We stayed at Vanasuma cottage which is at the corner edge of the Bandipur Forest Guest House campus adjoining the Tiger Reserve.
The boundary is not restricted with any wall or fence; hence we get a reel feel of the jungle and can watch wildlife right from our cottage verandah or window. Vehicles are allowed near the cottages at day time; however between 6.00pm and 6.00am the vehicles are not permitted to run inside the campus and should be parked at the parking area near the reception. That’s because there are a lot of wild life movements inside the campus including elephants at night. Big cats are also said to be spotted inside the campus rarely.
When we checked in by noon, we saw hundreds of Chital deer's at the edge of the forest about 100 meters from our cottage.
By dusk they started to move towards us and were found grazing the entire meadow of the guesthouse campus. Some came very near to our cottage door step. Seeing hundreds (that’s right, in hundreds) of Spotted deer who have made the forest rest house meadow their night camping ground was simply amazing.
The bus & Jeep Safari starts from the reception center near the guest house gates.
Points to Note:
1. This is not a luxury tourist resort. Most cottages are more than 30 years old, the facilities are minimum; We didn't even get hot water in bathroom although the facility was installed there and was not working. You get a 2 bed cottage right in the midst of the forest for 1000 bucks with the luxury of watching the wildlife from your room. In that sense, you won't get a better deal than this anywhere in Bandipur.
2. Food is veg only and is made against order at least 2 hrs.' before which are reasonably tasty. That also comes cheap @ INR.70.00 for lunch & dinner, INR.40.00 for breakfast per head.
3. Bus & Jeep safari timings: 6.30 A.M to 9.30 A.M & 3.30 P.M to 6.30 P.M
4. Sighting wild animals is sheer luck, so don’t blame me if you didn't come across anything while you stay here. Good Luck.
5. Cottages can only be booked online through Karnataka forest website and not from the reception center at Bandipur. Tariff for two-bed cottage is INR 1000.00 including tax plus INR.200.00 park entry fee per person. When you stay at forest department cottages, you do not have to pay this 200.00 park entry charges while taking safari ticket, pay only 100.00 per person for jungle safari in mini buses, because you already paid that at the time you check in (all rates mentioned above are for Indian Nationals).
For more details & booking visit : http://www.bandipurtigerreserve.in/
 View of spotted deer herd from Vanasuma cottage |
When we checked in by noon, we saw hundreds of Chital deer's at the edge of the forest about 100 meters from our cottage.
 | Empty meadow in front of our cottage at noon |
 | Same place encroached by a herd of spotted deer at dusk |
Video
Points to Note:
1. This is not a luxury tourist resort. Most cottages are more than 30 years old, the facilities are minimum; We didn't even get hot water in bathroom although the facility was installed there and was not working. You get a 2 bed cottage right in the midst of the forest for 1000 bucks with the luxury of watching the wildlife from your room. In that sense, you won't get a better deal than this anywhere in Bandipur.
2. Food is veg only and is made against order at least 2 hrs.' before which are reasonably tasty. That also comes cheap @ INR.70.00 for lunch & dinner, INR.40.00 for breakfast per head.
3. Bus & Jeep safari timings: 6.30 A.M to 9.30 A.M & 3.30 P.M to 6.30 P.M
4. Sighting wild animals is sheer luck, so don’t blame me if you didn't come across anything while you stay here. Good Luck.
5. Cottages can only be booked online through Karnataka forest website and not from the reception center at Bandipur. Tariff for two-bed cottage is INR 1000.00 including tax plus INR.200.00 park entry fee per person. When you stay at forest department cottages, you do not have to pay this 200.00 park entry charges while taking safari ticket, pay only 100.00 per person for jungle safari in mini buses, because you already paid that at the time you check in (all rates mentioned above are for Indian Nationals).
For more details & booking visit : http://www.bandipurtigerreserve.in/
 | That’s myself with a group of Chital deer near our cottage |
 | Dining hall of the guest house |
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