Bandipur is situated among the foothills of Western Ghat Mountains. It is a typical South Indian forest. The Park is situated on Mysore - Ooty highway. This place is 80 kms. south of Mysore. Bandipur is India's one of the most undisturbed forests with superb scenery of mountain and gorges.

Originally the reserve was created in 1931 from local Maharaja's hunting lands. Park was expanded in the year 1941 to adjoin Nagarhole National park to the north and Wynad Sanctuary to the south. Bandipur itself spreads to the area of 880 sq. kms. and together with Nagarhole National Park to an area of 1500 sq. kms.

Bandipur has fairly open forest area with good chance to spot wildlife. Tiger population in the park was just 10 in 1973 which increased to 75 in 1997.

The variation in temperature is quite moderate with 28 degree celsius at its coolest. It is one of the best places in the world to watch wild elephants (Asian Elephant). There are more than 1900 wild elephants here who make seasonal migration between Bandipur and Nagarhole National park. During wet season, Elephants stay in Bandipur when water is present everywhere and during high summer they migrate to Nagarhole around the banks of Kabini river.

Bandipur has large variety of fauna which include carnivores like Leopard , Asiatic Wild Dogs, Stripped Hyenas, Jackals, Jungle Cats, Leopard Cats, Rusty Spotted Cats, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civets, Otters and four different species of Mongooses (the common stripe necked, brown and ruddy mongooses).

Park is also the home to Gaur, Sambar, Cheetal, Muntjac, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Four-Horn Antelope, Pangolin, Indian Porcupine, Fruit Bat, Spender Loris, Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Wild Pig, Black Saped Hare and variety of reptiles such as Rock Python, Cobra, Marsh Crocodile, Monitor Lizard, Rat Snake, Wolf Snake, Common Krait, Runel's Viper, Bamboo Pit Viper and Green Keel Back are also found here.

Bandipur also has rich variety of birds life like Grey Jungle Fowl, Red Spur Fowl, Grey Partridge, Cormorants, Teals, Ducks, Herons, Woders, Pea Fowl, Masheer, King Vulture hobby, Crested Hawk Eagle, Serpent Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Shaheen Falcon, Bill Myna, Owls, Night Jars, Scimitar Babbler, Malabar Hagon, Fairy Blue Bird, Bearded Bee Eater, Malabar Pied Horn Bill, Great Black Pecker, Alexandise Parakeet, Lesser Coucal, Indian Pitta, Scarlet Minivet, Paradise Fly Catcher, Malabar Whistling Thrush and many more are seen here.