BNP (Bannerghatta National Park)

One of the great holiday spot in Bangalore city. 4 to 5 hrs of unlimited fun from the WILD SAFARI + ZOO + BUTTERFLY PARK.

Timings are 9 AM to 5 PM. Tuesday's Holiday. Weekends are too much crowded.

Route is very simple, straight road from Bannerghatta, BMTC buses available for every 10 mins. From Silkboard around 35 KM to & from distance.

My Experiences of BNP visit on 15-June-2014

I read some reviews before day and found out Sundays we should be first in the Que for SAFARI, otherwise we have to stand in long long Que. I reached BNP by 8:45 AM with my friend on my Thunderbird. I learned parking ticket will be given before reaching the entrance, since we reached early we parked directly without ticket. To take parking ticket we should walk 10 mins back on the BUS road after 9:15 AM.

NOTE: Some hotel guy (opposite to BNP entrance gate) asked us to park in his compound for 20/-. So It's your wish to pay more money. But BNP parking is so good and secured.

Ticket Counter opens after 9 AM, by the time we had Breakfast in Dosa point. Dosa is so crispy and tasty. Masala Dosa price 40/- , Plain Dosa 30/-.

There are 3 sections in the BNP:

1) WILD SAFARI : They will take us into the forest for 1 Hr in a vehicle (Zeep/Non-AC bus/AC-bus). Prices are different for each Vehicle. Zeep and Non-Ac buses are good for Photography and to see the nature with naked eye. AC buses sealed with glasses, so you will miss the enjoyment of true nature. We are in a forest, temperature are very low, no point in taking AC bus.

2) ZOO.

3) Butterfly park : Tickets available directly at Butterfly park only. not at the main ticket counter. Ticket price is 30/-. Camera cost 25/-, I have observed no one buying camera ticket, even no security inside. people are hiding their cameras while going-in.

Combination tickets available for SAFARI+ZOO for less price, or individual also we can buy. I paid 260/- for combination of SAFARI(non-ac bus) and ZOO. 25/- extra for camera.

Once you cross the entrance, we can go for any of 3 sections. On holidays, we should finish SAFARI first. Around 9:30 AM we entered inside, SAFARI started around 9:50 AM. till then we have to wait in the special arranged sitting places in order wise. Security guides us to the BUSes in Que wise. Que system is very good and very strict. Since we entered 15 mins late, we are in Que for 2nd bus. Since it is early morning, nearly 3 buses started at the same time.

IMP Note: Around 1 PM, I have seen 500+ people standing in huge Que. Sitting arrangement made only for around 200 people, remaining 300 people are standing in the SUN light. So guys if you are going on Holidays be there by 10 AM for SAFARI.

SAFARI Experience:

Non-AC bus having around 40 seats like mini-bus. 2+2 seat arrangement like BMTC buses. Secured metal grill arranged over the glass windows, small hole made for the photographers. We can keep camera lenses outside, but if the bus is moving lenses can hit the metal grill, so be careful. Seat selection is very important for camera hole. Every window seat having camera hole but glass door is same for two seats, so both the guys will fight for No glass window. If we keep the glass door in middle, then both the guys will miss the camera hole. Only the last seat having single glass window and clear camera hole visible. lucky I observed that and moved to last seat before others occupy it. There are different routes inside the forest. In my case, all the Animals are on left side of the bus. luckily I am on left side. Two foreigners left their seats and went to front of the bus and sat on the engine. I am not sure driver can allow INDIAN's like that, but that is best spot compared to window seat.

Forest is divided into 4 sections. In 1st stage deer, basin and crocodiles. In 2nd stage Elephants and bear. In 3rd stage Lions. In final stage Tigers. I see only these 5 types of Animals in the forest. All the animals visit is while going only, return journey is separate route and quicker. Totally 1 Hr time spent in forest. Driver stops the vehicle for 5 mins if any animal spotted and tells us.

Best experience is with Lions and Tigers. Both Tigers and Lions are mostly staying on roads or in front of our bus. Even they sitting on the middle of road, but the driver not honking to them. just trying to slowly raise the engine to move them away. One of the big white tiger came near to my seat and looking at me closely. WOW that was really wonderful experience.

Though we called it as forest, Lions and Tigers kept in the limited open area, That's why those are very near to bus. I think those are little trained animals, otherwise we should have seen their roars against us. They living just like road side dogs. Anyhow I felt SAFARI is really worth it.

Few pics from SAFARI (all these taken from camera hole in BUS):

BUTTERFLY PARK:

While returning from SAFARI, bus stops at butterfly park, even it is walkable distance from the main entrance. Paid 30/- to ticket. I thought Butterflies will be kept in glass containers, but actually those are free to fly in a dome glass building, of course completely sealed. I don't see any new butterfly, all of them are seen in our home gardens itself and not many types also available. But this will differently attracts kids and women. Different flower plants raised for butterflies to collect the honey. 15 minutes is enough to see this place.

ZOO:

Once we finished butterfly park reached ZOO in 5 minutes walk. ZOO is huge, and mostly having all the forest animals except Zebra, fox, Rhinoceros and few other rare animals. Snakes, birds and monkeys are major types in Zoo. Elephant, wolf, deer, emu, bear, leopard, crocodiles, tortoise, black and white peacocks, hippopotamus are available. 2 to 3 hours may require to visit the entire ZOO. Since ZOO is part of forest, no sunlight hits us. Fast food is available at every place and reasonable price. Price for packed food like Lays are charged 5/- extra per packet. It is written as plastic free zone, but not up to the written.

We are humans right, we don't follow rules like animals. So who is great, Animals or Humans? decide your self and keep children in control. I saw many children throwing food to animals, but their parents not even warning them.