National parks near Bangalore

Bengaluru has Bannerghatta on its southern edge, with bus safaris through lion, tiger and bear enclosures and a butterfly park. The real forests are four to five hours south-west, beyond Mysore: Nagarhole, with boat and jeep safaris on the Kabini reservoir, and Bandipur, on the road to Ooty. Both are best from February to May, when water is scarce and animals gather, and green and quiet after the monsoon.