BHADRA TIGER RESERVE, Muthodi safari — Local services in Karnataka

Bhadra Tiger Reserve which is also called as The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve covers an area of 492 square kilometres in the Western Ghats of Karnataka state. This sanctuary is named after the river Bhadra. The sanctuary was declared as the 25th tiger project of India in 1998.

This is a dence forest with different types of trees which is that there are more than 120 species of trees in this forest. Muthodi Giant Teak Tree which was planted in the year 1790 with a height of 30 Mts and Girth of 5.40 Mtr is a major attraction in this forest.

It's difficult to sight a Tiger, Leopard or Elephant during the Safari. You can view Peacocks, Monkeys, Deers, Indian Bisons and Wild Boars. Also, different birds can be visible. The birds chirpings during the Safari will make your mind fresh.

During the Jeep Safari, we crossed a stream which is flowing over the road. Also, there is a guest house in the middle of the dence forest, which we were told that it is called as Governor Bungalow. We can book this bungalow and stay.

Safari Timings: Morning: 06:00 AM to 07:30 AM and 07:30 AM to 09:00 AM Evening: 03:30 PM to 05:00 PM

Charges for Jeep Safari are Rs. 600/- per person for Adults and Rs.250/- per person for Children (6 to 12 years) and for Bus Safari are Rs.500/- per person for Adults and Rs.250/- per person for Children (6 to 12 years).

How to reach: By Air: The nearest airport is Mangalore Domestic Airport which is 185 kilometres from Bhadra wildlife Sanctuary. The second nearest airport is Bangalore International Airport, which is 285 kilometres.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Kadur, about 51 kilometres from Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.

By Road: Chikmagaluru is the nearest town to reach Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, which is about 35 kilometres. You can reach by bus, cab, or private vehicle. The drive through the dence forest is...

Visited Bhadra Tiger Reserve this monsoon for a ride… and honestly, words fall short to describe the experience!

What a fantabulous journey it was—right through the heart of nature’s raw, untouched beauty. The entire stretch was like riding through a dream—lush green landscapes, towering trees, mist-covered mountains, and deep dense forest cover that felt both humbling and surreal.

The slushy trails and water-logged roads added that perfect monsoon adventure twist. With every turn, there was something breathtaking—a sudden cold breeze brushing past, the earthy smell of wet soil, and the pitch silence broken only by the occasional chirping of birds or rustling of leaves deep inside the forest.

This isn’t just any ride. This is a highly sensitive tiger corridor, and the thrill of riding through it, knowing you’re right in the middle of a tiger reserve, makes the experience even more special. The thought that somewhere behind those thick greens, a tiger could be silently watching you… goosebumps!

Few important things to note if you’re planning this ride: • Entry tickets need to be taken at the forest check post before entering the reserve. They allow you a fixed time window of one hour to cross the stretch. • Only two-wheelers (bikes) are allowed. Four-wheelers are strictly not permitted on this route to reduce disturbance to the wildlife. • The forest department takes this seriously as it’s a key tiger movement zone, so follow all instructions given by the authorities.

If you’re a nature lover, a monsoon rider, or someone who just wants to experience the thrill of riding through one of the most beautiful and ecologically rich tiger reserves in Karnataka, this should definitely be on your bucket list.

But remember—respect the forest, ride responsibly, and leave no...

Visited this place for a jungle safari in the evening session. They offer either open Jeep or a bus. We wanted the Jeep but they said it might rain, thankfully we opted for bus and as they predicted it rained and the bus saved us from getting drenched. It's a little over an hour safari through the jungle filled with flora and fauna. Even though it is a tiger reserve, sighting one is a rare chance. They mentioned this at the beginning, so that you are not disappointed at the end of the safari. The safari itself is fun through the serene jungle, sighting animal would be a bonus. I would suggest you don't expect any, so sighting any would be a surprise. They say there are lot of water available in the reserve, therefore animals don't wander much for water and reduces our chances of encountering them. That's another reason why a peak summer would be a better time to sight animals as per experts there. The day before our trip it was rained, so chances were less but for my surprise we sighted at more than we expected. A wild rabbit, Indian gaur multiple times, peacocks, monekys, langoors, wild boars with piglets, deers, and the best of all and the rare one ,leopard resting on a tree. Unfortunately, tigers couldn't be seen. Sometimes animals run away due to the bus engine sound. Overall the trip was better than I expected, journey seemed fun, all animals sighting was a surprise because I was expecting less. It is a luck always to sight any animals, but sometimes you should look through the greenery, animals always camouflage, just like we saw the leopard, it was hard to see it...