Bandipur itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Bandipur

1. 01

   Day 1: Morning safari and the temple hill

   Arrive the evening before if you can, as the first safari slot starts early. Take the morning forest-department mini-bus or a jeep slot from the lodge you have booked, then return for a late breakfast and a rest. In the late morning drive towards Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta and take the forest-department bus up to the Krishna temple, keeping to the visiting hours at the check post. Have lunch in Gundlupet and, if the season suits, stop beside the flower fields on the way back. Finish with an early dinner and a sleep, because the road to Mysuru or Bengaluru is best driven in daylight.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta	1.5–2.5 hours including the bus	Moderate	Morning on a weekday; the hill is often misty after rain

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta: The bus removes the climb, but there are steps at the temple and queues on busy days. Rails and seating are limited. Mist and wind can feel cold at the top.

Plan 02

2 days in Bandipur

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrival and an evening slot

   Reach Bandipur by lunchtime from Mysuru, check in and rest through the heat of the day. Take an afternoon safari, either the forest-department bus or a jeep slot. Dinner is at your lodge; keep the evening unhurried, since there is little else to do after dark and driving through the forest at night is restricted.

2. 02

   Day 2: Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta and the road out

   Do the early-morning safari first, then breakfast. Visit Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta in the late morning, using the forest bus from the check post. On the way out, stop at the Gundlupet flower fields if they are in bloom, then continue to Mysuru with a lunch halt.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta	1.5–2.5 hours including the bus	Moderate	Morning on a weekday; the hill is often misty after rain
   Gundlupet Flower Fields	30–60 minutes	Easy	August to September, around Onam; bloom varies with the rains

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta: The bus removes the climb, but there are steps at the temple and queues on busy days. Rails and seating are limited. Mist and wind can feel cold at the top.

Plan 03

3 days in Bandipur

1. 01

   Day 1: Settle in

   Travel from Mysuru in the morning, reach the lodge for lunch and rest. Take the afternoon safari, then an early night. Use the first day to confirm your safari slots with the lodge or range office.

2. 02

   Day 2: Two safaris and a slow middle

   Take the first-light safari, return for breakfast, and rest through the middle of the day. Spend the afternoon on a second safari in a different vehicle type, for example a bus in the morning and a jeep in the evening. Look for gaur, chital and elephants near the water sources.

3. 03

   Day 3: The temple hill, Mudumalai or the road home

   Go up Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta in the morning by the forest-department bus. If you have the energy and the paperwork is in order, add Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and the Theppakadu elephant camp across the Tamil Nadu border, checking the current visiting hours. Otherwise head back through Gundlupet, with a flower-field stop in season.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta	1.5–2.5 hours including the bus	Moderate	Morning on a weekday; the hill is often misty after rain

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta: The bus removes the climb, but there are steps at the temple and queues on busy days. Rails and seating are limited. Mist and wind can feel cold at the top.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Bandipur trip for parents and children

• Book a lodge inside or very close to the reserve so the early safari does not mean a 4 am drive on forest roads.
• Choose the bus safari if you want a fixed, shorter outing, and a jeep slot if you want a smaller group and a slower pace. Seats on both can sell out in peak season.
• Carry warm layers: early mornings can be cool even when afternoons are hot, and open vehicles are windy.
• Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta is reached by forest-department bus, so the climb is gentle, but there are steps and queues at the temple. Go on a weekday if possible.
• Medical facilities are limited near the reserve. Carry regular medicines, a basic kit and the number of your lodge, and know the nearest hospital before you leave.
• Book early in season: Safari seats, especially jeeps, fill up from October to May and on weekends. Confirm your slots as soon as you book the stay.

Bandipur with elderly parents: the full guide →