ANSHI NATIONAL PARK - Anshi (250 sq Kms) was earlier a part of the Dandeli Sanctuary. The park lies in the Western Ghats, adjoining the state of Goa. To its north is the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. There are no tourist facilities available in the park yet.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forest, Wildlife Division
Dandeli - 581325, Uttara Kannada District
Tel. 08284 - 331585

BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK - Bandipur (880 sq Kms) lies halfway down the Mysore-Ooty highway, where the Deccan Plateau rises to meet the wrinkled folds of the Western Ghat mountains. It is situated within the Chamarajanagar district, and abuts the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Department vehicles are available for Wildlife viewing. Elephant rides are also arranged into the forests adjoining the tourist complex. The park has a moderate climate, with three seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Anytime between April and October is ideal to visit the park.

Contact:
Field Director, Project Tiger
Aranya Bhavan, Ashokpuram
Mysore - 570 008
Tel. 0821 - 480901

Deputy Conservator Of Forests
Project Tiger Division, Bandipur
Gundlupet - 571 111
Tel. 0821 - 636043, 636025

BANNERGHATTA NATIONAL PARK - Bannerghatta (104.27 sq Kms) is conveniently located just 22 km south of Bangalore, and consequently well visited. The park has a Lion and Tiger safari, a herbivore safari, a mini zoo, a reptile park, a museum and a picnic corner. However, it also has a vast area of wilderness and some sites of archaeological interest. The best time to visit for Wildlife viewing is between September and January. There is a also a nature camp being run by Jungle Lodges and resorts.

Contact:
Chief Wildlife Warden
Aranya Bhavan
18th Cross, Malleswaram
Bangalore - 560 003

Deputy Conservator of Forests
Bannerghatta National park
Bangalore - 560 083
Tel. 080 - 8429366

Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd
2nd Floor, Shrungar Shopping Center
M.G.Road
Bangalore - 560 001
Tel. 080 - 25597021, 25597024
Website: www.junglelodges.com

KUDREMUKH NATIONAL PARK - Kudremukh (563 sq Kms) is on of Karnataka’s more recent Parks. Located in the Western Ghats, it has one of the most beautiful landscapes, with evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, and grassland-shola habitat, which is characteristic of the higher altitudes of the Western Ghats. September to January, being the dry season, is the best time to visit Kudremukh.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Kudremukh Wildlife Division
Karkala - 574 104
Udipi District
Tel. 08258 - 731183

RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL PARK (NAGARHOLE) - Nagarhole(643.39 sq Kms) lies in the forest-clad foothills of the towering Western Ghats Mountain Range. The National Park is named after a small river, Nagarhole (literally, Snake Stream in Kannada) that meanders elaborately through the center of the park, and continuing as the Taraka river before joining Kabini. The Kabini river flows along the southern boundary of the park, and forms a reservoir further downstream, along the southern boundary of the park. This reservoir marks the boundary between the two national parks of Nagarhole and Bandipur. Departmental vehicles are available for the wildlife viewing. The ideal time to visit the Park is between September and May.

The Jungle Lodges and Resorts runs the Kabini River Lodge at Karapur, on the banks of the Kabini River.

Contact:
Conservator of Forests
Wildlife South Circle
Aranya Bhavan, Ashokpuram
Mysore - 570 008
Tel. 0821 - 480 901

Deputy Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Division
Hunsur
Tel. 0821 - 652 041

Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd.
Kabini River Lodge, Karapur
Nasana Beltur Post
H.D.Kote Taluk
Mysore District - 571 114
Tel. 0821 - 244 402, 244 403
Website: www.junglelodges.com

ADICHUNCHANGIRI PEACOCK SANCTUARY - Adichunchangiri (0.84 sq Kms) was declared a Sanctuary on 21st Oct 1981. It has mainly scrub forest and plantations, and is intended especially for the protection of the peacock. It is located in the Mandya district.

Contact
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Aranya Bhavan, Ashokapuram
Mysore - 570 008
Tel. 0821 - 481 159

ARABITHITTU WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Arabithittu (13.5 sq Kms) was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary on 30th April 1985. The area has scrub forests and plantations, and is surrounded by agricultural fields. It is located in Mysore district. The Sanctuary is not yet open to tourists.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Aranya Bhavan, Ashokapuram
Mysore - 570 008
Tel. 0821 - 481 159

ATTIVERI BIRD SANCTUARY - Attiveri (2.23 sq Kms) was declared as a Bird Sanctuary on 17th Aug 2000. The Attiveri Reservoir was formed as a result of the construction of a dam across Tayawwanahalla in the village of Attiveri. This reservoir attracted many birds, especially aquatic species, and was therefore developed as a bird sanctuary. The Reservoir covers an area of 1.01 sq Kms and the remaining area of the sanctuary is covered by riverine and dry deciduous forest. The agricultural fields surrounding the sanctuary are host to a variety of aquatic creatures, which are a major source of food for the birds of the sanctuary. Between November and March is the best time to visit the sanctuary.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Ranebennur - 581 881
Haveri District
Tel. 0836 - 860 394

BHADRA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - The Government of Mysore declared the Bhadra forests a protected area, the 200 sq Kms Jagara Wildlife Sanctuary, in 1951. It is situated in the Western Ghats, and has mostly moist deciduous forests in the southern parts, and dry deciduous forests in the north. There are shola-grassland patches in the Bababudangiri area. The rechristened and the extended Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (492.46 sq Kms) was notified on 25th Sept 1974. It is divided into to blocks, the first consisting Lakkavalli, Muthodi and 14 other state forests (470.38 sq Kms) and the second made up of the Bababudangiri State Forest (22.08 sq. Kms). The sanctuary was upgraded to Tiger Reserve status on 19th Nov 1998, becoming India’s 25th Tiger Reserve. Departmental vehicles are available for wildlife viewing. the reserve has a moderate climate, with three seasons: summer, monsoons and winter. Between October and February is the best time for visiting

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Bhadra Wildlife Division
Chikmagalur - 577 101
Tel. 08262 - 234 904

BILIGIRI RANGASWAMY TEMPLE (B.R.T) WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - The Sanctuary (539.52 sq. Kms) is unique in that it is situated the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats, and therefore has floral representatives of both regions. Its southern boundary adjoins the state of Tamil Nadu. Between November and march, the dry season, is the best time to visit the sanctuary. Jungle Lodges and resorts, runs a resort and K.Gudi, near the western boundary of the Sanctuary.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Division
Chamarajanagar - 571 313
Tel. 0821 - 722 059

Jungle Lodges and Resorts
B.R.Hills Wildlife Adventure Resort
Kyathadevarayana Gudi (K.Gudi)
Chamarajanagar District - 571 313
Tel. 0821 - 723 182

BRAHMAGIRI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Brahmagiri (181.29 sq. Kms), being part of the Western Ghats, it has evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, as well as the shola-grassland habitat. the sanctuary is surrounded by agricultural fields and coffee plantations. The eastern tip of the sanctuary almost touches the northwestern edge of the Rajiv Gandhi national Park, separated only by a narrow strip of Coffee plantations. The southern boundary adjoins Kerala State. Between October and May is the best time to visit the sanctuary.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Division
Hunsur - 571 105
Mysore district
Tel. 0821 - 652 041

CAUVERY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - (526.96 sq. Kms). For a major part, the River Cauvery forms the northern and eastern boundary of the sanctuary. To the east and northeast, the sanctuary is flanked by Tamil Nadu state. Deciduous and riverine forests cover much of the area, especially eastern parts. The best time to visit the Sanctuary is between November and March.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
kanakapura - 562 117
Bangalore District
Tel. 080 - 752 2536

Range Forest Officer
Wildlife Range
Hanur
Tel. 0821 - 768 582

Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd.
Cauvery Fishing Camp
Bheemeshwari\
Byadrahalli Post, Halgur Hobli
Malavalli Taluk
Mandya District - 571 421
Tel. 08231 - 348048, 348049, 348051, 348052

DANDELI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - (475.02 sq. Kms). Most of the area has moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests. It is located in the Uttara Kannada district. A relatively undisturbed area of 250 sq. kms in the southern part of the Sanctuary became the Anshi national park. Between October and March is the best time to visit the Sanctuary. The Jungle Lodges and Resorts runs the Kali Wilderness and Adventure Camp at Dandeli.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Division
Dandeli - 581 325
Uttara Kannada District
Tel. 08284 - 331585

Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd.
Kali Wilderness Camp
Kogilbana
Dandeli - 581 325
Utara Kannada District
Tel. 0824 - 333 360

DAROJI SLOTH BEAR SANCTUARY - Daroji (55.87 sq. Kms) is the only Sanctuary in Karnataka specially created to protect the sloth bear. The sanctuary has a rocky terrain, boulders and caves, which is the ideal habitat for the sloth bear. It is located near Hospet in the Bellary district. From August to April is the best time to visit the Sanctuary.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Ranebennur - 581 115
Haveri District
Tel. 0836 - 860394

Range Forest Officer
Wildlife Preservation
Daroji Bear Sanctuary
Kamalapura
Hospet taluk
Bellary District
Tel. 0839 - 441 869

GHATAPRABHA BIRD SANCTUARY - (29.78 Sq. Kms). The boundaries of the sanctuary enclose a stretch of about 28 km of the river Ghataprabha, including the reservoir resulting from the dam built near Dhupdhal, and over 20 islands along the stretch. The sanctuary is surrounded by agricultural fields. It is located in the Belgaum district. Between November and March is the best time to visit the Sanctuary, when most of the migratory bird species nest there.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of Forests / Range Forest Officer
Wildlife Sub-Division
Ranebennur - 581 115
Haveri District
Tel. 0836 - 860 394

GUDAVI BIRD SANCTUARY - Gudavi (0.74 sq. Kms) comprises of a large water tank covering 0,30 ha and a patch of dense moist deciduous forest. The sanctuary is surrounded by agricultural fields on the west and north., and by moist deciduous forest on the east and south. It is located in Shimoga district. Between June and November is the best time to observe nesting birds.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Shimoga Wildlife Division
D.C. Compound
Shimoga - 577 201
Tel. 08182 - 222 983

MELKOTE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Melkote (49.82 sq. Kms) sanctuary is divided into two blocks, Mudibetta (4.48 sq. Kms) and Narayanadurga (45.34 sq. Kms). In between the two blocks are a number of villages and cultivation. The landscape is rocky, with dry deciduous and scrub vegetation. This sanctuary is mainly for the protection of the wolf. It is located in the Mandya district. Between October and April is the best time to visit the Sanctuary.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Aranya Bhanav, Ashokpuram
Mysore - 570 008
Tel. 0821 - 481 159

Range Forest Officer
Melkote Wildlife Sanctuary
Pandavapura Taluk
Mandya - 571 401

MOOKAMBIKA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Mookambika (247 sq. Kms) sanctuary is divided into a core zone (114 sq. kms) a buffer zone (90 sq. kms) and a tourism zone (43 sq. Kms). It has evergreen, semi-ever green and moist deciduous forests covering the steep slopes typical of the western Ghat mountains. The sanctuary shares its northwestern boundary with Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in Udipi district. Between November and March is the best time to visit the sanctuary, since it rains during the rest of the year.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Kudremukh Wildlife Division
Karkala - 574 104
Udipi District
Tel. 0825 - 731 183

NUGU WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Nugu (30.32 sq. Kms) being situated just north of the Bandipur National Park, the flora of the two areas is similar, except that the Nugu area is still recovering from the earlier degradation. much of the northwestern part of the sanctuary is occupied by the Nugu Reservoir. It is located in the Mysore district The area is covered by scrub forest and cultivation adjacent to the reservoir and by degraded dry deciduous forest in the southern portion of the sanctuary. Tourism has not yet been developed in the sanctuary.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Aranya Bhavan
Ashokpuram
Mysore - 570 008
Tel. 0821 - 481 159

PUSHPAGIRI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Pushpagiri (92.65 sq. Kms) situated in the western Ghats, the area has a thick evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, and shola-grassland habitat in the higher areas. the steep terrain of the sanctuary has resulted in some impressive waterfalls along the various streams that originate in these mountains. It is located in the Kodagu district. Between November and March is the best time for wildlife viewing in the sanctuary

Contact:
Conservator of Forests
Kodagu Circle
Madikeri - 571 201
Tel. 08272 - 225 708

Assistant Conservator of forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
madikeri - 571 201
Tel. 08272 - 228 019

Range Forest Officer
Wildlife Range
Somwarpet

RANEBENNUR BLACKBUCK SANCTUARY - Ranebennur (119 sq. kms) Sanctuary was declared as a Sanctuary mainly to protect Blackbuck. It comprises of two unconnected portions, an eastern and a western bit. The sanctuary has a core zone of 14.87 sq. Kms and a buffer-cum tourism zone of 104.13 sq. Kms. the area is covered mainly by scrub forest and Eucalyptus plantations, and is also inhabited by the highly endangered Great Indian bustard and the wolf. Agricultural fields surround the Sanctuary. It is located in the Haveri district. Between October and March is the best time for observing Blackbuck, while the bustard is most easily sighted from February to June.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Ranebennur - 581 115
Haveri District
Tel. 0836 - 860 394

RANGANATHITTU BIRD SANCTUARY - Ranganathittu (0.67 sq. Kms) is made up of two unconnected clusters of islets along the Cauvery river. The western portion of the Sanctuary attracts a large number of tourists, who come to observe water birds nesting on the island’s trees in thousands. The islets are surrounded by the water of a reservoir formed by the construction of a check-dam. The agricultural fields surrounding the Sanctuary are a host to variety of aquatic creatures, which are a major source of food for the birds that nest in the Sanctuary. It is located in the Mandya district. Between June and November, when the water birds are nesting, is the best time to visit the sanctuary.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of Forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Aranya Bhanav, Ashokpuram
Mysore - 570 008
Tel. 0821 - 481 159

SHARAVATHI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Sharavathi (431.23 sq. Kms) lying in the western Ghats, has a dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. The Sanctuary shares its southwestern boundary with the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in the Shimoga District. Between November and May is the best time for wildlife viewing in the sanctuary.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Shimoga Wildlife Division
D.C.Compound
Shimoga - 577 201
Tel. 08182 - 222 983

Range Forest Officer
Wildlife Range
Kargal - 577 421
Sagar Taluk, Shimoga District
Tel. 08186 - 340 387

SHETTIHALLI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - The Shettihalli (395.6 sq. Kms) is divided into a core zone (100.6 sq. Kms), a buffer zone (237.4 sq. Kms0 and a tourism zone (57.6 sq. Kms). It lies adjacent to Shimoga town, and has forests ranging from dry deciduous to semi-evergreen. Between November and January is the best time for wildlife viewing.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of Forests
Shimoga Wildlife Division
D.C.Compound
Shimoga - 577 201
Tel. 08182 - 222 983

Range Forest Office
Wildlife Range
Hanegere
Tel. 08182 - 283 050

SOMESHWARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Someshawara (88.4 sq. Kms) lying in the Western Ghats, has semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. The Sanctuary comprises two unconnected parts. the smaller part being situated to the southwest of the major part. Adjacent to the Sanctuary are 26,000 acres (105.3 sq. Kms) of evergreen reserve Forest. The Kudremukh national Park lies to the southeast of this Sanctuary. This is located in the Udipi district. Between November and April is the best time to visit the Sanctuary.

Contact:
Deputy Conservator of forests
Kudremukh Wildlife Division
Karkala - 574 104
Udipi District
Tel. 0825 - 731 183

TALACAUVERY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - Talacauvery (105.01 sq. Kms), situated in the Western Ghats, is mostly covered with tropical evergreen forests. It was named after Talacauvery, the origin of the River Cauvery, which lies on the eastern edge of the Sanctuary. It is located in the Kodagu district.The dry season, from November to March, is ideal to visit the Sanctuary. The Cauvery Nisargadhama (0.26 sq. Kms), an island on the River Cauvery, lies 2 Km from Kushalnagar, 28 Kms from Madikeri, and is worth a short stop-over.

Contact:
Assistant Conservator of forests
Wildlife Sub-Division
Madikeri - 571 201
Tel. 08272 - 228 019

Range Forest Officer
Talacauvery Wildlife Range
Bhagamandala
Tel. 08272 - 233 215

For Cauvery Nisargadhama:
Conservator of Forests
Kodagu Circle
Madikeri - 571 201
Tel. 08272 - 225 708

* Source - From “An Information Guide to The National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Karnataka” by Dr. Nima Manjrekar