If jungle lore beckons you and you are an elephant lover it is time to head to Dubare Elephant Camp.
Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) runs the elephant training camp nestled between the south bank of river Cauvery and Dubare Reserve Forest It is located in Kodagu district of Karnataka state.
This area has a long history with elephants. Originally it was a procurement and training hub for elephants needed during the famous Mysore Dasara. Also they were put to use for logging operations. Once these activities ceased they found a new calling namely one on one interaction with the human species and jungle rides.
We decided to go through Jungle Lodges and resorts.They offer packages , day visits.
You can get more information from their website :
JLL website
I found 2 kind of packages on their website : one included riverside cottages and the other did not have a view of the Cauvery.
We decided to opt for the riverside cottage and booked for a weekend trip (check in Saturday and check out by Sunday.)
Cost was about Rs.5262 per person per day ,cottages being on twin/triple sharing basis.
The itinerary forwarded was as follows :
DAY - 1
12.00 Noon Walk in to Dubare and hear the gurgling sound of Cauvery River as you check-in.
1.30-2.30 p.m. A tasty lunch awaits you – just what you are looking for after a long drive.
4.00 p.m. Tune in to the long awaited adventure with a refreshing cup of tea/ coffee.
4.30-6.30 p.m. Jeep Safari into Dubare Forest with a trained naturalist can be a refreshing experience
7.00-8.00 p.m A wildlife film show at the Gol Ghar is another opportunity to learn
about wildlife
8.00-9.30 p.m Dine around the cozy campfire or at the Gol Ghar
DAY - 2
6.00 a.m... Wake up to the songs of birds and greet the morning with a cup of
tea/coffee.
6.30-8.00 am Cruise through the Cauvery River on a coracle (circular and
indigenously made) viewing and enjoying the nature around you.
8.00-8.30 a.m Treat yourself with a hearty breakfast at the Gol Ghar
11.00 a.m At the Dubare Elephant Camp, a visitor not only spends time by simply watching Elephants but of course, learning more about them. A trained naturalist is at hand to explain the various aspects of the Elephant history, ecology and biology. The visitor can also participate in various activities like washing and scrubbing. A ride on the elephant would be the cream of all the experience in Elephant camp.
If you must leave, we look forward to your next visit to discover the yet unexplored secrets of these forests.
Booking done we left Bangalore around 6 AM on Saturday and reached around 12 AM.
Around Kushalnagar we got a call from the manager from whom we confirmed the route.
There is a left turn from the Madikeri-Siddapur road where the board guides you.
Upon reaching a huge parking lot, you have to be ferried across. A boatman was already waiting for us and welcomed us aboard the boat, helped us with our luggage with a huge smile. Impressive.
Having crossed over, we got down and went to the office to complete the formalities.
After this we were directed to our cottage.
We settled into our pretty cottage by the river. All the cottages are named after the resident elephants.
The atmosphere was calm and serene and very jungle like..Was loving it.
Also on the agenda was some photography with my newly purchased Canon-DSLR . I wasted no time and got down straight to it.
What impressed me was that the JLL personnel stuck to the schedule which was charted out as part of the package.
We headed for lunch which was not much to talk about. Consisted majorly of South India cuisine which am not a fan of (barring the south India breakfast - which i adore and cherish)
Post lunch we rested and clicked some more photographs and then it was time for tea/coffee.
Then the most awaited activity of all- the Jungle safari ( about 2 hours).
Dubare reserve forest has a spread of about 110 square km. This is a thick forest primarily dominated by the teak plantation. There were hoard of bamboos strewn all around. Our guide explained they had reached end of life so rotted. There was not much we sited except for some peacocks, Malabar red squirrel, birds of prey, deer. But driving through a reserved forest in a jeep in anticipation
of a sighting is the main charm!!
Wow that was fun..on return tea and pakoras awaited us and we were famished.
Next was the screening of a wildlife film- which just left me overwhelmed. It was about the plight of the tiger in our country.
Last on the agenda for the day was dinner, which was way better than the lunch as it catered to a wider palette.
Some night shots :
Post dinner we headed to our cottage and fell into a deep sleep.
Next day schedule was morning tea followed by nature walk. We got up around 5 and got ready and headed for tea, It was misty all around and amazing.
After the refreshing morning cuppa we head for the nature walk which i was keenly looking forward to. Our guide explained the flora and fauna to us and took us deep into the jungle ( about 2km one side).
The moist deciduous forests of Dubare are home to many wild animals and birds. Sightings of wild Asiatic elephants are regular and so is spotting the sambhar, the spotted deer, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and gaur. Bears are also seen in these forests. Crocodiles can be seen in the river. The forests are also home to many reptiles and non-venomous snakes.
Birdlife in Dubare has peacocks, partridges, kingfishers and woodpeckers topping the list
We headed back towards a sumptuous breakfast.
This was followed by the Elephant interaction, ride and finally boating.
Boat ride and then we packed and headed home.
Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) runs the elephant training camp nestled between the south bank of river Cauvery and Dubare Reserve Forest It is located in Kodagu district of Karnataka state.
This area has a long history with elephants. Originally it was a procurement and training hub for elephants needed during the famous Mysore Dasara. Also they were put to use for logging operations. Once these activities ceased they found a new calling namely one on one interaction with the human species and jungle rides.
We decided to go through Jungle Lodges and resorts.They offer packages , day visits.
You can get more information from their website :
JLL website
I found 2 kind of packages on their website : one included riverside cottages and the other did not have a view of the Cauvery.
We decided to opt for the riverside cottage and booked for a weekend trip (check in Saturday and check out by Sunday.)
Cost was about Rs.5262 per person per day ,cottages being on twin/triple sharing basis.
The itinerary forwarded was as follows :
DAY - 1
12.00 Noon Walk in to Dubare and hear the gurgling sound of Cauvery River as you check-in.
1.30-2.30 p.m. A tasty lunch awaits you – just what you are looking for after a long drive.
4.00 p.m. Tune in to the long awaited adventure with a refreshing cup of tea/ coffee.
4.30-6.30 p.m. Jeep Safari into Dubare Forest with a trained naturalist can be a refreshing experience
7.00-8.00 p.m A wildlife film show at the Gol Ghar is another opportunity to learn
about wildlife
8.00-9.30 p.m Dine around the cozy campfire or at the Gol Ghar
DAY - 2
6.00 a.m... Wake up to the songs of birds and greet the morning with a cup of
tea/coffee.
6.30-8.00 am Cruise through the Cauvery River on a coracle (circular and
indigenously made) viewing and enjoying the nature around you.
8.00-8.30 a.m Treat yourself with a hearty breakfast at the Gol Ghar
11.00 a.m At the Dubare Elephant Camp, a visitor not only spends time by simply watching Elephants but of course, learning more about them. A trained naturalist is at hand to explain the various aspects of the Elephant history, ecology and biology. The visitor can also participate in various activities like washing and scrubbing. A ride on the elephant would be the cream of all the experience in Elephant camp.
If you must leave, we look forward to your next visit to discover the yet unexplored secrets of these forests.
Booking done we left Bangalore around 6 AM on Saturday and reached around 12 AM.
Around Kushalnagar we got a call from the manager from whom we confirmed the route.
There is a left turn from the Madikeri-Siddapur road where the board guides you.
 |
| Board guiding towards the camp |
Upon reaching a huge parking lot, you have to be ferried across. A boatman was already waiting for us and welcomed us aboard the boat, helped us with our luggage with a huge smile. Impressive.
 |
| Boat to ferry us from the parking lot to the camp |
 |
| view of Cauvery while being ferried across |
 |
| smiling boatman |
 |
| Crocodile inviting you for a swim! |
Having crossed over, we got down and went to the office to complete the formalities.
After this we were directed to our cottage.
 |
| path leading to the cottages |
 |
| happy to be here |
|
| cottages along the river cauvery |
 |
| inside view of the cottage |
 |
| hammocks are fun |
 |
| refreshing and resting after a long drive |
 |
| i love my cottage |
 |
| balcony of the cottage |
 |
| mine was cottage#9 |
 |
| beautiful eco-friendly cottages |
We settled into our pretty cottage by the river. All the cottages are named after the resident elephants.
The atmosphere was calm and serene and very jungle like..Was loving it.
Also on the agenda was some photography with my newly purchased Canon-DSLR . I wasted no time and got down straight to it.
What impressed me was that the JLL personnel stuck to the schedule which was charted out as part of the package.
We headed for lunch which was not much to talk about. Consisted majorly of South India cuisine which am not a fan of (barring the south India breakfast - which i adore and cherish)
Post lunch we rested and clicked some more photographs and then it was time for tea/coffee.
Then the most awaited activity of all- the Jungle safari ( about 2 hours).
 |
| view from the jeep |
 |
| heading into the jungle |
 |
| puddle-elephant been here? |
 |
| teak trees galore |
 |
| bird of prey |
Dubare reserve forest has a spread of about 110 square km. This is a thick forest primarily dominated by the teak plantation. There were hoard of bamboos strewn all around. Our guide explained they had reached end of life so rotted. There was not much we sited except for some peacocks, Malabar red squirrel, birds of prey, deer. But driving through a reserved forest in a jeep in anticipation
 |
| Malabar red squirrel |
Wow that was fun..on return tea and pakoras awaited us and we were famished.
Next was the screening of a wildlife film- which just left me overwhelmed. It was about the plight of the tiger in our country.
Last on the agenda for the day was dinner, which was way better than the lunch as it catered to a wider palette.
Some night shots :
 |
| hubby dear rested |
 |
| am enjoying myself |
 |
| bon fire |
 |
| dining hall |
 |
| jungle theme dining hall |
Post dinner we headed to our cottage and fell into a deep sleep.
Next day schedule was morning tea followed by nature walk. We got up around 5 and got ready and headed for tea, It was misty all around and amazing.
 |
| all misty!! |
 |
| tea time |
 |
| misty... |
 |
| morning cuppa |
 |
| more mist |
After the refreshing morning cuppa we head for the nature walk which i was keenly looking forward to. Our guide explained the flora and fauna to us and took us deep into the jungle ( about 2km one side).
The moist deciduous forests of Dubare are home to many wild animals and birds. Sightings of wild Asiatic elephants are regular and so is spotting the sambhar, the spotted deer, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and gaur. Bears are also seen in these forests. Crocodiles can be seen in the river. The forests are also home to many reptiles and non-venomous snakes.
Birdlife in Dubare has peacocks, partridges, kingfishers and woodpeckers topping the list
 |
| our guide makes a point- this is bamboo |
 |
| let me not be left behind!! |
 |
| rose wood tree |
 |
| barks of trees eaten by elephants for salt |
 |
| plant within a tree |
 |
| tree from which bowls (leaf) are made |
 |
| lichens- only found in non-polluted areas |
 |
| deep into the jungle |
 |
| jungle along the river cauvery |
 |
| beautiful shot of river Cauvery |
 |
| selfies ?..yawn..yawn.. |
 |
| pensive deep in the jungle |
 |
| Cauvery |
 |
| responsible for cricketing noise atop trees |
 |
| Touch me not or else......... |
 |
| i found a lichen!!! |
We headed back towards a sumptuous breakfast.
This was followed by the Elephant interaction, ride and finally boating.
 |
| all set for the elephant ride |
 |
| here i go.. |
 |
| thats a bumpy ride |
 |
| first time ever on an elephant |
Boat ride and then we packed and headed home.
 |
| view of river Cauvery from our peddle boat |
 |
| suited with a life jacket- a must! |
