Your rendevous with the wild begins at the Bandipur Safari Lodge, a property of Jungle Lodges & Resorts, located on the fringes of the Bandipur National Park. So it was with us as we spent a couple of days at the resort while travelling across Mysuru and the surrounding regions as part of the Discover Mysuru programme. Bandipur makes for a weekend getaway into the wilderness from Bengaluru and Mysuru and is one of the prime wildlife destinations in Karnataka and India. Read on for a review of Bandipur Safari Lodge based on our first-hand experience.
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Your Address In Bandipur
We had high expectations from the Bandipur Safari Lodge, as we had already experienced the hospitality of many of the properties of Jungle Lodges & Resorts. We have stayed at the Devbagh Beach Resort in Karwar and also the Om Beach Resort in Gokarna. Then again, we have also experienced the wilderness of Kudremukh at the Bhagavathi Nature Camp, the wild natural beauty of Nagarhole, at the Kings Sanctuary Resort, and the Bannerghatta Nature Camp located on the outskirts of Bangalore.
Bandipur Safari Lodge – Gateway To Bandipur National Park
Bandipur Safari Lodge’s location is truly strategic. It is right on the Ooty-Mysuru Road, yet once you enter its premises, you are cocooned by nature’s womb. The Lodge is just about a kilometre from the entrance to the Bandipur National Park, a drive of about five minutes.
The campus of Bandipur Safari Lodge, like all the properties of Jungle Lodges & Resorts, is a green haven. A walk through the green campus, flush with trees and medicinal herbs rejuvenates you and sets the tone for your adventure in the forests of Bandipur.
On arrival at the Bandipur Safari Lodge, we were greeted with warm smiles and cool glasses of lemon juice tinged with the flavour of a medicinal herb, known locally as Makali Beru ( Decalepis hamiltonii), a rare Ayurvedic herb that grows in the forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats of peninsular India. And thus began our experience of the Bandipur Safari Lodge on the edge of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
Accommodation At Bandipur Safari Lodge | Jungle Lodges Bandipur | Bandipur Safari Lodge by Jungle Lodges
We were escorted to our cottage by a friendly steward at the Bandipur Safari Lodge. The cottage was Maharaja I, an air-conditioned accommodation, named Red Munia, after the Red Avadavat or Strawberry Finch, a small sparrow-like bird with colourful plumage. All rooms at the Bandipur Safari Lodge are named after birds, so you are likely to be staying in a room named, Paradise Fly Catcher, Spotted Dove, King Fisher, etc..
The cottage was very spacious, with a comfortable double bed, a couch to relax in, a writing table, and air-conditioning. A television set that we never switched on and a tea-coffee maker, made up the amenities in the room. The bathroom was spacious and required toiletries and towels were provided. We were delighted to see the legendary and fragrant Mysore Sandal Soap occupying pride of place amongst the hotel toiletries.
A spacious verandah fronted the cottage, while the room opened onto a cosy sit-out equipped with comfortable cane chairs. A place to enjoy a cup of coffee while listening to the sounds of nature.
In our conversation with Shri H.P. Pampapati, Resident Manager of Bandipur Safari Lodge, we came to know that the Jungle Lodges Bandipur was started in 2004, with 12 rooms, and a restaurant. They now have 24 rooms, a restaurant that faces the road, and the Gol Ghar, a standard feature of all properties of Jungle Lodges & Resorts. Of the 24 rooms, 10 are AC rooms, while 14 are non-AC rooms.
Food At Bandipur Safari Lodge | Jungle Lodges Bandipur
One of the salient features of the Jungle Lodges & Resorts properties’, is that beginning with your early morning tea/coffee, and ending with your dinner is taken care of by the resort. The same was the case with Bandipur Safari Lodge. The day began with a hot cup of coffee or tea, followed by breakfast at the Gol Ghar, the restaurant for residents of the property. Afternoon was a buffet lunch, followed by high tea in the evening, and culminated with a nice buffet dinner at night.
The food is healthy, wholesome, and made from locally sourced organic vegetables and other ingredients. Typically the food is a medley of local South Indian fare like Uppma, Idli, Vada, Rasam, Sambhar, Rice, and different curries, along with Pan Indian fare including Paneer Masala, Rotis, Veg Fried Rice, Cabbage Manchurian, and more. The food has a homely touch, and we thoroughly enjoyed the different meals that we had during our stay at the Bandipur Safari Lodge.
Bandipur National Park Tiger Safari
The Tiger Safari is the primary reason for visiting Bandipur. It is convenient that the Bandipur Safari Lodge includes the Tiger Safari as part of the package that it offers its guests. The safari jeep leaves right from the gates of Bandipura Jungle Lodges Resort, making it very convenient for guests.
Immediately after checking in at the resort, we had a sumptuous lunch, and in the late afternoon, clambered onto the Safari Jeep for our foray into the Bandipur National Park, which extends over an area of about 874.20 sq km. The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is an important component of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Something is waiting to surprise you at every bend in the road at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
The big cats, Tigers and Leopards lurk in the forest, while Asian elephants trumpet in the lush wilderness of the park. A wide variety of Deer, including Chital, Sambar, and spotted Deer gambol gracefully amidst the teak, rosewood, sandalwood, bamboo, and other trees, while the monkey species prance from tree to tree.
The Bandipur forest was at its prettiest, as rains had endowed it with a lustre that bordered on the sublime, as we drove deeper into the forest. A herd of deer gave us a shy look and disappeared into the depths of the forest. A Bonnet Macaue, the species of monkeys that inhabit the Bandipur National Park, showed off its acrobatic skills, as we passed it. Some peacocks stood preening themselves in the sun, exhibiting their pleasure with the beautiful weather. It was a veritable Eden, the jungle seemed at peace with themselves, and their environment.
However, we were on the lookout for the elusive Tiger, and any slight movement in the forest, drew our attention, as we waited with bated breath for that moment. However, we did not spot a Tiger. We were a tad disappointed, as our jeep turned back. But destiny had other plans.
We spotted a leopard by the side of the dirt track on which we were. The leopard was marking a tree and later sat down near a bush, only to be heckled by a peacock. Irritated by the proud peacock, the Leopard disappeared into the bushes. As we made our way back, our luck was with us once again, as we spotted another leopard, this time resting on the branches of a tree, oblivious to the interest that it was generating. We were thrilled with the sighting, and happily made our way back to the welcoming environs of the Bandipur Safari Lodge.
We indulged in the thrill of adventure once again on an early morning safari, the next day. The forest was the same, but now it was waking up to the first rays of the sun and presented a magical avatar. On this safari, we spotted wild dogs and a herd of Indian Gaur, apart from plenty of deer, and an elephant. It was an invigorating morning experience that we would cherish for a long time.
Overall, we had a wonderful experience during our stay at the Bandipur Safari Lodge. The staff was very friendly and always eager to help, and their hospitality took the experience to another level. We would recommend the experience to everyone, and we would love to visit Bandipur and the Bandipur Safari Lodge, once again.
We hope you liked our review of the Bandipur Safari Lodge, do connect with us for any further details or clarifications. Have you experienced a stay at Bandipur Safari Lodge? We’d love to hear about your adventures and thoughts. Share your stories in the comments below!
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Sandy & Vyjay are a husband and wife duo who are travel content creators. They are co-founders of this travel website and are one of the leading travel content creators in India.
Sandy & Vyjay quit their successful corporate careers to pursue their passion for travel and writing full-time. Their dedication has earned them the “Best Travel Writer” award and numerous accolades on both national and international stages. Focusing on India’s destinations, heritage, and culture, they are passionate advocates for nature and the environment. Through their content, they promote ecotourism and sustainable travel, inspiring others to explore and preserve the beauty of India.
