Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole)

Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole)

Conceptual (Abstract)

Considered by one master to be the 'best tiger turf in the nation' Nagarahole is additionally a standout amongst the best places to see Asiatic Elephants. It is a piece of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which comprises of an adjacent complex of Protected Areas.

The park gets its name from the 'Nagarahole' or Snake River which moves through the Northern end of the Park. The Southern end is depleted by the Kabini stream which has now been dammed to make a huge repository, quite a bit of which exists in the Park. The waters of the lake bolster crocodile and otter. Different creatures incorporate Leopard, Wild Dog, Gaur, Sambar, Chital and Barking Deer.

The birdlife of Nagarahole is especially energizing with Malabar Trogon, Indian Great Black Woodpecker, Blyh's Baza, Crested Serpent Eagles, Osprey,Peregrine Falcon, Scarlet Minivets, Blackheaded Cuckoo Shrikes, different types of Barbets, Owls, Cuckoos, Flycatchers, and so forth being recorded here. The amusement seeing is by jeep, coracle and engine dispatch.

The name Nagarahole is gotten from the winding waterway which moves through the Park (In Kannada the word 'Naga' signifies snake and 'Gap' signifies stream). Nagarahole National Park is situated in the lower regions of the foggy blue Brahmagiri mountain range and straddles the pleasant regions of Kodagu (Coorg) and Mysore. At first comprised as a Sanctuary in 1955, it was in this way broadened and presented the status of a National Park in 1974. The Southern end is depleted by the Kabini stream (a tributary of the Cauvery) which has now been dammed to make an expansive supply, a lot of which exists in the park and which today isolates Nagarahole National Park from Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Seeker gatherer clans have possessed these woodlands for a few centuries. Of the 1500 or so individuals that live inside the park and a surmised 5 to 6 thousand on the edges, most are tribals called Jenu Kuruba, Betta Kuruba and Yerava. These tribals later took to cut and consume cultivating and gathering non-timber backwoods items available to be purchased to urban markets. Today, a considerable lot of these individuals function as workers in espresso manors or ranches and likewise take part in regular work given by the Forest Department.

Somewhere in the range of 1870 and 1980, 14% of the region of the present Park was obvious to raise monocultures of teak. Thick optional backwoods currently happen in spots where these ranches fizzled. As of not long ago, both the sodden and dry deciduous backwoods have been specifically logged.

The long haul the board objective of the British was to supplant common backwoods with the more productive teak and they effectively sought after this until Independence. Somewhere in the range of 1947 and 1955, the new Indian Government's arrangement swung to reaping however much of timber as could reasonably be expected, and to develop more nourishment. Innate and non-ancestral individuals were urged to involve Nagarahole's 'hadlus', they were urged to develop rice and moreover given shabby logging work. There were no untamed life assurance laws and chasing of predators was effectively empowered. In 1955, chasing of expansive warm blooded creatures ended up illicit, yet logging and infringements into the Park proceeded. It was just in 1974, when Nagarahole was pronounced a National Park and extreme new natural life insurances laws came into power that the circumstance began to change. In a total inversion of jobs, the administration presently attempted to check poaching, domesticated animals touching and evacuation of illicit infringements! Somewhere in the range of 1970 and 1980 around a 1000 squatters were moved out of the Park into resettlements. Timberland item misuse was directed in light of campaigning by natural life progressives and a center zone of 200sq. km. was differentiated to the rejection of ranger service exercises and the travel industry.

Location:The Park is situated in the South-Western corner of the province of Karnataka. Its Western limits contact that of the province of Kerala - and the Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary.

Scope: 11°45' - 12°15' N

Longitude: 76°5' - 76°25' E

Territory: 644 sq. km

Height: The Park is arranged at a normal rise of 800 - 850m (2625 - 2789 ft) above mean ocean level. The most elevated point is the Masalbetta top 959m (3146ft) and the least, the Kabini River 701m (2300ft).

Atmosphere: Nagarahole when all is said in done has a moderate atmosphere. Summer temperatures contact a limit of 32° C (89.6° F) amid the long periods of April/May, while winter temperatures rarely go beneath 15° C (59° F)

Precipitation: June to September are the wettest months with a normal of 1500mm. (59 inches)

Vegetation 

The northern and western pieces of Nagarahole National Park get higher precipitation (above 1200mm/47inches) and the vegetation here is distinctively clammy deciduous. The soggy deciduous woods are tall and thick. The overwhelming tree species are profitable timber trees, for example, Mathi (Terminalia tomentosa), Nandi (Lagerstroemia lanceolata), Honne (Pterocarpus marsupium) and Tadasalu (Grewia tilaefolia).

These woods are additionally home to two most costly timbers - Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) and Teak (Tectona grandis). Bende (Kydia calycina), whose bark is supported by elephants is universal as is Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus). A fascinating element of these wet deciduous backwoods is the open swampy grasslands called 'hadlus'. The dirt in the 'hadlus' being clayey and perpetually sodden backings a lavish development of green grass consistently. The 'hadlus' accordingly draw in expansive groupings of ungulates like gaur and sambar and fundamentally help the conveying limit of these woods .

The South-Eastern piece of Nagarahole is drier and thusly secured by dry deciduous woods. The dominating tree species here are Dindalu (Anogiessus latifolia), the Indian laburnam (Cassia fistula), the 'Fire of the timberland' (Butea monosperma) and bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus)

FAUN

Mammals:-
                Considered by one master to be the 'best tiger turf in the nation' Nagarahole is likewise a standout amongst the best places to see Asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus). There is an occasional development between the four Protected Areas of Wynad, Bandipura, Nagarahole and Mudumalai, which together structure the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.During the wet season and presently, grub, water and hence untamed life is equitably appropriated.

With the approach of the dry season the waters of the Kabini store are discharged for water system to ranchers further downstream. As the waters of the supply subside, the uncovered portion of land among waterline and tree line, is secured by rich youthful grass, which gives brilliant search to the herbivores. The assemblage of Elephants that accumulate in substantial numbers to exploit the rich nourishment source is a stunning exhibition in this manner making the long periods of March, April and May the most compensating along the backwaters of the Kabini for watching Elephants.

While Elephants become the dominant focal point, there is a lot of other natural life here, both along the Kabini backwaters and somewhere else in the Park. Nagarahole is a standout amongst the best places to see Indian Bison or Gaur (Bos gaurus) at such closeness. Typically, exceptionally timid and resigning, Gaur here are habituated to vehicles and permit close methodology. Different creatures incorporate Chital (Cervus hub), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). The basic tree tenants incorporate the Common Langur (Semnopithecus entellus), the Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata) and the Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica). The ever dynamic Smooth Indian Otter (Lutra perspicillata) is likewise observed here along the water bodies. Nagarahole's prey base is so rich and differing, that it bolsters a correspondingly high thickness of predators. The Tiger (Panthera tigris), the Leopard (Panthera pardus) and the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) are altogether found here in great numbers. It has been reported that Gaur are a customary element of the tiger's eating regimen in this Park. Sloth Bear (Melurses ursinus)are additionally found in this park especially after the principal downpours (April).

The birdlife of Nagarahole is especially energizing with more than 250 types of flying creatures. The species blend mirrors the diverse environments of this zone, and incorporates winged creatures like Malabar Trogon, Indian Great Black Woodpecker, Blyth's Baza, Crested Serpent Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Peregrine, Scarlet Minivets, Blackheaded Cuckoo Shrikes, different types of Barbets, Owls, Cuckoos, Flycatchers.

Amid the late spring months Cormorants, River Terns, Ducks, Teals, Waders, Herons, Painted Stork and Ibis are normally observed, along the backwaters of the Kabini. The plenitude of fish in the lake implies that feathered creatures like the Greyheaded Fishing Eagles and Osprey are likewise pulled in.

Difficult to miss are flying creatures like the Common Peafowl, the Gray Jungle Fowl, Racket Tailed Drongo, Stork Billed, Pied and the Common Kingfishers, and an assortment of Woodpeckers.

Reptiles and Amphibians

The most prominent of reptiles in Nagarahole are the Marsh or Mugger Crocodiles

(Crocodylus palustris) regularly observed lolling on the 'islands' specking the supply, amid the dry season. The Monitor Lizard is located sometimes in the forested territories, with reptiles like the Calotes very basic particularly around home. The Flying Lizard (Draco dussumieri) and the Indian (Chameleon zeylanicus) are likewise found here. Among the snakes, the Python, Common Cobra, Rat Snake, Vine Snake and the Bamboo Pit Viper are likewise announced, however incredibly difficult to see. The Pond Terrapins are found in the woods waterholes and are very various.

Butterflies

Among the butterflies, Common Grass Yellow (Tetrias hecabe), Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis), Crimson Rose (Tros hector), Common Rose(Tros aristolochiae), Common Tiger (Danais plexippus),Blue Tiger (Danais limniace), Common Indian Crow

( Euploea center) and Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas missipus) to give some examples, are very noticeable and simple to see and all the more so after the beginning of the rainstorm downpours (May/June)

Best time to visit

In spite of the fact that the Park is open consistently, the rainstorm time frame is best maintained a strategic distance from. The perfect time to visit the Park is among September and May.

Instructions to arrive

Air : Bangalore

Rail : The closest railhead is Mysore which is very much associated from Bangalore and Chennai.

Stree : The closest town to Nagarahole is Kutta (7 km). Significant towns that are open by street are Madikere (93 km), Mysore (96 km) and Bangalore (236 km). One could take a taxi from Mysore to either Nagarahole or to Karapura where the Kabini River Lodge is arranged. There are likewise State Transport transports working among Bangalore and Kabini River Lodge and Mysore and Mercara.

Convenienc(Accommodation) 

There are Forest Rest Houses at Nagarahole, Kalhalla, Murkal and Tithimathi. The levies run from Rs.600/ - for quarters to Rs.1000/to Rs.2000/ - for a suite.

Whom to contact

Assistant Conservator of Forests,
Wildlife Sub-division,
Vani Vilas Road,
Mysore- 570 002,
Ph : + 91 821 211559.

Deputy Conservator of Forests,
Wildlife Division,
Aranya Bhavan, Ashokpuram,
Mysore 570 008.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)
2nd Floor,
Aranya Bhavan,
18th Cross, Malleswaram,
Bangalore 560 003.
Ph : + 91 80 3341993/3345192.
The Kabini River Lodge has 14 very much delegated rooms, 6 cabins and rose convenience also. It offers a wilderness plan for its customers, which incorporate board, cabin and 2 safaris drives (counting an elephant ride and a coracle ride) into the Park in open vehicles joined via prepared naturalists.