Bandipur's northern neighbour Nagar Hole (Snake River) National Park extends 640 square Kms. North from the Kabini River, dammed in 1974 to form a picturesque artificial lake. During the dry season (Feb-June) this perennial water source attracts large number of animals, making it a potentially prime spot for sighting wildlife. The forest here is of the moist-deciduous type -thick jungle with a thirty metre high canopy - more impressive than Bandipur's drier scrub. Nagarhole is worth visiting at the height of the dry season, when its muddy river banks and grassy swamps offer better chances of sighting gaur, elephant, wild dog,deer, boar, and even the odd tiger or leopard, than any of the neighbouring sanctuaries. Nagarhole is open year around but avoid the monsoons, when floods wash out most of its dirt tracks, and leeches make trekking impossible.

To get there from Mysore catch one of the two daily buses from the central stand to Hunsur. The Forest Department's two Rest Houses have to be booked well in advance through the Forest Department offices in Mysore or Bangalore. It is essential to arrive at the park gates well before dusk as the road through the reserve to the lodges closes at 6 pm and is prone to elephant blocks. The only other accommodation in Nagarahole is the luxury Kabini River Lodge approached via the village of Karapura, offers expensive all-in deals that include transport around the park with expert guides. It is impossible to reach by public transport, so you'll need to rent a car to get there.