Bangalore: Flutter-by
The Butterfly Park at Bannerghatta
I love butterflies; who doesn’t? These spectacular insects have the power to lift our spirits and somehow inspire our flighty dreams. So the Butterfly Park was definitely on my agenda this summer holiday. It took us around 40 minutes (from Koramangala) to get to the Park which is right next to the Bannerghatta National Park.
The Park is a bit of a walk from the parking lot so you might want to carry your summer hats and water, especially if it’s a lovely warm day. Once you’re inside the gates, you find yourself in a green oasis with dappled sunlight and butterflies floating around. Inside this 7 acre park is a three-domed structure, which is the main attraction.
You enter into the first dome which is a conservatory and impersonates a lush wet tropical cocoon, complete with a small waterfall and a stream with Koi carps swimming in it.
There are more than 20 species of butterflies gliding around in this enclosed “rain forest” and small placards are installed to help identify them. I felt really rewarded hearing my son’s excited cries of “Look Mama, a plain tiger!” “Look at this one” and “It’s sitting on my hand!” The next two connected domes house a museum and information centre. There are posters, interactive simulations and living displays with eggs, caterpillars and pupas elucidating the butterfly life cycle. A collection of preserved butterflies and moths are displayed in glass cases and you can behold some of the famous non-local specimens like the “Luna Moth” and the “Australian Birdwing”. Spectacular! An inspiring picnic for any age, it’s a must do; I’ve already done it twice these holidays and my son is already clamouring for more!
Bangalore