AROUND BANGALORE
There is plenty of outdoor activity possible around Bangalore.
FOREST & WILDLIFE
Some of the richest forests of South India are just a 5 to 6
hour drive from Bangalore –which include the Bandipur
National Park and the Rajiv Gandhi National Park at Nagarhole.
These are excellent Tiger and Elephant habitats.
During the dry summer months of January through April herds
of Asiatic Elephants, often in the hundreds, can be seen by
the banks of the Kabini reservoir, which is surrounded by forests
. An unforgettable sight for any wildlife enthusiast!
The largest population of the Asiatic Elephant can be found
in Bandipur, Nagarhole,B.R.Hills, Mudumalai and Wyanad all of
which form the Nilgiri Bio-sphere.
Tiger, Leopard and the Wild Dog are the three predators to be
found in these forests. For these predators there are several
prey species like the Gaur (the largest wild cattle in the world)
often and erroneously referred to as the ‘Indian Bison’,
the Sambar Deer, Chital or Spotted Deer and Muntjac or Barking
Deer. The lesser cats, Sloth Bears, Striped Hyaena, Wild Boar,
Malabar Giant Squirrel, Langur and Bonnet Macaque are some of
the other mammals, which inhabit these forests. Marsh Crocodiles
are often sighted in the Kabini reservoir. Birds, reptiles,
butterfly and insects, these forests have them all.
RIVERS & ANGLING
While there are several rivers around Bangalore none can compare
with the beauty of the Cauvery. This river, which originates
in the hilly region of Coorg district flows south and east to
the Bay of Bengal. Most
of the other rivers of the region like the Kabini, Lakshman
Tirtha, Shimsha and Arkavathy are tributaries to the Cauvery.
Apart from meeting the drinking water and irrigation needs of
the two states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery has
some of the biggest Mahseers , the legendary sport fish of India.
It also offers the thrill of river rafting during the Monsoon
rains of June to September when the rocky riverbed transforms
to white water rapids.
HILLS MOUNTAINS & TREKKING/CAMPING
Bangalore situated on the Deccan Plateau is about 3000 feet
above sea level, but the mountains of the Western Ghats and
the Nilgiris rise to 6000 to 8000 feet and these high lands
offer plenty of opportunities for trekking, camping, rafting,
birding, and photography. Campsites on private plantations offer
not just a hassle free camping experience in a scenic environment
but some creature comforts like clean restrooms! Plantation
Home Stays afford the opportunity of experiencing the hospitality
of Coorg and Wyanad, walks and drives through spice and coffee
country, tasting the local cuisine, and exploring the environment.
There are Home Stays that cater to the tranquility and luxury
seeking traveler and those that welcome the backpacking adventure
seeker.
SEASONS
To experience the outdoor world around Bangalore it is important
to specify your outdoor interest and activities. These are some
suggestions:
- Wildlife is best observed in
the dry and warm months of February thru’ April.
- Mahseer fishing in the river
Cauvery is best from November to April.
- Trekking, Camping and Plantation
Home Stays are best during the South Indian winter months
of November thru’ February.
- River Rafting is a Monsoon activity
in South India as the monsoon rains feed the rivers.
- Birding can be a year round activity
but is best after the monsoons are over in November.
|
