Once a private hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Mysore and the British viceroys, Kabini is located on the banks of the Kabini River. Presently it is considered to be one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka, wellknown for its stunning wildlife and bird life. It has easy accessibility, scenic green background surrounding a large charming lake, and unbelievable sightings of large herds of elephants and other wild animals. Kabini forests are a mixture of tropical, moist and dry deciduous types. Home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, Kabini attracts environment lovers from all over the country.
Thickly forested regions, wild animals, range of avian species, and plentiful herds of elephants make the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka evenly interesting and distinctive. Besides elephants, it is possible to spot sambar, langurs, chital, bison, sloth bear, crocodile, pythons, tiger and leopard. The reserve is also home to around 250 species of bird life. The dam at Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary across the river near Beechanahalli is an extraordinary attraction.
One can walk amidst the green forests and explore the rich variety of flora and fauna and the gorgeous wildlife. Kabini forests are extremely enchanting, owe to the imposing waterfalls, ripple-filled flowing waters of the river Kabini and the most beautiful backdrop of greenery. One can look out for the expansive river and selected with every little pleasure one would normally expect on a premium vacation and it serves as a perfect getaway for those who wish to leave behind the routine activities and the stress and strains of daily city life.
The lush green scenes offer an enthusiastic forest to spend the days completely at personal convenience and to fill the vacation with flavor, fun and most adventurous. Kabini is the best suit for this and no one can offer it better than Kabini. The main activities one can engage here in this wildlife tourist spot are boating in Kabini river, an Elephant Safari and a Jungle Safari.
Boating
Apart from enjoying wildlife safaris, one can also choose to take a cruise down the Kabini river. One can see fabulous sceneries, feasting the eyes for a lifetime memories with the flora and fauna around the lusting greeneries, atop of the boat. On the way through the dense woodlands, in a boat cruise, glimpses of animals like leopard, gaurs, antelopes, crocodiles, tigers, cobras and pythons and a herd of wild elephants moving leisurely or a vociferous leopards, moving behind the dense undulated terrains of Kabini forests are abundantly possible. Kabini offers, besides the animals, an interesting view of a rich variety of plant life.
Irpu Falls
The Irpu Falls, also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, are located in the Bhramagiri Range and is a fresh waterfall 60 m high. Amidst thriving green Western Ghats, Irupu falls is a major tourist attraction as well as a pilgrim spot. The river Lakshmana-tirtha flows nearby and it joins the Kaveri River at a later part. A famous temple of Lord Shiva, known as the Rameshwara Temple, is situated on the banks of this River. There is another temple dedicated to Sri Ram, surrounded by paddy fields, from where it is ascend to the falls through natural forest. Except the waterfall all other places are inside the wildlife sanctuary and need permission to enter the sanctuary.
Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
The Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, with evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, is located in the Kodagu district and makes a part of the Western Ghats. A natural habitat of tribes with shola-grassland, this sanctuary is famous for agricultural fields and coffee plantations. The sanctuary obtained its name from the highest point, the Brahmagiri peak, at a height of 1607 meters from sea level. Bamboos are well cultivated in these forests, with a species called Bambusa bamboos are in major.
Animals in the Sanctuary include lots of rare species. One can see lion-tailed macaque, Malabar giant squirrel and brown mongoose apart from elephant, tiger, gaur, wild dog, jungle cat, leopard cat, sambar, sloth bear, wild pig, spotted deer and many more. Snakes including Python and king cobra and attractive birds like emerald dove, Malabar trogon and black bulbul can be spotted here. The Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is a precious place to visit for all the nature lovers, environmentalists and animal lovers.
Elephant safari
Elephant safari helps the visitor to travel through such intricate terrains where even jeeps cannot venture. One can take himself back to the old golden era, when only the Kings used to ride on these gigantic animals, since nothing can even match up to with the dignity of the Pachyderm. Any tourist reaches this destination can proudly sit over the cushion (seat) on the top of the animal which moves slowly and steadily and fulfill their adventurous dream of an Elephant Safari.
If any animal rules Kabini, it is the elephant. The forest reserve has the single largest congregation of Asiatic elephants. Elephant safari is offered in Sunkadakattee. Here one can enjoy the thrill of moving around the thick forests on tamed elephants.
Jungle safari
Eco friendly tourists and environmentalists love to travel around the dense and populated forested regions of Kabini, for its diverse topography and wideranging collection of animal and plant life. Go on a jeep safari for wildlife sighting and have a truly mingling of wild life for a unique experience. Nature walks are nice options to loose oneself in the exuberant environs at Kabini. Tourists and nature lovers pour into the place in good numbers to enjoy the sights and spend some quality time here. The Kabini is adorned with the lush vegetation with one endless streak of verdant green. Various tourist operators can also arrange for a nature walk which will be exciting and unforgettable. This area is awesome for Jungle safari as the climate is mostly warm and temperate and the winter is very short.
Nagarhole National park
Nagarhole National park, a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve also known as ‘Rajiv Gandhi National Park’, is one of India’s best known wildlife reserves. This place beckons tourists from all over the world to have a rendezvous with nature and wildlife. It was set up in 1955, enriched with greenish forest cover, little streams, softy valleys and spectacular waterfalls, is one of the best-managed parks in the country. Diverse nature of the park is visible from the flora and fauna.
The park has in account a healthy Tiger-Predator ratio. This is a natural territory of many mammalian species, and rare species of animals. Some of the animals that can be spotted here include four-horned antelope, sloth bear, civet, spotted deer, elephant, flying fox, tiger, panther, gaur (Indian bison), sambhar, wild boar, black-naped hare, bonnet macaque, and pangolin. Reptiles freely inhabit in this park.
The crawlers include cobras, crocodiles, kraits, pythons, vipers and various species of lizards. Bird watching in this park is spectacular; one can spot rare species of birds, not seen anywhere else. This park is a paradise for animal lovers and bird watchers. Environmentalists should not miss this place in their travel plan.