Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is an ecosystem spread over 40 acres of land and maintained extremely well by the Karnataka government. There is an Interpretation Centre named after famous ornithologist Salim Ali next to its entrance. This place is surrounded by centuries old huge trees, bamboo plants, many other unnamed trees on whose branches you find hundreds of bats. This park is on the banks of River Kaveri and has crocodiles hiding deep under its green water. And more importantly thousands of birds that you have never seen before. Every frame of this place is spectacular. Spread over six tiny islands formed in the river Kaveri, this fascinating bird sanctuary has abundance of fish and other aquatic animals and this along with a serene and calm atmosphere has made this region a paradise for birds. Every year birds migrate from places as far as Siberia, Latin America and the middle east to the islands here. The park is well-maintained with beautiful paths, green grass, benches for visitors to take rest, wild life photographers roaming around to help you, bamboo bridges that connect the island. A boat ride through the river is one of the biggest attractions here. It costs only Rs.50 per person for a ride for 15 minutes but this is going to be an unforgettable experience for the visitors. Engines are not used in the boats so as to not disturb the birds. Instead the visitors get to ride in green boats and row it using traditional oars. The rocks and bamboo bushes around that you see while rowing have nests built among them. This is the nesting habitat of many species of birds. This park is a feast to the eyes of nature lovers. Visitors planning a Bangalore-Mysore tour can find some time to spend here. This place lies 120km from Bangalore, 3km from Srirangapatna and 16km away from Mysuru. Another beautiful place which you can include your plan to visit is Kokkare Bellur which lies 12km away from Maddur. Kokkare Bellur is a small picturesque village famous for its rare species of Spot-Billed Pelican. The best time to visit the bird sanctuary is between December and August. Visitors time at the park is from 8.30 am to 6pm. There are no hotels here to stay. So, visitors will have to find accommodation in either Mysuru or Srirangapatna.
