One of the finest remaining habitats of the Asiatic Elephant, Nagarahole is situated in the Deccan Plateau and forms an integral part of the Nilgiri biosphere. The serpentine river after which the park is named, winds through lush green wilderness, hence the name (Nagara Hole in the local tongue means Serpent River).

Kabini is the largest river draining the forest and a dam built on it has created a splendid lake to the south of the park, which also forms a boundary with the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Huge herds of elephants amble down to Nagarahole in the summer months, which is an excellent time to watch them in their element.

Over 300 bird species have been reported here, including rarities like Blue Face Malkhoa, White-cheeked Barbet and Nilgiri Flycatcher

Fauna:
Large carnivores such as the Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Striped Hyena and the Jackal are aplenty. Herbivores include Gaur, Axis Deer, Sambar, Indian Muntjac, Mouse Deer, Four-horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Crested Porcupine and the Black-naped Hare. The primate residents include the Common Langur and Bonnet Macaque. Other species worth mentioning are the Sloth Bear, Pangolin, Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Giant Fruit Bat and the elusive Slender Loris.

Some birds seen here are the Yellow Browed Bulbul, Pacific Swallow, Grasshopper Warbler, Orphean Warbler and the Yellow Billed Babbler. Besides, many species of owls - including the Short Eared and Oriental Scops Owl - come out at night.

Flora:
The landscape is a mix of gentle slopes and shallow valleys interspersed with swamps. The trees here are more widely spread with open grassland patches. Large timber trees such as teak, rosewood and Mathi (Terminalia tomentosa) dominate the parts of forests with dense undergrowth in areas of high rainfall. The drier areas on the other hand comprises of shorter trees like Dindalu (Anogeissus Latifolia), Flame of the Forest, Indian Laburnum and bamboo.