Escape to the Bangalore's wilderness

When it comes to weekend getaways, Bangalore can spoil you with choices. The fast-paced metro life is balanced by an array of equally chilled-out holiday spots that a city slicker can take flight to. And if you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a stint in Bangalore is all you need, for there are at least four wildlife parks and sanctuaries at a few measly hours’ drive from the city.

To be a part of the daily rhythm of the jungle, better make a beeline for BR Hills. Perched at a height of 5091 ft above sea level, the BR Hill Sanctuary paints a pretty picture with a sea of deciduous trees and flowing long grasses. You could chance upon prancing deers or elegant sambhars. Tigers, antelopes, gaurs, chital, elephants and three species of squirrels including the flying squirrel are also found here. A mere 100 kms from Bangalore, BR hills makes for a memorable weekend trip. A short sightseeing trip to Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple and Dodda Sampige Mara (a large Champaka tree, 34 mtrs in height and 20 mtrs of girth, surrounded by many lingams around its trunk) is also called for.

Spike up your wildlife expedition with a dash of adventure sport (trekking, mountain biking) and a pinch of water sport (white-water rafting, kayaking and canoeing) at Dandeli, 481 kms from Bangalore. At the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, savour the colours of a tropical rain forest complete with steep slopes, charming deep river valleys and a forest terrain teeming with fauna. Kulgi Nature Camp, Shiroli Peak and Kavala Caves are day trip options from this spot.

About 210 km south of Bangalore, is Nagarhole National Park, recently renamed Rajiv Gandhi National Park, where you can indulge your wild side. An expansive 644 sq km of this park in the vicinity of Kabini River can be scaled through treks, jeep safaris and elephant rides! The park is an ornithologist’s delight with 250 varieties of birds nesting here. A day-excursion to Irpu Falls could also be planned.

Bandipur National Park, located 215 kms southwest of Bangalore, is a must-do on the list of every wildlife enthusiast. Come pre-monsoon showers and the forest is shaken out of its indolence and is filled with a buzz of wildlife activity. In fact, given the picturesque settings of backwaters of the Kabini reservoir and the awe-inspiring movement of huge herds of elephant and gaur, Bandipur is truly a not-to-be-missed paradise on earth.

Now here’s a platter full of all that is wild. Just go ahead and take the plunge!