B. R. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary/K. Gudi Camp
The Biligirirangana range of hills is picturesquely situated between the Cauvery and Tungabhadra rivers. About 525 sq.kms of the thickly forested area has been converted into the Biligiri Rangaswamy Wildlife Sanctuary and the wild residents of this jungle include the elephant, sloth bear, gaur, wild dog, wild boar, deer and also the leopard and tiger. Almost 270 species of birds can also be found here. The varied flora and fauna live here in harmony and during the day, the jungle is alive with sounds of birds whistling their favourite tunes, monkeys chattering incessantly and elephants trumpeting in delight. All a part of nature's grand show.
The K.Gudi Wilderness Camp is an eco-friendly tented resort situated in the middle of wilderness, offering a great view of the hills and surrounding forest. And once it is dark, you can observe the amazing starlit sky while sitting by a cozy campfire. And the simple ethnic cuisine only enhances the experience. Dawn is greeted by the chirping of birds and then it’s time for a safari. The resident naturalists take guests through the jungle in jeeps or on elephants. Patches of bright blue and green jungle pools hidden between the tall trees, the sun peeping through the thick forests and wild animals roaming free, these are just some of the visuals delights of this enchanting place. B.R.Hills is a must for those who enjoy nature in all its untamed glory and are keen to discover the unexplored secrets of our wild jungles.
The sanctuary also contains the centuries old Rangaswamy Temple, which is perched on top of a hill about 19 kms from the camp. A large Champak tree here is believed to be over 2000 years old and still flowers in season! It is sacred to the Soliga tribals, who reside in the forest, as they believe it is the abode of their Gods.
Bandipur National Park
Bandipur National Park is also part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. This richly endowed protected area is the southernmost of the nine original reserves of Project Tiger and is spread over 865 sq.kms.
There is plenty of wildlife to see in Bandipur with large herds of wild elephants being the main attraction. This forest is also home to gaur (Indian Bison), deer, sloth bear, marsh crocodile, python, Indian giant squirrel, flying lizard etc. Besides the mighty tiger and cunning leopard, the other major predator here is the dhole or wild dog.
Being on the main road to the popular hill station, Ooty, Bandipur is well connected and a lot of traffic passes through here. Yet it is far from the din of cities and you can almost hear the mute conversations between the animals and the trees. The lush green forest, whistling winds, swirling streams and still jungle pools, are all part of this rich natural habitat created by nature for its wild children. This is where nature hums a fresh song every day and creates a new rhythm every minute. And it is amidst this amazing setting, that you find the exotic wildlife of Bandipur. Private vehicles are not allowed inside the protected area, but the forest department and some private resorts organize safaris in jeeps and vans or elephant rides. Bandipur now has some good places to stay. The Jungle Lodges Group, the eco-tourism experts have a resort here, which is elegantly built in contemporary style. Located on the eastern edge of Bandipur, the Tusker Trails Resort is owned by Kr. Gajendra Singh of Auwa and his wife Vishalakshi Devi, who comes from the royal family of Mysore, ancestral owners of the entire park. It has comfortable cottages named after different rivers in India and a pool shaped like an elephant's footmark. This couple is keen wildlife’s and has a significant achievement to their name. They were given two very young orphaned leopard cubs (Baby and Bully) by the forest department with a request to look after them. With assistance from the department, they successfully brought up the cubs and rehabilitated them in the wild again. The only other Indian and pioneer of this kind of rehabilitation programme, Billy Arjan Singh, visited Bandipur and congratulated Gajendra and Vishalakshi Devi on their success.
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