15 Top Must-Visit Wildlife Sanctuaries in Karnataka

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Karnataka is renowned for being one of India’s richest states when it comes to wildlife. A wildlife tour of Karnataka can be one of the most rewarding experiences. It is home to a large variety of wild animals like the elephant, the tiger, the leopard, the bonnet macaque, the slender loris, the common palm civet, the small Indian civet, the sloth bear, the gaur, the sambar deer, the chital, the muntjac, the dhole, the striped hyena and the golden jackal. Karnataka is blessed with some of the finest regions that are apt for wildlife sanctuaries. As a result, it is rich and diverse in wildlife and attracts tourists from all across the globe.

Here are some of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka that you must not miss: Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, Dubare Elephant Camp, Kali Tiger Reserve, Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranganathittu Sanctuary.

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Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary takes its name from the Bhadra River, its lifeline. Popularly known as Muthodi Wildlife Sanctuary, after the village on its periphery, it was declared a Project Tiger reserve. But apart from the tiger, it is a great place to sight and observe other mammals, reptiles, and more than 250 species of birds, many of which are endemic to the Western Ghats.

Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary

Named after Goddess Mookambika the presiding deity of the famous Mookambika Temple at Kollur, in Udupi district, Coastal Karnataka, which is located at the heart of the Sanctuary. Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary spans over 370.37 sq km and is thick with evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats, and small patches of teak plantations.

Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary

Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of Arabithittu State Forest located in Hunsur Taluk of Mysore district of Karnataka State. Total extent of the sanctuary is 13.50 Sq.Kms. This is the only patch of forest within a radius of 40 Kms from Mysore city.

Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Khanapur taluk, Belagavi district, and is spread over an area of around 190 sq km. This sanctuary is known for the Barapede caves, the only known breeding area of the Wroughton’s Free-tailed Bat, a threatened species on the verge of extinction.

Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary

The Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kodagu District, Karnataka State, India, within the Western Ghats and about 250 km from Bangalore. The sanctuary covers an area of about 181 km and derives its name from the highest point of the mountain range, Brahmigiri Peak. It was declared a sanctuary on June 5, 1974.

Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Ramanagar districts of Karnataka, India. The Cauvery River passes through its midst.The sanctuary was expanded to its current area of 102,753 hectares (253,910 acres) in 2013. On its east, it adjoins Dharmapuri forest division of Tamil Nadu state.

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Uttara Kannada and covers an area of 334.52 sq mi. It is an ideal holiday destination for nature lovers. The sanctuary is easily accessible by road, rail and air. The Dandeli wildlife sanctuary is the second largest sanctuary in Karnataka and is located on the banks of River Kali.

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is located in Ballari district in Karnataka. This is asia's first sloth bear Sanctuary. It is spread over 82.72 km. The sanctuary was created exclusively for the preservation of the sloth bear. It is about 50 km from Ballari and about 15 km from the World Heritage Site Hampi.

Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Sharavathi River Valley of Sagar taluk in Shivamogga District. The Sanctuary lies in the Western Ghats and is immensely rich in flora and fauna both in variety and diversity. The Sanctuary is immensely rich in species like Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu, Nandi, etc. It also harbors wildlife like Bison, Spotted deer, Tiger, Panther, etc.

Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve

Jayamangali (formerly Maidenahalli) Blackbuck Conservation Reserve is Tumkur district's only notified protected area. It neighbours Maidenahalli, a small village in Madhugiri Taluk, at the north-eastern tip of Tumkur district of Karnataka state, India.

Dubare Elephant Camp

Dubare is known for its elephant camp, a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. It is an important base for the Karnataka Forest Department's elephants. Sightings of wild Asiatic elephants are regular and so is spotting the sambhar, the spotted deer, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and gaur.

Kali Tiger Reserve

Kali Tiger Reserve, earlier known as Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve, is located in the central portion of the Uttara Kannada (North Canara) district of Karnataka state. It is sandwiched between Haliyal and Karwar forest divisions and covers parts of Haliyal, Karwar, and Joida taluks.

Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary is located in Somwarpet taluk of the Kodagu district. It is home to rare and endangered birdlife. The Kadamakkal reserve forest is a part of the sanctuary. Pushpagiri (Kumara Parvatha) is the highest peak in it. The sanctuary adjoins Bisle reserve forest to the north and Kukke Subramanya forest range to the west.

Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary

Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka state of South India. It is located in Kodagu district and is spread over 105 km². It borders with Ranipuram hills and Kottencheri hills in Kasaragod district of Kerala. The Sanctuary is named after Talacauvery, the origin of the Cauvery River which lies on the eastern edge of the Sanctuary.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (also known as Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka), is a bird sanctuary in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka in India. It is the largest bird sanctuary in the state, 40 acres (16 ha) in area, and comprises six islets on the banks of the Kaveri river.