Situated among the broken foothills of the Western Ghats mountains, Bandipur, 80 Kms. South of Mysore covers 880 square kilometers of dry deciduous forest, south of the river Kabiini. The reserve was created in the 1930s from the local Maharaja's hunting lands and expanded in 1941 to adjoin the Nagarhole National Park to the North and Madumulai and Wynad Sanctuaries to the South in Tamil Nadu. These now collectively comprise the huge Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, one of Indias's most extensive tracts of protected forest. Bandipur is one of India's few reserves where you stand a good chance of sighting wild elephants, particularly in the west season. (June-Sept.). Bandipur also boasts some fine scenery. At Gopalaswamy Betta near the park HQ, a high ridge looks north over the Mysore plateau and its adjoining hills, while to the South the "Rolling Rocks" afford sweeping views of the craggy 260 meter deep "Mysore Ditch". Gettting to Bandipur by bus is easy, all the regular KSRTC services to Ooty from Mysore's Central Bus stand pass through the reserves. Stopping outside the Forest Department's reception centre.where you can confirm accommodation bookings. The best time to visit is during the rainy season (June-Sept).