Weekend getaway from Mysuru · #5 of 10
Bandipur National Park
Mysuru's nearest tiger reserve, ~80 km south on the Ooty road, a Project Tiger park since 1973 in the Nilgiri Biosphere. Pair safaris with the fog-wrapped Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta hill temple. Highway shut 9 PM-6 AM.
Mysuru's backyard jungle is calling! Spend your morning chasing mist at Gopalaswamy Betta, settle into a safari lodge, and track big game on back-to-back drives through Bandipur - once the royal hunting grounds.
Getting there
A fast highway sprint to Gundlupet! Just watch your speed once you hit the reserve stretch, and remember the gates close tight from 9 PM to 6 AM.
Day 1 - Saturday
Misty mountain views and the evening tiger trail- 16:30 AMDrive
Drive Mysuru to Gundlupet
Cruise down NH-766 past Nanjangud for an easy hour and fifteen minutes. Keep your eyes peeled for the Gopalaswamy Betta turn-off just 10 km past Gundlupet.
- 28:30 AMSight
Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Bandipur's highest peak (1,450 m) is wrapped in dreamy year-round fog and crowned by the 1315 Venugopalaswamy temple. Catch the forest department shuttle right from the foothill post.
📍 Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, Gundlupet
Tip · Park at the check post and take the forest bus (8:30 AM to 4 PM, Rs 60 return). Leave snacks behind - outside food isn't allowed up top!
- 312:30 PMFood
Lunch in Gundlupet
Fuel up with a piping-hot veg thali or quick tiffin in town before heading into the lodge belt. It's comfort food at its best.
📍 Gundlupet, Karnataka
- 42:00 PMStay
Check in near Bandipur
Unpack at your safari lodge or forest cottage right on the edge of the reserve, then kick back for a quick breather before your afternoon game drive.
📍 Bandipur, Karnataka
- 53:30 PMActivity
Evening safari
Hop into a bus or open jeep into Bandipur Tiger Reserve to spot chital, gaur, wild elephants, wild dogs, and - with some luck - a tiger or leopard.
📍 Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
- 67:00 PMFood
Dinner at the lodge
Tuck into an early dinner at the lodge. Once the highway shuts down at 9 PM, the whole forest turns blissfully quiet.
📍 Bandipur, Karnataka
Day 2 - Sunday
First light in the jungle and a sweet detour home- 76:15 AMActivity
Dawn safari
Bundle up for the day's first safari! Crisp dawn hours are the coolest and most exciting time to catch carnivores on the prowl.
📍 Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Tip · Book your morning safari slot at the reception desk the evening before so you don't miss out.
- 89:00 AMFood
Breakfast
Head back to the lodge for a hearty breakfast and wrap up checkout.
📍 Bandipur, Karnataka
- 910:30 AMActivity
Buffer-zone nature walk
Stretch your legs on a guided birding walk through the dry deciduous buffer zone, home to more than 200 winged species.
📍 Bandipur, Karnataka
- 1012:30 PMFood
Lunch
Grab a relaxed lunch at your lodge or head back into Gundlupet for a tasty bite.
📍 Gundlupet, Karnataka
- 112:00 PMFood
Tender coconut halt
Pull over in Nanjangud on the drive home for fresh tender coconut water and a sweet box of classic mysore pak.
📍 Nanjangud, Karnataka
- 123:00 PMDrive
Drive back to Mysuru
A breezy 90-minute drive home, getting you back to Mysuru well before dusk.
Where to eat
Classic, no-nonsense highway veg thalis. Make sure to eat your fill here - it's your last proper food stop before entering the forest.
This famous temple town en route is beloved for its fragrant rasabale bananas and melt-in-your-mouth sweets.
When to go
Sparse foliage and busy waterholes give you the absolute best odds for big game sightings.
Lush, pleasantly cool, and comfortable - with Gopalaswamy Betta's morning fog at its thickest.
Safaris run between rain showers; watch for leeches on walks, but enjoy having the lush park almost to yourself.
Good to know
- The NH-766 forest stretch closes to traffic from 9 PM to 6 AM, so be sure to plan all your drives during daylight hours.
- Never stop, honk, or feed wildlife along the highway - park rangers strictly enforce heavy fines.
