National Parks in Karnataka

Karnataka is home to 5 national parks.

Table of Contents

Anshi National Park

Location: Joida and Karwar Taluks, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka, India.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1956.
National Park: Anshi National Park created in 1987 from Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tiger Reserve: Declared under Project Tiger in 2007; renamed Kali Tiger Reserve in 2015.
Area: ~339.87 sq.km (131.19 sq miles).
River: Kali River (connects Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park).
Waterfalls: Magod Falls, Shivaganga Falls.
Plants: Silver oak, Bamboo, Eucalyptus, Teak, Indian gamboge.
Animals: Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Black Panther, Malabar Civet, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Indian Bison.

Location: Chamarajanagar and Mysuru Districts, Karnataka, India; tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala; Nilgiri Hills, Western Ghats.
Private Hunting Reserve: Originally a private hunting reserve for the Maharajas of the Kingdom of Mysore.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Established as Venugopala Wildlife Park in 1931 (private hunting reserve earlier).
Tiger Reserve: Declared under Project Tiger in 1973.
National Park: Expanded and renamed Bandipur National Park in 1985.
Biosphere Reserve: Included in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986.
UNESCO: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO in 2000.
Area: ~874 sq.km (337 sq miles).
Hills: Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (highest point).
River: Kabini, Moyar, Nugu.
Lake: Kabini Reservoir.
Plants: Teak, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Indian Kino Tree, Kadam, Indian Gooseberry.
Animals: Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Four-horned Antelope, Dhole, Striped Hyena, Rusty-spotted Cat, Nilgiri Tahr, Red-headed Vulture, Indian Vulture, Mugger Crocodile.

Location: Southern Karnataka, India; Anekal mountain range; northern terminal of Mysuru Elephant Reserve.
Zoological Park: Established in 1960s for wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared in 1971 as a biological park and sanctuary.
National Park: Declared in 1974.
Lion Safari: Built in 1979.
Tiger Safari: Established in 1987.
Biological Park: Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) formed in 2002; first fenced forested elephant sanctuary in India.
Butterfly Enclosure: Inaugurated in 2006; first in India.
Area: ~260.51 sq.km (100.55 sq miles).
River: Suvarnamukhi River.
Plants: Sandalwood, Neem, Arjuna, Eucalyptus.
Animals: Tiger, Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Indian Gazelle, Striped Hyena, Slender Loris.

Location: Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka; Western Ghats; tri-junction of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Chikkamagaluru districts.
Naming: Named after Kudremukh Peak.
Reserved Forest: Notified in 1916.
National Park: Declared in 1987.
Area: ~600 sq.km (231 sq miles).
Hills: Kudremukh Peak, Kalasa Hill Range, Gangamoola Hill, Varaha Parvatha.
River: Tunga River, Bhadra River, Nethravathi River.
Waterfalls: Kadambi Waterfalls, Hanuman Gundi Falls, Lakya Dam Falls.
Plants: Evergreen forests, shola forests.
Animals: Tiger, wild dog, leopard, Malabar giant squirrel, sloth bear.

Location: Kodagu and Mysuru districts, Karnataka; Western Ghats; part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; bordered by Bandipur National Park (south) and Kabini Reservoir (north).
Other Name: Rajiv Gandhi National Park.
Hunting Reserve: Used as a private game reserve by the Maharajas of Mysore in the 19th century.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared in 1955.
Biosphere Reserve: Included in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986 (India’s first biosphere reserve).
National Park: Upgraded in 1988.
Renaming: Renamed Rajiv Gandhi National Park in 1992.
Tiger Reserve: Declared under Project Tiger in 1999.
Elephant Reserve: Included in Mysore Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant in 2000.
UNESCO Status: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO in 2000; part of Western Ghats World Heritage Site (2012).
Area: ~643 sq.km (248 sq miles).
River: Nagarahole River.
Lake: Kabini Reservoir.
Plants: Teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian kino tree.
Animals: Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, Indian leopard, dhole, striped hyena, white-rumped vulture, Nilgiri wood pigeon, mugger crocodile.