Nagarhole National Park, a 247 square-mile park in Karnataka, has an astonishing abundance of wildlife including large mammals such as tiger, leopard, wild elephant, dhole (Indian wild dog), and gaur (Indian bison). Other species present are chital spotted deer, muntjac (barking deer), mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, mongoose, civet, otter, and more. The landscape is one of gentle slopes and shallow valleys. Dry deciduous forest trees are leafless in the summer rather than in the winter. There are grassy swamps where the soil is mostly clay, perennially moist, and which support a luxuriant growth of green grass all year. The change in terrain throughout the park in refreshing and the river system provides a unique wildlife viewing experience.
Nagarhole National park derives its name from the combination of tw9 Kannada words. ’Nagar,’ meaning snake, and ’hole,’ meaning streams and in keeping with its name, there are quite a few serpentines to be found in the rich tropical forests of the park. Nagarhole Park was set up in 1955 and by 1975, its area was increased to include a greater expanse of forest reserve. The original forest was once an exclusive hunting ground for the erstwhile Maharajas of Mysore. The park has been recently renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park after the late Prime Minister of India.
Nagarhole National Park is counted among India s best wildlife parks and is open all throughout the year but the best time of the year to visit is from October to May and especially so during April- May.