National park · India
Bannerghatta National Parkಬನ್ನೇರುಘಟ್ಟ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನ
Treat Bannerghatta as a half-day from Bengaluru: buy the combined zoo + safari ticket at the gate, ride the Grand Safari bus, and be at the counter before 14:00 on weekends when tickets sell out; the forest trails at Uddigebande and Mirza Hill are a separate, quieter walk.Treat Bannerghatta as a half-day from Bengaluru: buy the combined zoo + safari ticket at the gate, ride the Grand Safari bus, and be at the counter before 2:00 PM on weekends when tickets sell out; the forest trails at Uddigebande and Mirza Hill are a separate, quieter walk.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
104 km²40 sq mi
approximate
Established
1974
Best months
Sep–Feb
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
At a glance
- Country
- India
- Area
- 104 km²40 sq mi
- About 104 km² of park; the fenced Bannerghatta Biological Park with the zoo and safaris is a much smaller part of it.
- Established
- 1974
- Best months
- Sep–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Bengaluru
Bannerghatta National Park sits on the southern edge of Bengaluru, acting as a critical wildlife corridor for elephants moving between the Eastern and Western Ghats. The visitor experience is split: the fenced Bannerghatta Biological Park offers a zoo, butterfly enclosure, and caged safaris through big-cat and herbivore zones, while the wider forest area provides trekking routes like Uddigebande and Mirza Hill that require separate permissions. Most tourists stick to the biological park circuit, but the quiet forest trails offer a different kind of engagement with the landscape.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1974.
Size and age
104 km²40 sq mi · national park since 1974
About 104 km² of park; the fenced Bannerghatta Biological Park with the zoo and safaris is a much smaller part of it.
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Bengaluru.
Why go
- A wildlife corridor for elephants moving between the Eastern and Western Ghats, inside a city's edge.
- The safari buses run through fenced forest sections where lions, tigers and herbivores live free-range.
- India's first butterfly enclosure sits on the same ticket, with a humid dome and a preserved-specimen museum.
- The Suvarnamukhi hills and the old Champakadhama temple give a walk that most zoo visitors never take.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayAvoid
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry, mild, clear mornings
- FebDry and warm
- MarHeating up; start early
- AprHot; 32°C and risingHot; 90°F and rising
- MayHottest month; animals shelter
- JunMonsoon arrives; green and quiet
- JulWet; leeches on trails
- AugWet; lush forest
- SepRain easing; good light
- OctDry and comfortable
- NovCool, dry, best walking
- DecCool and dry; busy holidays
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephants moving through the corridorOct–Feb · The tank path near Suvarnamukhi closes on winter evenings for this reason. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Butterflies in the conservatoryAll year · Over twenty species in the dome; the museum holds preserved specimens. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Gaur, sambar, chital and sloth bearNov–Mar · Mostly seen from the safari bus or at dawn in the wider forest. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Resident and migratory birdsNov–Feb · The nature camp walk is the easiest way to see them. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Leeches on wet trailsJun–Sep · Wear closed shoes and long socks in the monsoon. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Bengaluru (Majestic)
BMTC route 365 every 20 minutes via Corporation, Shantinagar and Dairy Circle; or G-4 from Brigade Road every 10 minutes.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Bengaluru (Whitefield or ITPL)
Volvo V365 or V411 to the park; the V411 runs via Marathahalli, Sarjapur and BTM Layout but is infrequent.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Ring Road
Any bus to Jayadeva Hospital junction, cross the underpass, then 365, 366, 368 or G-4.
20–40 min after the change
Open the page →
From Kempegowda airport
Airport bus or taxi to the city, then a bus or cab down Bannerghatta Road.
2–3 h total
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Bannerghatta Biological Park | The zoo, safari enclosures, butterfly dome, snake house and rescue centre. | Ticket at the gate; safaris by timed bus. |
| Suvarnamukhi hills | Rock outcrop, the Champakadhama temple and the stream that rises here. | Open; the tank path closes on winter evenings because elephants move through. |
| Forest and trekking area | Dry deciduous forest and scrub with the Uddigebande, Hajaamana Kallu and Mirza Hill routes. | Permission and a guide advised; not part of the zoo ticket. |
| Elephant corridor | The belt linking the park to the Biligiri Rangana Hills and Sathya Mangalam forests. | No public access; this is why evening movement near the tank is restricted. |
Sketch map
- 1Bannerghatta Biological Park gate · Gate≈12.800, 77.576Map ↗
- 2Safari boarding point · Ranger station≈12.799, 77.575Map ↗
- 3Butterfly Park · Viewpoint≈12.799, 77.578Map ↗
- 4Champakadhama temple · Village≈12.814, 77.577Map ↗
- 5Suvarnamukhi hills · Summit≈12.818, 77.579Map ↗
- 6Mirza Hill · Trail≈12.790, 77.590Map ↗
- 7Bannerghatta Nature Camp · Sleep≈12.795, 77.570Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoo entry (adult) | INR 100–150 | person | 2026 estimate; children and seniors pay less (check). |
| Grand Safari (herbivores and big cats) | INR 300–400 | person | 2026 estimate; separate from zoo entry. |
| Lion and Tiger Safari | INR 250–350 | person | 2026 estimate; shorter 11 km circuit. |
| Butterfly Park | INR 50–100 | person | 2026 estimate; often bundled with the zoo ticket (check). |
| Camera | INR 25–100 | item | Still and video cameras are charged separately (check). |
| BMTC bus from Majestic (route 365) | INR 25–60 | person | 2026 estimate; Volvo A/C costs more. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Zoo and safari ticket permit or guide
Forest trekking permit or guide
Rescue centre permit or guide
Park rules
- Keep arms inside the safari bus
- Do not put hands or cameras out of the minibus windows at any point.
- No feeding
- Do not feed wild animals or the birds and animals in cages.
- Plastic-free zone
- The park bans plastic; snacks are sold in paper bags, so bring a refillable bottle.
- Rescue centre
- The animal rescue centre is closed to visitors.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the forest department (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Bannerghatta Nature Camp
Tented camp run by Jungle Lodges outside the zoo area, with meals, a nature walk, a documentary and safari entry; entry is separate from the zoo gate.
Near the park
Bengaluru city
The practical base: hotels of every level and the bus routes that reach the park in about an hour.
Safety
Safari ticket sell-out medium
Heat and dehydration medium
Elephants near the tank medium
Rough trekking paths medium
Accessibility
- The zoo, butterfly park and safari boarding point are on paved or firm paths with short walks.
- Safari buses are not wheelchair accessible; ask staff at the counter about boarding help (check).
- The Suvarnamukhi temple steps and the forest trails are not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out everything you bring; the park is plastic-free and paper bags are used for snacks.
- Do not buy wildlife souvenirs or pay for close animal contact.
- Use the BMTC buses or share a cab; the park road is one of the busiest in south Bengaluru.
- Keep to marked trails so the elephant corridor stays usable.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bannerghatta National Park?
Budget roughly ₹100–150 for zoo entry and ₹300–400 for the Grand Safari per person, with the shorter Lion and Tiger Safari a little less; camera charges are extra. These are 2026 estimates and change, so check the counter or the park website before you go.
What are the best hikes in Bannerghatta National Park?
The three short forest routes are Uddigebande (3.5 km), Hajaamana Kallu (3 km) and Mirza Hill (1.5 km). They are outside the zoo ticket area, need forest department permission and a guide, and are best from November to February.
When is the best time to visit Bannerghatta National Park?
September to January: dry, mild and clear, with November and December the most comfortable. Avoid May, the hottest month, and expect wet trails and leeches from June to September.
How do I get to Bannerghatta from Bengaluru?
BMTC route 365 runs from Majestic every 20 minutes, and G-4 runs from Brigade Road every 10 minutes; both take about an hour. From Whitefield or ITPL, take a Volvo to Jayadeva Hospital and change to 365 or G-4.
Do I need to book the safari in advance?
Tickets are sold at the gate on the day and safaris are timed. On weekends and holidays they can run out by early afternoon, so arrive before 14:00 or visit on a weekday.
Can I see elephants in the park?
The park is a corridor for elephants moving between the Eastern and Western Ghats, but sightings are not guaranteed and the safari buses do not chase them. The Suvarnamukhi tank path closes on winter evenings because elephants pass through.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go