Park like none other round the corner

Park like none other round the corner
— Anita Rao Kashi


With schools set to reopen in a few days, it is best to spend the last weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And there’s no better place than Bannerghatta National Park — a forest by the side of the city.
After a bone-crunching journey on Bannerghatta Road, the boundaries of Bannerghatta National Park are a welcome sight.
The zoo is actually at the entrance of the national park, which is spread over 25,000 acres. It is a good idea to finish with the safaris first, which take you out of the park and into the reserve forest area. About 20 people can be seated in the forest department-run safaris vans.
Tigers and lions are housed in two separate forested enclosures, which are controlled by elaborate gates and electric fencing. But the safari is the next best thing to seeing these fabulous cats in the wild.
The cats appear to be quite used to seeing humans and might appear a tad tame, but the sheer majesty and rippling muscles of these animals are definitely awe-inspiring.
Around lunch time, they appear to be quite ferocious and restless. A couple might even come up to your van hoping for a meal!
It is a good idea to check out the elephant ride after the safari and before you return back to the zoo area. The gentle giant and its swaying motion will come as a pleasant contrast after the enclosed drive. As for the stroll in the zoo, fortify yourself with refreshments for it is long and time-consuming.
From a variety of snakes to deer, from birds to monkeys and langurs, from sloth bears to hippos — it is a veritable jungle. For children, there’s a play area along with seating arrangements for adults.
A little cafe and the ubiquitous Indian vendor hawk everything from ice creams to cotton candy.
For the more adventurous, there are trekking trails in the park like the one to Mirza Hill, located at a distance of 1.5 km. There’s also Uddigebande, a vantage point which looks over a green valley and provides a panoramic view and Hajjamana Kallu, a crescent shaped rocky outcrop.
The newly opened butterfly park is a huge hit with children and is the only place near the city where one can see butterflies of so many sizes and shapes.
FACT FILE
Distance: 25 km south of Bangalore
How to reach: Bannerghatta Road leads right up to the national park
BMTC plies regular services to the park. KSTDC has package tours to Bannerghatta and to Pearl Valley, which is close by
Entry fee: Rs 20 for entry to park only; Rs 80 (Rs 60 for senior citizens) for safari (inclusive of park entry)