During these summer holidays if you are not able to make it to the Himalayas or to a foreign country for a vacation, do not feel depressed. Our own Karnataka has many lovely places for a perfect vacation and one such beautiful locale is the banks of the river Kabini, just about 240 kilometres, four-and-hours drive, from Bangalore.

Kabini, the river that originates from the hills of Kerala and confluences with the mighty Kaveri, has a large and beautiful backwater created by the Kabini Dam. The river which has virtually transformed itself into a huge, tranquil lake is surrounded by lush green forests on the one side and villages on the other.

Thanks to bountiful rains in the month of March, this year Kabini and its surroundings is more appealing as the water levels are much higher than normal and the jungles are greener.

Two resorts

The best way to enjoy Kabini is to stay there. The Kabini River Lodge, run by the Jungle Lodges & Resorts Ltd, is the oldest of the two major resorts located there. Once the hunting lodge of the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, Kabini River Lodge (www.junglelodges.com) has fourteen spacious, colonial style double rooms with modern amenities. It also has ten twin-bedded cottages facing the river and a few tented cottages. Some part of this 54-acre property is partly wooded and located on the western bank of the river. To reach the place one has to take the Mysore-Mananthavadi road and take a 5 km jungle road from the village of Karapura.

The effective, season time fare for the cottages is Rs 3700, rooms Rs 3200 and tents Rs 2750. These fares are per person, per night on a twin sharing basis.

On the eastern bank of Kabini, diagonally opposite to Jungle Lodges, is the new resort of Orange County (www.orangecounty.in). Started about six months ago and run by the Orange County group, this is a luxury resort with 34 huts.  

Situated in the heart land of the Kadukuruba tribe of Nagarhole forest and surrounded on three sides by the Kabini river, Orange County, Kabini is built in Kuruba village style. The palm-thatched huts at the resort are fitted with modern amenities. For the accommodation one can choose from two types of huts: one with a private pool and the other with a private jacuzzi, located in the open-to-sky courtyard inside the hut.

Equipped with an ayurvedic spa, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a well-stocked bar and a reading room, Orange County has a panoramic view of the river Kabini that opens up like a large lake. To promote eco tourism, the resort strictly discourages plastics. It has fitted a small reverse osmosis plant in each room for safe drinking water that will substitute water in plastic bottles. The view of sunset from this resort is breathtakingly beautiful. To reach Orange County drive on Mysore-Mananthavadi road and take a left turn on the road to Kabini dam. The resort is 20 km from the dam.   

The season time tariff for the Jacuzzi Hut is Rs 14,450 for weekdays & Rs 17,000 for weekends and tariffs for Pool Hut is Rs 17,000 on weekdays and Rs 20,000 on weekends. Tariffs are for two persons per night inclusive of food and free accommodation for two children under the age of 10.

The biggest attraction of Kabini is the closeness to the unspoilt nature. Go for a coracle ride in the river or take a short ride on an elephant. Or take an early mornings walk when there is chill in the air and mist rising from the river, creating an ambiance that bonds well with the vacation mood. The best, of course, are jungle safaris in jeep and in boat.

Sandwiched between two reserve forests— Nagarhole and Bandipur— Kabini offers the richest wildlife habitats in the state. It is home for the Asian elephant, gaur, sambar, cheetal (deer), bison, wild boar, sloth bear, tiger, leopard and wild dogs. For bird lovers Kabini offers a wide variety of birds that feast on fishes from the river.

Both Jungle Lodge and Orange County offer a boat safari or a jeep safari for about two hours in the morning and in the evening, as a part of the package. A lot of rain in March has helped grow good green vegetation in the forest area that is attracting many animals including elephants, these days. Do not forget to carry binoculars along with a camera attached to a powerful zoom lens, if you want to watch and capture the animals in wilderness. A good sighting of animals and birds complements the back-to-nature vacation at Kabini as the fresh air and the purity of nature rejuvenates your body and soul.