Deriving its name from two separate Kannada words-Naga and Hole, Nagarhole literally means river of Snakes. Located at an altitude of 780 meters above sea level, Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary is spread over a sprawling area of 644 sq. kms. Also known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, the sanctuary was once the hunting preserve of the maharajas of Mysore. Declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955, Nagarhole is dominated by Bamboo stands, Teak and Rosewood with the eastern region of the park covered with regenerating dry deciduous forests.

The fauna at the park includes Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Gaur, Bonnet Macaque, Langur, Nilgiri Tahr, Bison, Nilgiri Langur, Wild Boar, Deer, Asian Elephant, Dholes, Porcupines, Slender Loris, Common Otter, Pangolin, Mouse-Deer, Giant Flying Squirrel, Marsh Crocodile, Rock Python, Monitor Lizard, Frogs, Aquatic, Terrestrial Tortoises and Tree Frogs. The sanctuary also houses around 250 species of birds including Blue-Bearded Bee-Eater, Malabar Trogon, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Crested Hawk-Eagle, Malabar Pied-Hornbill, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Indian Roller, Indian Reed, Woodpeckers, Warblers, Grey Jungle Fowl, Water Fowl, Scarlet Minivet, Ospreys, Ducks, Herons, Red Vented Bulbul, Ring Dove, Common Babbler, Scinaitar Babbler, Loriekeet, Red Whiskered Bulbul and Biyth's Myna.

Apart from this wide array of flora and fauna, the sanctuary also offers boat rides, jeep and elephant safaris to the tourists.