Route · Mysore → Bandipur
Mysore to Bandipur by Force Urbania
80 km · 1.5 – 2 hours · 13 Seater recommended
Mysore → Bandipur · indicative rates
Fares shown are indicative starting rates. The final charge is based on real-time usage — distance, hours or days, tolls, parking and permits. Outstation trips are charged on a minimum of 300 km per day. Driver batta is ₹1,000 per day; late-night batta of ₹1,000 applies between 22:00–05:59. GST at 5% applies to the total.
Teak forest and open grassland in the Bandipur reserve in late afternoon. The road through this stretch closes to through traffic at 9pm and reopens at 6am, and that single fact decides more Bandipur itineraries than the distance from Mysuru ever does.
Quick facts
| Distance | Approximately 80 km each way |
|---|---|
| Drive time | 1.5 – 2 hours, traffic permitting |
| Recommended seater | 13 Seater (12+D) |
| Passengers | Up to 12 in the recommended vehicle |
| Luggage | Ample for a two-night wildlife trip; groups travel lighter here than on hill trips |
| Terrain | Flat highway through Nanjangud and Gundlupet, then reserve forest road |
| Ghat sections | |
| State crossings | None — stays within one state |
| Permits | No interstate permit if you stop at Bandipur — the reserve is in Karnataka. Continuing south into Mudumalai crosses into Tamil Nadu and does require one. |
| One-way | Available |
| Round trip | Available |
| Driver batta | ₹1,000 per day; ₹1,000 late-night (22:00–05:59) |
| Recommended departure | Depends on the safari. For an afternoon safari, leave Mysuru by 13:00. For a dawn safari, stay the night before — you cannot drive from Mysuru in time because the road through the reserve is shut until 06:00. |
Distance and drive time are indicative planning figures, not the basis of a quote. Fares are calculated on actual usage — see the rates below.
Why an Urbania for this route
Bandipur is the shortest good trip from Mysuru and the one where the driving matters least. Eighty kilometres of flat, easy road through Nanjangud and Gundlupet, and you are at the reserve. What decides whether the trip works is entirely timing, and it is governed by two fixed things: the safari slots, and the night closure of the road through the forest.
That second one catches people out constantly. The stretch through Bandipur and on into Mudumalai closes to through traffic between 9 pm and 6 am for wildlife protection, every day, with no exemption for tourist vehicles. It means a dawn safari cannot be reached by driving out from Mysuru that morning — you have to be on the fringe the night before. Groups who plan to leave at four and arrive at six find the gate shut.
The Urbania's role here is different from a hill route. You do not take it into the reserve: safaris run in the forest department's own vehicles. Yours is what gets twelve people to the safari centre together, on time for a fixed slot, with somewhere to leave bags and warm clothes for the early start. On a trip run to a timetable, that matters more than it sounds.
Which Urbania should you choose?
The 13 seater is comfortable for most groups and the roads present no difficulty for any of the three. Luggage is rarely the constraint on a wildlife trip — people travel lighter here than they do to a hill station — so choose on headcount.
The one thing worth knowing is that resort approach roads along the reserve fringe vary. Some are surfaced and straightforward; others are rough tracks where a shorter vehicle is easier. Send us the property name when you book and we will check it, exactly as we would for a Coorg homestay.
Suggested itinerary
- Nanjangud — Temple town on the way out, worth a stop if the timing suits.
- Gundlupet — Last town before the reserve. Fuel and supplies here; there is nothing inside.
- Bandipur reserve gate — The forest begins. No stopping inside, speed limits enforced, and the road shuts overnight.
Itineraries are indicative. Actual routing, timings and stops are subject to road, weather, traffic and permit conditions, and to the chauffeur's judgement on ghat sections.
Road notes
Short, flat and easy driving throughout — this is one of the least demanding routes we run. The whole discipline is timing rather than terrain, because the road through the reserve closes to through traffic at night and the safari slots are fixed.
Season
October to February is the most comfortable. March to May is hot but sightings are often better as animals concentrate around water. The monsoon is green and quiet with lower visibility. Safari slots book out at weekends and during school holidays regardless of season.
Getting around at Bandipur
Keep the vehicle. The reserve fringe is spread out, there is effectively no local transport, and Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta — the hill temple with the view over the forest, and for many the best part of the trip — is a separate drive with its own access timings and a vehicle restriction at the top.
It is also worth knowing what your vehicle does not do. Safaris are run in the forest department's vehicles from the safari centre, so your Urbania waits there rather than entering the reserve. Private vehicles are not permitted on safari routes, and anyone offering otherwise is not offering a legitimate safari.
Worth seeing
- Bandipur Tiger Reserve safari
- Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
- Nanjundeshwara temple, Nanjangud
- Nagarahole and Kabini nearby
- Mudumalai across the state line
Parking
Resorts along the reserve fringe have their own parking. Safari vehicles are the forest department's own — your Urbania waits at the safari centre rather than entering the reserve.
Rates
| Seater | Configuration | From, per km | Driver batta / day | Minimum / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Seater | 9+D — up to 9 passengers | ₹38 | ₹1,000 | 300 km |
| 13 Seater | 12+D — up to 12 passengers | ₹42 | ₹1,000 | 300 km |
| 17 Seater | 16+D — up to 16 passengers | ₹45 | ₹1,000 | 300 km |
Fares shown are indicative starting rates. The final charge is based on real-time usage — distance, hours or days, tolls, parking and permits. Outstation trips are charged on a minimum of 300 km per day. Driver batta is ₹1,000 per day; late-night batta of ₹1,000 applies between 22:00–05:59. GST at 5% applies to the total.
Questions about this route
How far is Bandipur from Mysore?
About 80 km and an hour and a half to two hours on flat, easy roads through Nanjangud and Gundlupet. It is the least demanding drive of any trip we run from Mysuru — the planning is all about timing rather than the road.
Can we drive from Mysore for a dawn safari?
No. The road through the reserve is closed to through traffic between 9 pm and 6 am, so you cannot arrive before a first-light safari by setting out from Mysuru that morning. For a dawn safari you need to stay on the fringe the night before. This is the single most common planning mistake on this route.
What are the forest road timings?
The stretch through Bandipur and into Mudumalai currently closes to through traffic at 9 pm and reopens at 6 am, every day, for wildlife protection. There is no exemption for tourist vehicles. Timings are set by the forest department and we confirm the current position before dispatch.
Can our Urbania go on the safari?
No — safaris are run in the forest department's own vehicles from the safari centre, and private vehicles are not permitted on safari routes. Your Urbania waits at the centre. Anyone offering to take you on safari in a private van is not offering a legitimate safari.
Do we need a permit to reach Bandipur?
Not an interstate one if Bandipur is your destination, since the reserve is in Karnataka. If you continue south into Mudumalai you cross into Tamil Nadu and a commercial permit does apply, which we arrange before dispatch.
How do we book a safari?
Safari slots are booked through the forest department and we cannot reserve them for you. They fill at weekends and during school holidays. Book yours first, then tell us the slot and we will build the day around it rather than the other way round.
Can we stop inside the reserve for photographs?
No. Stopping inside the forest is not permitted, speed limits are enforced, and wildlife crossings are frequent. Gundlupet before the gate is the last place to stop, refuel and buy anything — there is nothing inside.
Is Gopalaswamy Betta worth adding?
For most groups it is the highlight after the safari itself — a hill temple with a long view over the forest. It has its own access timings and a vehicle restriction near the top, so it needs planning into the day rather than adding on a whim. Ask us when you book.
What is the best time of year for sightings?
March to May, when it is hot and animals concentrate around water. October to February is far more comfortable to travel in. The monsoon is green, quiet and has lower visibility. Nothing is guaranteed in any season — anyone promising you a tiger is selling something.
Can we combine Bandipur with Ooty or Wayanad?
Yes, and both are natural continuations. Ooty means carrying on through Mudumalai and up the ghat, which crosses into Tamil Nadu and needs a permit. Either way the forest closure governs your departure time, so the itinerary has to be built around the gate rather than around the map.
How long should we stay?
Two nights is the sensible minimum if you want a dawn safari, since the closure means arriving the day before. One night gives you an afternoon safari and a morning one. A day trip from Mysuru gives you an afternoon safari and a lot of driving for it.
Are the resort approach roads suitable for a 17 seater?
Some are and some are not — the fringe has everything from surfaced drives to rough tracks. Send us the property name when you book and we will check the approach before you travel, rather than discovering it in the dark with the gate about to close.
More from Mysore
Other trips out of Mysore
Mysore to Coorg
120 km · 3 – 3.5 hours
Mysore to Nagarahole
95 km · 2 – 2.5 hours
Mysore to Ooty
125 km · 3.5 – 4 hours
Mysore to Wayanad
140 km · 3.5 – 4 hours
Mysore to Belur & Halebidu
150 km · 3 – 3.5 hours
Also popular from Mysore
- Chikmagalur
- Sringeri
- Dharmasthala
We run these regularly and quote them on the phone. A route only gets a page once we have verified detail to put on it.
Plan this trip
- About Bandipur
- All Urbania hire in Mysore
- 13 Seater — the seater we suggest
- Compare all seaters
- Full tariff
Route information last verified 2026-09-02.