Anyone who wishes to experience the beauty of the Nilgiri Biosphere
Reserve in South India should make it a point of staying in one of the many
wonderful Resorts in Bandipur. The
Bandipur National Park covers an area of almost 900 square kilometers and is
home to many species of wildlife, many of which are close to extinction. This
place has been a wildlife reserve since 1931 when it was owned by the Maharaja
of Mysore. It became a Project Tiger reserve in 1973 and has been very
successful at providing a safe haven for these endangered animals.
The experience of staying in one of the Bandipur Jungle Resorts is indeed an uplifting one because this is
as close to nature as one can get without giving up on creature comforts!
Probably the first thing that strikes people about the resorts here is that
they are designed and built to blend in beautifully with the surroundings. Some
of the properties here offer international standards of luxury and comfort but
their overall design never looks out of place. Most places here have thatched
roofs and they have been built to blend seamlessly with the forests that
surround them.
It is not uncommon for wild animals and birds to frequent the
properties, enabling visitors to observe them at very close quarters. Peacocks
and pheasants are very frequent visitors as are troops of unruly monkeys. One
can even get to see herds of deer and elephant, especially if the property
adjoins a river. Night time is particularly stunning in this area since city
dwellers can finally get too experience peaceful silence. The sight of the
majestic starry night sky is also a first time experience for many people from
cities.
Bandipur National Park Resorts offer visitors plenty of interesting things to do
in addition to enjoying the stunning natural beauty. Trekking, in the company
of an experienced guide, is a very popular activity here. People also come here
to enjoy angling. Most resorts also offer jungle safaris so that visitors can
get deep into the jungle in order to experience it better. Himavad
Gopalaswamy Betta, the highest point in the national park, is also a popular
tourist attraction not just for the views but also because there is a Hindu
temple there.
Two of the most beautiful
resorts in Bandipur are The Serai and Wildflower Resorts. Both these resorts
offer very high standards of accommodation and a range of facilities including
a spa. Bandipur Safari Lodge is run by the Government of Karnataka and it
provides a surprisingly good stay at excellent prices. Dhole’s Den is a very
well managed home stay. All in all, there are accommodation options to suit a
variety of budgets and requirements.
