Bannerghatta National Park

Bannerghatta National Park is a protected area and biological park in Karnataka, India, on the southern outskirts of Bengaluru. It combines a wildlife reserve with a zoo, a butterfly park and conservation and education facilities.

The park contains a vehicle-accessible safari reserve, a zoological park with rescued animals, and a butterfly park; safari drives and the zoo are the main attractions, with timed entries and guided services. Visitors commonly spend a few hours up to a full day, and facilities include trails, picnic areas and interpretive displays.

The site was created in the late 20th century as a protected area and has since developed zoo and conservation functions alongside forest protection. Management focuses on combining wildlife conservation, rescue and public education.

Bannerghatta lies south of Bengaluru in Karnataka and is reached by road from the city; the terrain is a mix of dry deciduous forest, rocky outcrops and valleys typical of the region.

• Proximity to Bengaluru: Located roughly 20-25 kilometres south of central Bengaluru, making it a frequent day-trip destination for city residents and visitors.
• Scale and composition: Covers an area of about 100 square kilometres, combining protected forest, managed zoo facilities and visitor attractions such as a safari and butterfly park.

What to See #

• Safari reserve: A wildlife safari zone where visitors can see free-roaming herbivores and carnivores from a guided vehicle; safari sections are restricted and operate on set schedules.
• Zoo and rescue centre: A zoological park that exhibits bears, lions, tigers and other species with enclosures and rescue facilities operated by the park authority.
• Butterfly and education park: A dedicated butterfly park and small biological education centre that showcases native and tropical butterflies and runs outreach and conservation programmes.