Karnataka, the very word conjures up images of a variety of interesting wildlife. A celebrated tourist destination of South India, Karnataka is a paradise for wildlife lovers. Its rich diversity of flora and fauna leave tourists with an urge to come back to this wonderful destination again and again. Around 20 percent of the total geographical area of the state is covered by dense forests, which supports a variety of wildlife. Whether it is animals, reptiles, amphibians, mammals or birds, the state offers a lot to fascinate tourists. The state boasts of around 23 protected areas.
The Western Ghats in the western region of Karnataka are extremely rich in flora and fauna. Talacauvery and Kudremukh are the two regions of the Western Ghats, which are under consideration by UNESCO to be tagged as World Heritage Sites. Bandhipur National Park and Nagarahole National Park located in Karnataka are a part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve, which is a World Heritage Site.
Providing shelter to a variety of wildlife, this is the largest wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka. It is equally rich in scenic beauty, which encompasses steep slopes, hill forest terrain and river valleys. Other highlights of the sanctuary are trekking, boating and white water rafting.
Visit the Park to treat your eyes to a variety of interesting wildlife such as four-horned antelope, tiger, leopard, wild elephant and Indian wild dog. Covering an area of 247 sq miles, the Park has a beautiful river.
A part of the Project Tiger, Bandhipur National Park is rich in flora and fauna. Asiatic elephant is one of the main inhabitants of the Park. The Park is a home to around 230 species of birds.
Ideally surrounded by the mountains, the sanctuary is famous for its endangered mahseer fish. A variety of other wildlife is also found here. The Cauvery river passing through the sanctuary is a promising site for wildlife sighting.
Although there are 18 wildlife sanctuaries in the state but the most famous ones are:
