Bandipur, on the Mysore to Ooty road in Karnataka, is one of South India's great tiger reserves, easy to reach and rich in elephants and gaur.
The Karnataka Forest Department runs the safari here. Most visitors take the forest safari, a bus or a jeep, and book it at the office near the gate. You can arrange a few seats ahead. The state also runs the Bandipur Safari Lodge, which gives you a stay with safari. You can visit through much of the year, with a break in the heavy monsoon.
Who needs to book
You need a seat on a forest department safari to enter the reserve. You cannot drive your own car into the safari zone. A registered bus or jeep with a driver and a guide takes you in. Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians, so carry your passport and give the correct nationality.
Bus and jeep safari, in plain words
Bandipur is known for its forest safari. The bus is bigger, cheaper per person, and easy to get. The jeep is smaller and gives you a closer look, and more people want it, so reach the office early. Both run in a morning slot and an afternoon slot. Both go into the same teak forest and open ground, where elephants gather.
How to book, step by step
Reach the Bandipur office near the main gate, at Melukamanahalli on the highway, and book your bus or jeep seat for the next slot. Come early, because the jeep seats are few and go fast. Give identity for each traveller, and the correct nationality. For a planned trip, book the Bandipur Safari Lodge. The state runs it through Jungle Lodges and Resorts, and it includes your safari and stay. Carry the same original identity you gave at booking.
What it costs
Your cost is the safari fee per person. The jeep costs more than the bus, and foreigners pay more than Indians. The forest team sets these fees, and the office shows them on the day. The state lodge quotes a package that includes the safari. We do not print a fee we cannot see clearly on the official source, because these figures change. You will see the current amount before you pay.
Documents you need
You need one government photo identity per traveller. Indians can use Aadhaar. Foreigners use a passport. Carry the same original to the office, because staff match it to your booking.
Season and timings
Bandipur stays open for much of the year, so it is easy to plan. In the heavy monsoon and on some closed days, the forest team may limit safaris. You get a morning safari and an afternoon safari, and the clock times shift a little with the season. The dry months, when animals gather at water, give you the best sightings, so late in the dry season is a fine time to come.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is thinking you can book a private jeep into the core, because Bandipur runs the forest department safari and you take that. The next is reaching the office late for the jeep, because the seats are few and go early. Do not drive your own car into the safari zone, because it is not allowed. Do not give the wrong nationality, or staff may stop you at the gate.
Questions people ask
How do I book a Bandipur safari?
You take the Karnataka Forest Department safari, a bus or a jeep, booked at the Bandipur office near the gate. A limited number can be arranged ahead.
Bus or jeep, which is better?
The bus is cheaper and easy to get. The jeep is smaller and more personal, and in higher demand, so come early.
Is there a government lodge?
Yes, the Bandipur Safari Lodge, run by Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a Karnataka government undertaking, offers a stay with safari.
Do foreigners pay more?
Yes, foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians.
When is Bandipur open?
For much of the year, with limits in the heavy monsoon and on some closed days. Check before you travel.