Located in Kodagu and Mysore districts, deriving its name from Kannada, 'Naga' meaning snake and 'hole meaning streams, Nagarhole is truly a delightful spot, bubbling with the activity of some of the most magnificent animals and trees. Once the Maharaja's reserved forest, Nagarhole became a National Park in 1955. The park has been recently renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park after the late Prime Minister of India.
The park derives its name from the river Nagarahole that winds through the forests. It lies to the north of the Kabini River (the Bandipur national park lies to the south of it), spreading over 643 sq. km. A dam on the Kabini River and its scenic reservoir demarcates the two parks. Covering gentle hills bordering Kerala, the park includes swampland, stream, moist deciduous forest stands of bamboo, and valuable timber in teak and rosewood trees. The old capital city Mysore is the gateway to this park.