Bengaluru has a lot in store for wildlife enthusiasts in the form of the sprawling Bannerghatta National Park. This zoological reserve and wildlife sanctuary, located 22 km south of Bengaluru and spread over 104.27S sq. km, was established in 1971. Wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers continue to throng it, only to have an enlightening soul-searching and reposing experience in the lap of Mother Nature. Here, you learn lessons for a lifetime in history, nature, wildlife and botany.
The zoo is open to visitors round the year and also includes a museum, a reptile park and a theatre. There is a breathtaking Butterfly Park that is one of its kind in the country and will make you aware of the presence of these fluttering beauties such that it shall linger forever in your mind. Another part of it that you cannot miss is the Bannerghatta Biological Park. This park houses a majestic collection of tigers and lions rescued from circuses over time. You can take a safari to catch a glimpse into their world without encroaching on their privacy.
Bannerghatta is also known for its collection of feathered beauties. There are over 150 species of birds that have taken home here due to the presence of dense vegetation, scrub land and forest cover. Some rare varieties like the White Ibis, Yellow-throated Bulbul, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Collared Scop’s Owl, Eurasian Eagle, White bellied Drong, Brown Fish Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Grey Heron, Common grey Hornbill and Paradise Flycatcher can be spotted here.
If you keep your eyes and ears open, you will be treated to the delight of exotic species of both flora and fauna. There are gigantic and overwhelmingly beautiful trees that will make you stand and stare in awe. These trees also provide shelter all round the year, helping maintain the temperature and humidity of the park to tolerable levels. There are unique tree species including Wrightia tinctoria, Neem, Sandal,Terminalia tomentosa, tamarind, Albizzia sp., Randia sp., Shorea talura, T. arjuna, Vitex altissima,Grewia tilaefolia, Schleichera oleosa, Angoeissus latifolia, Emblica officinalis, jalari and many more. The monsoon brings refreshing showers, covering the place in a blanket of lush green so that it is both soothing and pleasing to visit. Bamboos can be seen dotting the park and a small portion of it is dedicated to Eucalyptus plantations.
A diversity of wildlife can be seen in this park. To say so would be something of an understatement indeed. Elephants, cheetal, slow loris, wild boar, fox, squirrels, porcupine, muntjac, bonnet macaque, gaur, leopard, wild pig, sambar, barking deer, langur, bison, white tiger, Bengal tiger, panther and sloth bear can be found in abundance to name a few. These animals have been preserved in their natural habitat so as to allow them to propagate. If you wish to visit the park to spot wildlife, then doing so between November and June would be a good idea. The collection of wildlife here is sure to spark your interest.
A visit to the Bannerghatta National Park can be aptly described as a Tryst with Nature. The entire area of the park includes 10 reserve forests from the Anekal Range. The forests are lined with hills abounding in ancient temples. The vegetation is mainly scrub land and dense dry and moist deciduous forests. The Suvarnamukhi stream, originating from the Suvarnamukhi Hill, cuts through the park. At a distance of 2km from this hill, the Suvarnamukhi pond is believed to have curative powers.
The Bannerghatta National Park boasts of a snake park that houses a unique collection of these scaly and slithering beauties. You will encounter innumerable species of snakes here. Other major attractions are a crocodile farm, aquarium and museum.
Another striking and wonderful factor that doesn’t go unnoticed is that the whole park is a plastic-free zone. Any pollution in the form of littering of plastic is an offence and can lead to hefty fines. This is an essential measure that ensures the safety of the flora and fauna that embrace this park and must be adhered to.
If you happen to browse the net for Bannerghatta National Park, you will mostly find information about the zoo and the safari. There will be occasional references to the snake park, reptile park and bird collection. However, this is a very small portion of the entire park, which encompasses 104.27 sq. km. These have been rescued from circuses and also been found injured and abandoned in the forests. It mansions over 200 elephants that commute between the Eastern and Western Ghats and a huge variety of other wildlife.
Most of the park has restricted entry and is not open to visitors. It is under continuous surveillance of the forest department to regulate any undue disturbance. However, the forests can be trekked under special requests to the forest department.
I have had the personal experience of being on one such trek a couple of years ago with some friends on a leadership camp. Ere that trek, I had often been to the park with friends and family and complained about it. However, after this trek, the light in which I saw this park changed drastically and I can say for sure that it was an enchantingly mesmerizing experience. The place was dripping in beauty and diversity. The scenic beauty was splendid and it took me to a level close to nirvana. We followed the foot marks of some elephants and learnt to make one out from the other.
The trek itself was an insane amount of fun but I learnt so much about wildlife that I had absolutely no clue about. What fascinated me the most was the realization of what pure natural beauty untouched and guarded by mankind could be like. The hills spread out all over, covered by a green cover superb to trek upon. When I reached the top, the whipping and refreshing wind filled every iota of my body with energy anew. Little did I know that Bannerghatta National Park would help me gain inner peace and make me feel so close to nature.