Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi National Park) shares an unbroken forest corridor with Bandipur across the Kabini River, together forming one of the largest contiguous protected forest blocks in southern India. The Kabini reservoir zone on Nagarhole's southern boundary is legendary — during summer, as water levels recede, vast mudflats and grasslands attract massive herds of elephants, creating some of India's most photographed wildlife spectacles. Both boat safaris on the Kabini backwaters and jeep safaris into the core zones are available. Tiger density here is among the highest in India, and the relatively open Kabini fringes make sightings more likely than in thicker forest zones. The park's mix of moist deciduous forest, bamboo thickets, and riverine habitat also supports sloth bears, dholes, and an impressive roster of raptors.