History of Nagarhole National Park:
The name of the park is made up of two words: naga meaning "snake" and hole meaning "streams". It came into existence as an exclusive hunting reserve for the former rulers of Mysore, the Wodeyar Dynasty. In 1955, it was set up as a wildlife sanctuary. Once its area increased to around 640 km, in 1988, it was converted to a national park. Finally, after 1999, it has been recognized as a tiger reserve.
Places to Stay Near Nagarhole National Park:
- Coorg Coffee Camp: A serene spot in the lap of nature, known for its food, staff service and hygiene maintenance. Provides complimentary breakfast.
- Otter's Creek Nature Camp: A riverside Camp offering spacious cottages for stay. Smoking and drinking are strictly prohibited on the grounds. Provides complimentary breakfast.
- Pepper Trail: Set in the heart of a colonial coffee and spice plantation, this homestay offers five star services in terms of dining and living experience.
- Tiger Teak Homestay: An ideal spot for family vacations, this homestay is owned and governed by the Nachappa family, and offers homely dining and stay experience.
Places to Eat Near Nagarhole National Park:
- Shiva Shakti Bhojnalaya: Priced at RS. 400 for two, this restaurant serves delicious South Indian delicacies made from ingredients grown within Coorg.
- Gujarat Bhavan: Gujarat Bhavan has a fairly diverse menu and serves good food from across the country.
- Red Ribbon Restaurant: This pocket-friendly restaurant serves traditional Coorg dishes, and also provides home services to homestays and camps.
- Neel Sagar: Located within the mall Chick Complex, this eatery serves vegetarian dishes, mostly South Indian. It also serves as a sweet shop and sells its own range of South Indian sweets.
Network Connectivity:
Most areas in or around Nagarhole National Park have good network connectivity on mobiles. However, the network coverage becomes weaker as one moves deeper into the forest areas or in the lodges and homestays that are housed deep within the forests. The connectivity, however, depends on the individual network brands on the users' phones. Common brands like Airtel or Vodafone have fairly decent coverage.
Traveller's Tips for Visiting Nagarhole National Park:
- Since the road to the park closes down at 6 pm, it is advisable that tourists reach there before evening sets in.
- Those interested in hiking or trekking through the National Park should preferably visit the park at any time of the year except monsoon.
- The section of the park near the Kabini River is more tourist-friendly and recommended to those who desire better accommodation and facilities for jeep safaris.
- One should be wearing shoes that are comfortable to walk in.
- To catch a glimpse of the elephants, an afternoon boat ride is the best option. It should be kept in mind that the chances of sighting a tiger are pretty less in these forests.
- While in the forest, smoking should be refrained due to the risk of a forest fire.
- Accessories like hats, scarves, etc. should be with the traveler at all times. Also, a torch and mosquito repellent should be kept at hand.
- All the rules of the forest are to be strictly followed.
- Littering the park should be avoided at all cost.
- One should be careful to note whether the hotel that one is staying in, provides jeep safaris or not. If not, then a canter safari that is provided by the Forest Department needs to be booked. To be on the safe side, it is better to reach 1-2 hours in advance as there are long queues for tickets and limited seats. A slightly more expensive but better option is to book a jeep safari. If canter safari is to be availed, then one should use the less crowded Veerana Hosahalli Gate instead of the Nanachi Gate.
