Ertiga taxi from Mysore to Nagarhole — what it costs and how long it takes
| Distance | 90 km |
|---|---|
| Drive time | 2h 15m off-peak · up to 3h at busy times |
| One way, from | ₹3,150 incl. GST |
| Round trip, from | ₹5,513 incl. GST |
| Highway | via Hunsur and Veeranahosahalli |
| Best departure | Leave by 5.30am for the morning safari slot |
How that fare is built
| Item | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Chargeable distance | 130 km (min) | 250 km (min) |
| Rate per km | ₹20 | ₹19 |
| Distance cost | ₹2,600 | ₹4,750 |
| Driver bata | ₹400 | ₹500 |
| Toll and parking | At actuals, with receipts — quoted on the call | |
| Sub-total | ₹3,000 | ₹5,250 |
| GST at 5% | ₹150 | ₹263 |
| Total, from | ₹3,150 | ₹5,513 |
One way is charged for your direction plus the minimum distance. A round trip charges both legs with the daily minimum applied — which is why the one-way total is lower even at a higher per-km rate. Prefer a single agreed figure with toll and permit folded in? Ask for an all-inclusive quote.
A different gate, a different forest
Most people heading for wildlife from Mysore end up at Bandipur, because it is the one they have heard of. Nagarhole is the other half of the same forest system, and it is worth knowing the difference before you pick.
Nagarhole — Rajiv Gandhi National Park — sits on the northern side. It is wetter and greener: taller trees, denser undergrowth, more standing water, and a canopy in places rather than open scrub. Bandipur, to the south, is dry deciduous and considerably more open.
The practical consequence is that animals are harder to see in Nagarhole and the forest is better to be in. Which of those matters more is a genuine question and depends what you came for. If you want the best chance of a photograph, Bandipur or Kabini. If you want to be somewhere that feels like real forest, Nagarhole.
The Veeranahosahalli gate
The northern entrance is Veeranahosahalli, reached via Hunsur, about two and a quarter hours from Mysore.
It runs its own safari slots, and they are not the Bandipur timings. Do not assume knowledge from one gate transfers to another — check your slot, tell us, and we set the departure from it. For a morning drive that means leaving Mysore around half past five, so the car stays with you overnight.
Safaris are in the forest department’s vehicles, from the gate. No private vehicle goes inside. We take you there, wait, and bring you back.
What you might see
Elephant is the reliable one — this whole forest system holds one of the largest populations in Asia. Tiger and leopard are present, and Nagarhole’s cover makes both less likely to be seen than at Kabini. Dhole, the Indian wild dog, hunts here and is a genuinely exciting sighting. Gaur, sambar, chital and Malabar giant squirrel round it out, and the birdlife is excellent — this is a better birding forest than Bandipur.
The Kabini backwaters form the park’s southern boundary, which is why some visitors do both from a single base.
Why this route suits an Ertiga
A short pre-dawn run on ordinary roads, with a group who will be cold at half five and carrying camera gear rather than suitcases. Six seats and quiet air conditioning matter; boot volume does not. The car waits at the gate for two or three hours, so this is a round trip with a wait rather than two journeys.
Still coming to this page: named toll plazas and amounts, named break stops. Those come from our own drivers rather than from a map, and we would rather leave them off than print a figure we have not checked. Ask on the call and we will tell you the toll for this route.
All bookings include a professional driver. We do not offer self-drive rentals.
Booking this route
We drive Nagarhole to Mysore as well, at the same rate — the fare depends on the distance and the direction of travel, not on which end you start from. There is one page for both directions rather than two pages saying the same thing.
Related routes
Mysore to Nagarhole — FAQs
How is Nagarhole different from Bandipur?
Wetter and greener. Nagarhole sits on the northern side of the same forest system and has taller, denser cover with more water, where Bandipur is drier deciduous scrub and more open. Sightings feel harder-won in Nagarhole and the forest itself is more impressive.
Which gate do we use?
Veeranahosahalli, the northern entrance, reached via Hunsur — about two and a quarter hours from Mysore. It runs its own safari slots, so the timings that apply at Bandipur or Kabini do not transfer.
What time should we leave Mysore?
Around half five for the morning safari. That is the better of the two drives and it means leaving in the dark, so the car is positioned in Mysore overnight.
Is a permit needed?
No. Nagarhole is in Karnataka.
Can we drive our own vehicle inside?
No. Safaris are run in the forest department's own vehicles from the gate. We bring you there, wait while you are in, and take you back.