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Nagarhole acquired the status of a national park in 1975. Spread over 643 sq. km of wilderness against the backdrop of the Brahmagiri Mountains it is one of the best wildlife experiences inIndia. Recently the park has been renamed Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Flanked byBandipur National Park to the southeast and Keralas Wynad Sanctuary to the southwest Nagarhole is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Nagarhole derives its name from the Kannada word naga that means snake and hole meaning streams. True to its name the park is criss-crossed by serpentine rivers and streams. A perennial water reservoir is at the centre of the park while a series of slopes and shallow valleys spread outwards covered with bamboo teak and cassia forests as well as marshy swamps. This varied habitat makes Nagarhole home to a diverse wildlife population.
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