate in the morning and late afternoon, when animals are most active.
The Kabini River draws elephants in large numbers and provides habitat for more than 250 bird species. Along its banks, herds can be watched drinking during the dry season.
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