BANDIPUR

Bandipur’s deciduous habitat is ideal for viewing elephant , gaur, sambar,chital, wild boar – and if one is lucky, elusive predators like the tiger , leopard or wild dogs. A bird –watchers pradise, bandipur is home to over 300 species of birds, of which many are endemic to these jungles. Although the park is a good spot to visit throughout the year summer months of March, April and may are the best for sighting wildlife. October to February is when the climate is very pleasant and the forest is at its greenest best.

Activitties:
The highlights of a stay at Bandipur Safari Lodge are the wildlife viewing opportunities in the National Park at daybreak and in the evening. Trip in open – top jeeps and on foot into the Park, along with a trained and experienced naturalist as guide, help guests identify and understand the rich diversity of flora, fauna and avifauna. For the naturalists – at –heart, there are plenty of opportunities for nature walks bird –watching and wildlife photography in these unspoilt environs environs.  Elephant ride, wildlife film and slide shows, star-gazing are other activities that guests can enjoy.

Adventure: 
For those looking to take on the outdoors, there is the inviting challenge posed by the summit of Gopalaswamy Betta or another exhilarating trek along the slopes of the Moyar Gorge. Guests can also choose from ten well – marked trails inside the National park, that stretch from 6.75 km to 26.5 km

Accomadations:
Bandipur Safari Lodge is built along the lines of contemporary architectural style with a maximum capacity of 24 persons at a time. There are twelve well-furnished, elegant rooms with modern amenities and spacious bath to relax your senses. (But there is no A/c or T.V. in any of the accommodation). The campus is dotted with medicinal and ornamental plants and the panoramic view of the surrounding hillocks instills the naturalist in you.

Facilities:
The exclusive banquet area called the Gol Ghar (circular, open-to sides marquee) is a specialty of Jungle Lodges and offers a platform for interaction with other guests. Our open-top jeeps take you on a safari into the Tiger Reserve every evening. To enjoy the wilder side of life, sit around the campfire area and unwind yourself in the barbeque and the background humming of a guitar. There is also a restaurant and bar facility provided for the day visitors and highway commuters.

KABINI
Nestled in the southern fringes of the Nagarhole National Park, the Kabini River Lodge is a perfect getaway for nature lovers. The breathtaking locale with the tranquil backwaters of the River Kabini presents an ideal setting for a long-awaited vacation. Once the hunting lodge of the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, Kabini River Lodge is today rated by the British Tatler’s Travel Guide as one of the top 5 wildlife resorts in the world. Kabini is pure elephant country as one can see numerous herds at a time. However, the blaze of the elusive tiger always haunts you as you roam through the verdant jungle here. Once widely known for the mass elephant-trapping operations called 'Khedda', Kabini stands as the one of the brightest beacons for wildlife preservation in India today.

Activites :
The main wildlife viewing activity here is the exciting safaris on open-top jeeps into the famed Nagarhole National Park. Our first ride into the Park is at the crack of dawn and we visit the park again at 4.30pm. A boat ride on the River Kabini would sure be a treat to your eyes, as many elephants tend to congregate on the banks in the evenings. You could be sure to see as many as 150-200 elephants on a summer evening. Guests can choose between the traditional, circular boat (made of bamboo and buffalo hide) and the regular motorboat for the river cruise. In the evening, movies on wildlife are shown in our audio-visual hall. We could also start a campfire and barbeque at the Ghol Ghar in the night. An ayurveda treatment option is also offered to guests.
Perhaps nowhere else in India can one see so much wildlife. Sighting of elephants, sambhar, spotted deer, gaur, wild boar, sloth bear, wild dogs, etc., are almost assured, while if one is lucky, a tiger or a panther too, could be sighted. Our clients are permitted to shoot, not with guns but with camera and video. The sighting of wildlife in their eco-system creates awareness and respect among the humans towards other life forms.

Accomadation:  
Kabini River Lodge has a colonial style architecture equipped to accommodate 50 persons at a time. Fourteen spacious, colonial style double rooms with modern amenities, ten twin-bedded cottages in sylvan surroundings and six tented cottages with attached modern bath ensure that your stay here is in comfort. (But there is no A/c, or T.V. in any of the accommodation). All these in a well maintained 54-acre campus, surrounded on three sides by the bend of the River Kabini, giving it a paradise like look.

Facilities
Apart from the luxurious living areas, the Viceroy's building houses our well-equipped bar. There is also a large, charming room exclusively for seminars, meetings with multimedia projector and other conferencing facilities. Our communal dining area called the Ghol Ghar (circular, open-to-sides gazebo) overlooks River Kabini and is the perfect place for guests to share their experiences of the day with each other.

Bhimeshwari : Meandering through the woody landscape amidst the forests of Karnataka is the Cauvery – the most majestic and sacred river of South India. The river offers both adventure and opportunity for nature lovers. Nestled along this mighty river is the Bhimeshwari Fishing Camp, world-renowned as home to the great ‘Mahseer’ - the finest & the largest tropical sporting fish known to man. Tucked away from the milling crowds, yet close enough for you to reach, this camp offers a slice of nature that is entirely unique, one in which you can totally feel free

Activities:
Though fishing has been a huge industry in India for centuries, angling or sport fishing became a serious pastime only in the mid-19th century. British anglers of the Raj came in pursuit of the Trout and Salmon but found a creature that far surpassed other fish as a fighter - the Mahseer or The Large Headed One. It spawned an entire clan of adventurers (including the legendary Jim Corbett), who would travel to far-flung areas of the country just to battle with the mighty Mahseer.
In South India, as the Cauvery River flows out of the Western Ghats to Tamil Nadu plains, it cuts deep gorges and creates vast rapids, many pools and thus holding areas for the huge Mahseer. JLR has exclusive rights to vast stretches of the Cauvery. Four different kinds of Mahseer are found in these waters – Silver, Gold, balck and Pink. However, in light of decreasing sizes and numbers of good specimens, 'Catch-and-Release' has become a necessary practice. Other fish often found are carp , catfish and many small ones useful as bait.
JLR’s Bhimeshwari Fishing Camp is a perfect base for anglers in pursuit of the Mighty one. The fishing season here is during the months of November, December, January and February. Guests are provided with a local guide or ‘gillie’ for every two visitors. Gillies help anglers with their knowledge of the waters and are experienced fishermen themselves. They also are adept at using the coracle boats (native, circular boats made out of buffalo hide) and can move guests from place to place in the waters. JLR provides the coracles to cross the river and also to help with the landing of fish

Fishing is done during the morning, which lasts from first light until midday and then again from 4 o'clock until nightfall. Also, only a maximum of 10 rods are allowed to be in the water during a single session. Fishing techniques that are possible on these waters are Bait fishing, Fly fishing and Spinning. Bait is also provided – baked Ragi (millets) paste, freshwater crabs, chilva and sometimes figs are the main ones used.

TACKLE LIST
Though we have a few tackles on hire, we request guests to get their own tackle as personal preference is a factor.
Rods: Your main rod can be an off-the-shelf uptide of about 10 foot casting 6 - 10oz (one joint). Fibreglass is tougher than carbon and is also cheaper. A heavy duty carp rod for spinning and also a lighter rod for catching live bait will complete the set.
Reels: The main criterion for reels is that they take a lot of line. You don't have to cast far, but fish make long runs and you don't want to run out! They should be of the highest quality as they have to take a lot of pressure. Multipliers such as Abu Ambassadors are very popular, 7000 and 9000 models. Large fixed spools such as Shimano Aerlex can be used as well.
Line: 40lb or 50lb monofil for your main reel and perhaps Braid for spinning. A long fight with a fish can result in line being damaged and it will need to be changed when this happens.
Hooks: Sizes 5,6,7, 8 can be used for the main rod. Owner and Partridge are popular, but anything as long as it is extra strong. The same for hooks on lures. Change them for extra strong even if they are not already fitted.
Plugs: Rupala 9” or 8” (black and white) or Meps no.4 & 5
Guests are also advised to bring with them a cap, sunscreen, dark glasses, shorts, good shoes to taken on the water and personal medical kit. We request all our foreign clientele to adhere to all safety precautions and ensure that they get all their inoculations prior to their visit to the Camp.

Complete body rejuvenation therapies of the ancient Indian health care system – “ Ayurveda “ are available in our Ayurveda Hut . It is run by KOTTAKKAL ARYAVAIDYA SALA ( The pioneers in Ayurveda ) dealers using their medicines and systems and all the therapies performed by well trained male/female therapists.

Considering the guests of Jungle Lodges and nature of their stay, we have wide range of well designed tailor made packages that offer complete body rejuvenation and internal cleansing therapies.
Please go to our therapy (each therapies are given in details with it’s benefits and advantages ) and price list pages…