The Sunkandakatte tourism zone is a mix of dry and moist deciduous forests and also includes the famed backwaters of the Kabini which is a unique micro-habitat on its own. This zone has a good network of game roads which enable the tourists to cover all the forest types in the region. About 30 meters on both sides of these roads are cleared of undergrowth to facilitate game viewing. A large number of artificial salt licks are maintained by the Forest Department all along these roads which attract a large number of herbivores. The Department has also created water holes close to these roads. Two of these water holes namely Bisalwadi and Tiger Tank (so named due to the frequent sightings of the famous feline that occur here) have watch towers that can be used by tourists with prior permission from the Forest Department. All this makes this zone an excellent place for viewing wildlife.
The area called the Russell Line, named after a British Forest Officer, is representative of the Dry deciduous type of forest where the Axel wood tree or Anogeissus latifolia dominates the landscape. The wood of this tree was used in the construction of bullock carts and agricultural implements, hence its common name. The undergrowth here is sparser than the other areas of the zone. A waterhole called the Nainji Katte is located here. This waterhole tends to dry up during the summer. This is the only place within the tourism zone that includes the habitat favored by the Four-Horned Antelope, the only species of antelope in Nagarhole; however it is very rarely seen.
The Bar-Balle area on the other hand is representative of the moist deciduous type and is dominated by tree species like Teak Tectona grandis and Nandi Lagrestreomia lanceolata. The terrain here is also very different from the rest of the tourism zone, being a little hilly in nature. The game roads follow the course of the Balle River, a rain fed stream that is a tributary of the Kabini. A line of power pillions bisect the zone and a drive on the road that runs alongside it will give you a first hand view of the gradual change in forest type.
Hosts of flowering trees abound in these forests and by far the most spectacular is the aptly named Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperma). This tree flowers during the month of January, heralding the coming of summer and is a vital source of nutrition for a large number of birds and animals. The Red Silk Cotton tree (Bombax ceiba) and the Indian Coral Tree (Erythrina indica) flower during the month of February, both adding a dash of colour to the by now dry and leafless forest. Next it is the turn of the Indian Laburnum (Cassia fistula) to sprout its beautiful yellow flowers in March. By this time, summer is well and truly set in. The fragrant white flowers of the Padri (Radermachera xylocarpa) add to the beauty of the forest during the months of March and April.
The tourism zone has a large density of herbivores which in turn support a large number of predators. Apart from the Asian Elephant, the Gaur is a personal favorite and during the month of October, their rutting calls float across the forest. Herds of Spotted Deer are abundant and so are the Sambar that live in smaller groups. The solitary and shy Muntjac can be best seen during the morning safari. Due to the presence of a large population of Langur monkeys, the tourism zone has a good population of Leopards. Packs of Wild dogs, which were once bounty hunted almost into extinction, roam these forests and are quite visible during the safari drives, being none too shy.
The area also has a healthy population of breeding Tigers, but be warned the Tigers in the park are not the 'tourist friendly' Tigers of western and central India. They condescend to grant audiences only to the privileged few. To spot a Tiger in the south is to truly see the Tiger in its primeval glory. Over three hundred species of birds have been recorded in the park making it one of the richest wildlife areas in India. All these make Nagarhole a must see on any wild lifer's itinerary.
