Mysuru: Come November, your trip to National Parks and Tiger reserves across the State will burn a hole into your pockets as the Forest Department has revised – or call it hiked – tourist tariffs. The revised tariffs will come into effect from November 1.

Now, the entry fee (that is the basic entry fee) per person will be Rs. 250 for the tiger reserves while for the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, it has been fixed at Rs. 150 per person. For foreigners, it will be Rs. 1,500 per person at tiger reserves and Rs. 1,000 per person at national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. For the jungle safari, a popular segment among tourists, there will be a separate fee of Rs. 300 for adults and Rs. 150 for children (5-12 years) and students. As per the notification, there will also be a separate camera fee.

In all, if you want to visit Bandipur and Nagarahole from Nov. 1, you will have to pay Rs. 250 as entry fee and Rs. 300 as safari charges – that is Rs. 550 per person. Plus, you will have to pay for parking and camera. The notification says that entry fee is the basic rate, payable by all tourists. For other activities, appropriate fees will have to be paid in addition to the entry fee.

In a letter dated Oct. 7, sent to Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Chief Conservators of Forests (territorial circles), Conservator of Forests and Directors of Bandipur, Nagarahole, Bhadra and Kali Tiger Reserves and other high-ranking Forest officials, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Bengaluru has stated that since two years, the tariffs were not revised despite wildlife office units requesting a hike. After considering proposals from various sanctuaries and parks, it was felt there was an urgent need to revise the tariffs for the protected areas, the letter stated. The entry fee would be applicable to all entering the park.

The revised tariffs are applicable in Bandipur, Kali, Bhadra and Biligiri Ranganatha Tiger Reserves, Veeranahosalli, Nanachi and Antharasanthe entry points at Rajiv Gandhi National Park, popular as Nagarahole National Park, Bannerghatta National Park, Kudremukh National Park, Talacauvery, Brahmagiri, Pushpagiri and other wildlife sanctuaries.

Entry fee

As per the new rates, entry fee for Bandipur, Kali, Bhadra, and BRT Reserves and Nagarahole National Park has been revised from Rs. 200 to Rs 250 per person. A foreign national will have to pay Rs. 1,500.

For Kudremukh and Bannerghatta National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries like Bhimgad, Brahmagiri, Pushpagiri, Someshwara and Talacauvery, the tariff has been hiked from Rs. 100 to Rs. 150. A foreigner will have to pay Rs. 1,000.

For smaller wildlife sanctuaries like Nugu, Kodachadri, Ranebennur, Rangayyanadurga and Ramdevarabetta, the rate is still Rs. 25 per person. A foreigner has to pay Rs. 100 here. The entry fee for Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary will be Rs. 70 while for boat rides, Rs. 70 per person will be charged. For the boat ride, foreign national will have to pay Rs. 400. For chartered boats, the ticket price has been fixed at Rs. 1,500 per person and a foreigner will have to pay Rs. 3,000.

Safari charges

A safari in a departmental bus per person has been increased to Rs. 300, for children and students it is Rs. 150 and the duration of the safari will be approximately one-and-a-half hours. From the entry points at Veeranahosalli and Antharasanthe of Nagarahole National Park, the safari fee (excluding entry fee) will be Rs. 500 per person and the duration of the safari will be approximately two-and-a-half hours. Antharasanthe and Veeranahosalli form the core area of the Nagarahole forest.

It will cost you Rs. 200 person for Safari in a Gypsy or a diesel jeep and a lump-sum amount of Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 4,000 will be charged for a group of tourists depending on the type of the vehicle. A safari in Jungle Lodges vehicles in Bandipur and Nagarahole ranges from Rs. 1,110 to Rs. 2,750 per trip depending on the vehicle.

Room rent

Room rent for all rest houses and cottages have been revised to Rs. 2,500 per day and a foreigner has to pay Rs. 5,000. Tourists staying at Gajendra VIP rooms at Bandipur and Cauvery VIP room will henceforth have to pay Rs. 1,500 per day and a foreigner has to pay Rs. 2,000 per day. All dormitories will cost Rs. 200 per head and foreigners will have to pay Rs. 500 per head.

In Kodagu Circle, including Pushpagiri cottage, Srimangala, Brahmagiri and Talacauvery cottage will henceforth be charged at Rs. 1,500 per day and Vanasree dormitory will be charged at Rs. 2,400 per day.

Parking charges

Parking charges for vehicles at reception centre or within the premises of rest house, cottage and dormitory will be Rs. 50 for jeep and car per day, Rs. 100 for Light Commercial Vehicles and Rs. 150 for buses and trucks per day. Overnight parking charges range from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 per night.

Camera charges

Tourists bringing digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) without lens will be charged Rs. 200 per unit and DSLR with lens will be charged at Rs. 300 per unit. Amateur photography fee for DSLR above 500 mm length will be charged at Rs. 500 per day. Photography on boat rides will be Rs. 1,500 per trip while the guide fees too has seen a steep hike with fee for safari being Rs. 500 per hour and for trekking Rs. 200 per person.

ENTRY AND OTHER ACTIVITIES  and REVISED RATES

Basic entry fee per person at tiger reserve: Rs. 250

Entry fee for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries: Rs. 150

Jungle safari: R. 300

Entry fee and safari charges at Bandipur and Nagarahole from Nov. 1: Rs. 550

From Veeranahosalli and Antharasanthe of Nagarahole National Park, the safari fee with a total duration of two-and-a-half hours: Rs. 500

Room rent at rest houses and cottages: Rs. 2,500 per day

DSLR camera without lens: Rs. 200

DSLR with lens:  Rs. 300

DSLR above 500 mm:  Rs. 500

Guide fee for safari:  Rs. 500 per hour