May 21, 2015

Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve


Trip details
Distance From Bangalore
232 Kms from Bangalore and 78 Kms from Mysore
Type
Wildlife, Birds, Photography
Kids?
Kids will love to see the Nature, Birds, Animals in their natural habitat
Days needed
Just one night stay

Activities
Jungle Safari, Nature Walk, Gopalaswamy Betta visit, Moyar Falls
Best time to visit
Anytime
Stay options
Bandipur Safari Lodge (Jungle Lodges) (OR) Windflower Tusker Trails,
Food
Where you stay
Nearby places
Gopalaswamy Betta
Related Blogpost
Other tips
·        Just plan a day trip from Bangalore or Mysore with one night stay
·        If you stay in Bandipur Safari Lodge, the package includes Safari in evening and early morning. You can also plan a nature walk and also visit to Gopalaswamy betta on your own which is very nearby.

It was Saturday, 25 April and it supposed to be very hot and summer. We decided to visit Bandipur as we heard that this is the right season to visit Bandipur. It seems the animals can be spotted easily near the water spots. But unfortunately, it was raining now and then during the week, even the day before we visited this it was raining. With little hope to see animals, we just went ahead, as we have booked the Bandipur Safari Lodge for accommodation. You need to checkin there by 12 noon and checkout next day before 10:30AM.

We started very early in morning at around 6:30 and decided to go via Kanakapura to avoid 100s of speed breaks and 1000s of vehicles on Mysore NH road. Yes the drive was very pleasant on the Kanakapura Road as we expected. We reached Kanakapura very early than expected due to no one on the road. On the main road after crossing the bus stand on your left and right after the circle on the left side you see a Rathna Upahar which is moderate hotel in the area. We had our breakfast there. In fact we were the very first customer there at 7:10AM.

After breakfast and coffee, we headed on the route mentioned below. On the way we saw beautiful paddy fields, sugar cane fields and lakes etc. In one of the lake we saw many birds and took photos. Find below the photos. Also we saw huge banyan trees on the road which covers the whole road and was looking so beautiful. We stopped there to relax a while and reached Bandipur Safari Lodge bit early. There are multiple rooms here. Each one has a backyard as well.

The rooms are pretty good and each room has a name of the animal or bird and it is been painted just behind the bed inside the room. AC and Fan is there. Bed and Towels were clean, bathroom was clean as well. Kettle and tea/coffee sachets were provided. They have a bar as well. Food was good all times, varieties were there. Tea/Coffee and snacks were provided in evenings as well. They play a wildlife video on projector in evenings and if interested

After lunch you can go in open jeep or van into the Bandipur forest to see wildlife. You get to see varieties of Birds, Leopards, Tigers, Sloth bear, Bison, Deer...etc. This safari takes about 2 to 2.5 hrs. After Safari they drop you back in the room and they provide snacks, tea, coffee. Next day morning you can decide between Nature walk or same Safari. (no additional cost and it is all included in package).

You can also plan to visit the nearby Himad Gopalaswamy Betta which is on top of a hill. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. On top it is mostly covered with a dense layer of mist and on the way you may find elephants as well. There are hairpin bends and the route is very scenic.

Let us move onto the photos...... 

Route: Bangalore NICE Road to Bandipur via Kanakapura



Elephants at Bandipur Tiger Reserve Reception
Look at the small one !! Elephants at Bandipur Tiger Reserve Reception
Safari route Inside the Bandipur Forests
Safari route Inside the Bandipur Forests
Purple swamphen on the way to Bandipur
Purple swamphen on the way to Bandipur
Roots of Banyan tree on the way to Bandipur
Stop here and take a moment to enjoy in the shade - Roots of Banyan tree on the way to Bandipur

Entrance Arch in Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Entrance Arch in Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Bandipur Tiger Reserve Reception
Bandipur Tiger Reserve Reception
Board in Bandipur  Tiger Reserve Reception
Board in Bandipur  Tiger Reserve Reception

Bandipur Safari Lodge Room View
Bandipur Safari Lodge Room Front View - Jambhava
Bandipur Safari Lodge Room Backyard view
Bandipur Safari Lodge Room Backyard view - Jambhava

Bandipur Safari Lodge Room
Bandipur Safari Lodge Room - Jambhava

Heron Bandipur Forest
Heron Bandipur Forest

Crested Serpent Eagle Bandipur Forest
Crested Serpent Eagle Bandipur Forest

Hoopoe Bandipur Forest
Hoopoe Bandipur Forest

Indian Bison Bandipur Forest
Indian Bison Bandipur Forest

Indian Roller Bandipur Forest
Indian Roller Bandipur Forest

Mangoose Bandipur Forest
Mangoose Bandipur Forest

Red wattled lapwing Bandipur Forest
Red wattled lapwing Bandipur Forest

Red wattled lapwing Bandipur Forest
Incubating on ground - Red wattled lapwing Bandipur Forest


Safari route Inside the Bandipur Forests
Safari route Inside the Bandipur Forests

Safari route Inside the Bandipur Forests
Safari route Inside the Bandipur Forests


Wild Peacock at Bandipur Forest
Wild Peacock at Bandipur Forest

Woodpecker Bandipur Forest
Woodpecker Bandipur Forest

Himad Gopalaswamy Betta
Temple in Himad Gopalaswamy Betta

Himad Gopalaswamy Betta
Temple in Himad Gopalaswamy Betta

You may want to check the related blog post "Weekend Breaks or Day trips from Bangalore"


Hope you liked this post, add your comments / suggestions below and share with your friends. 

May 11, 2015

Rajasthan Photo Feature

It was so pleasing to see the culture and tradition in Rajasthan. Colorful turbans, colorful village sarees, customized vehicles, wheat fields, bangles, art and craft items, delicious food varities....etc.... there are tons of things we have noticed while we had been to Jaipur and around in Rajasthan India. 

Thought of sharing these very interesting pictures. Look at each of them. There are 50+ of them capturing various aspects. Add your comments below for the photos of your interest. Enjoy checking these photos.

My other blog posts on Places In Jaipur, Around Jaipur and Hot Air Ballooning are given below

Jaipur Forts,                                    Around Jaipur                            Hot Air Ballooning
Palaces, Food, Shopping                                                                       at Jaipur




Look at the beautfully dressed Camels, very cute right ?


Beautifully dressed Camels Rajasthan
Beautifully dressed Camels Rajasthan

Very colorful dresses for Camels

Beautifully dressed Camels Rajasthan 1
Beautifully dressed Camels Rajasthan


Peacock trying to impress Peahen, but she is busy drinking water :-)

Peacock Impressing Peahen Jaipur
Peacock Impressing Peahen Jaipur


Ravanahatha, ancient violin, and the music so pleasing....  

Ravanahatha Rajasthan Folk music
Rajasthan Folk music

Colorful Turbans

Colorful Turban of Rajasthan
Colorful Turban of Rajasthan


A Small boy with turban and trying to play folk music on Ravanahatha

Ravanahatha Rajasthan Folk music
Ravanahatha Rajasthan Folk music

Puppet show is very interesting, you should not miss

Puppet Show Rajasthan
Famous Puppet Show


This is the magician puppet, very interesting. The puppet does the magic, how cool is that :-)

Magician Puppet in Puppet Show Rajasthan
Magician Puppet in puppet show

Wov, that is really a superb blow .... Traditional Fireplay

Traditional Fireplay Rajasthan
Traditional Fireplay 


Bhavai Dance - Balancing Earthern Pot Dance

Bhavai Dance Balancing Earthern Pot Dance
Bhavai Dance - Balancing Earthern Pot Dance

Mehendi

Mehendi Rajasthan
Mehendi Rajasthan

Fire pot Dance

Firepot Dance Rajasthan
Firepot Dance Rajasthan

Artist with Lord Shiva Makeup

Artist with Lord Shiva Makeup Rajasthan
Artist with Lord Shiva Makeup Rajasthan

Village Hut using Clay and Straw

Clay and Straw Village Hut Rajasthan
Clay and Straw Village Hut Rajasthan

Clay and Straw Village Hut Rajasthan
Clay and Straw Village Hut Rajasthan

Wov, so vibrant color Bangles

Colorful Bangles Rajasthan
Colorful Bangles Rajasthan

Colorful Bangles Rajasthan
Colorful Bangles Rajasthan

Colorfully decorated Kumkum box

Colorful decorated kumkum box Rajasthan
Colorful decorated kumkum box Rajasthan


Beautiful and very colorful handbags

Colorful Handbags Rajasthan
Colorful Handbags Rajasthan

Colorful Sandals

Colorful Sandals Rajasthan
Colorful Sandals Rajasthan

Bright and Colorful Shoes, Sandals

Colorful Shoes and Sandals Rajasthan
Colorful Shoes and Sandals Rajasthan

Textile Wall Art, very beautiful

textile wall art rajasthan
textile wall art rajasthan

Dress materials for Chudidhar with hand embroidery

Dress Material with art work Rajasthan
Dress Material with art work Rajasthan

Hand Weaving

Handweaving Rajasthan
Handweaving Rajasthan

Camel cart

Camel cart Rajasthan
Camel cart Rajasthan

Customized Sugarcane Juice Vehicle

Customized Sugarcane Juice Vehicle
Customized Sugarcane Juice Vehicle

Customized Vehicle that carries Wheat crop

Customized Vehicle to carry wheat crop Rajasthan
Customized Vehicle to carry wheat crop Rajasthan

Customized vehicle with lots of passengers

Customized vehicle with too many passengers Rajasthan
Customized vehicle too many passengers

Cycle Rickshaw

Cycle Rickshaw Rajasthan
Cycle Rickshaw Rajasthan

Cycle Rickshaws Rajasthan
Cycle Rickshaws Rajasthan

Van with overloaded passengers and passengers on Roof

Passengers on roof of van
Passengers on roof of van

Wheat Harvesting Vehicle

Wheat crop harvesting vehicle Rajasthan
Wheat crop harvesting vehicle Rajasthan

Beautiful view of NH near Jaipur 

Scenic NH near Jaipur
Scenic NH near Jaipur

Truck that carries Wheat Crop

Truck carrying Wheat crop
Truck carrying Wheat crop

Customized vehicle to carry Wheat Crop

Truck carrying Wheat crop
Truck carrying Wheat crop


Ultra modern Urban Auto with USA Flag and Sailing sensor

Modern Auto with USA Flag Rajasthan
Modern Auto with USA Flag 

This is rural auto

Colorful Rural Auto Rajasthan


Dry Cow dung cake used for fire in home cooking

Dry cowdung cake for Fire Rajasthan
Dry cowdung cake for Fire 

Wheat field with Farmers harvesting the crop

Farmers in Wheatfield Rajasthan
Farmers in Wheatfield Rajasthan


Wheat Field

Wheat Field Rajasthan
Wheat Field Rajasthan


Streetside Chat item vendor

Street Chat Items Rajasthan
Streetside Chat Items 


Streetside huge papad vendor

Streetside Papad Vendor Rajasthan
Streetside Papad Vendor Rajasthan

Camel Safari

Camel Ride Rajasthan
Camel Ride Rajasthan


Beautiful and very old temple

Harshat Mata Temple Abhaneri
Harshat Mata Temple Abhaneri

Now this is very interesting thing to check. We saw this after we come back from Abhaneri and joined the NH. In the first toll plaza while our car was waiting for payment, I just noticed this amazing and peculiar thing with Maina.

Whenever any Lorry come and stop here for the payment, this Maina go below the lorry near the tyre. Don't know what it is looking for, but as the lorry moves slowly this Maina was walking along very fast catching up with the lorry tyre. It just go close to tyre and take the shade. May be a trick to hide from the scorching sun? No idea, but I was so amazed to watch this.









Hope you enjoyed checking these interesting pics, share your comments below. Check the other related blogs as well.