DUBARE ELEPHANT CAMP

This river camp has trained Elephants and their mahout who bathe them and feed them. The Dubare Elephant Camp is a project which is run together by the forest department and Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd. There are naturalists who elucidate the biology, ecology and the history of Elephants to the visitors and you can not only see them but even participate in the river bath, and feeding.

Dubare Elephant Camp is Jungle Lodge and Resorts Ltd.’s (JLR) project located at the riverbank of Kaveri. It lies in Kodagu or Coorg district in Karnataka, a major Coorg attraction on its own. Every year tourists find solace in exploring the different elephant species at this camp.

These elephants are in fact, highly trained by the naturalists or the Mahouts—the person who is in charge of taking care of tuskers and other elephants. In fact, these naturalists are very well aware of the history and biology of the elephants. Visitors from across the globe get to know more about these elephants’ lives, eating habits, rules and regulations, etc.

Apart from that, the Dubare Elephant Camp is also home to plentiful of flora and fauna, namely the animals like tigers, deers, and gaurs. And that’s why this project is highly monitored and is under the control of JLR.

Innovative ways have also been introduced by these authorities for the betterment of the camp’s life led by these animals. Some of these ways are interactions of the tourists with the elephant, opportunity to bathe them and then feed them. Also touring the whole forest area around in the Jungle Safari is another delight. Multiple activities like trekking and camping are regularly hosted around the Dubare Elephant Camp by highly trained professionals.

How To Reach

Government Bus: This bus drops travelers to the nearby towns. The ticket costs Rs 80-100. After the final stop, a traveler can always try out an auto or local town bus.

Auto: Travellers can hail an auto from Kushalnagar town, which is 17 KM away from Dubare. The total cost of this auto might be around Rs 200-300. 

Town Bus: The town bus might be a bit cheaper than the auto, but it will be crowded and more congested.

Another way to reach Dubare is from Bangalore:

By Road: The NH 48 covers the distance of 253 KM from Bangalore to Dubare. The second route is NH 275, which completes the tour with 234 KM of the drive. Finally, the third route includes both NH 275 and NH 209 for a distance of 263 KM. 

Best Time To Visit

Though the camp is open for the whole year, the best time to visit would be after the monsoon has surpassed. Around September to March, the weather is quite pleasant and apt for touring around. Due to lesser rainfall, travelers would not have to go through slippery, sticky, or muddy pathways. 

Otherwise, visiting in summers can be plentiful fun too because of the clear weather and no scope of heavy rainfall as such.

Other Essential Information

Location: It is located by the bank of river Kaveri in Kodagu district of Karnataka.

Average Temperature: Dubare has a pleasant temperature setting throughout the year. Ranging from 21 degrees Celsius minimum in winters to a bit simmering temperature at around 34 degrees Celsius in summers. 

Whereas in monsoon, it can vary from 25 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius easily and at the same time, heavy rainfall compliments the weather.

Distance from Coorg: The Elephant Camp lies under the perimeter of the Coorg district only. It is about 17kms from Coorg’s center.

Traveler’s Tips For Visiting Dubare Elephant Camp

1. Any cigarette or similar product that you light up can catch fire in the forest. Therefore, it is prohibited for travellers to carry such items.

2. There will be a lot of walking around the rough natural pathways. And to prevent bugs or any other bites, it is advisable, you wear proper hiking shoes.

3. Do not loiter the stuff around, especially plastic. While you are travelling in and around this forest camp, keep in mind the cleanliness of mother nature.

4. Do bring your accessories along to beat the heat. For example, sunglasses, sunscreen, torch, etc. You will need it for a long walk.

Things You Should Know

1.Places to Stay: The best place to stay while touring the Elephant Camp is the lodges or hotel stays by Jungle Lodges & Resorts. They offer fine cottages with river-view windows. The guests can hear the river floating by and the birds chirping around.

2. Places to Eat: The very near place to eat is at Jungle Lodges & Resort. They might provide some kind of meal before the guests decide to go on with their day. Other than that, there is a wild spice shop, Eco-Friendly Spices & Wines bar, nearby. 

Apart from that, Coorg Coffee House is almost 15-20 minutes' walk away from the core Dubare Elephant Camp spot. Therefore, it is strongly advisable for nature lovers to pack some snacks in advance if a whole day-out is planned.

3.Transportation: The common vehicles for reaching the destination are buses and cabs. They can be the town or government buses. Travellers can also drive by their private cars if they prefer.

Though, the only transportation in the depths of the jungle is the Jeep Safari. Other than that, travellers find trekking as another treat for commuting nearby.

4.Medical Facilities: The majority of the medical facilities, pharmacists, or chemist shops are found in the Madikeri town or Virajpet. There is a lesser possibility of finding a better one around the camp itself.

Therefore, the guests need to seek help from these towns in case of emergencies. If the guests are planning for a day trip or more, it is advisable to pack the basic medical kits themselves.

5.Network Connectivity: Every cell phone network is found to be smoothly connected. So, the visitors would not find any difficulty as such while roaming or camping around the Elephant Camp.

However, the trek routes or dense forest areas might have a slight disturbance in the seamless network connectivity. In case of an urgent call, the trekker would need to come out in the broader perimeter of the forest.

Places to Visit Near Dubare Elephant Camp

1. Kaveri River: Kaveri is that river for which the Kannadigas are very sentimental. It starts from Brahmagiri Hill at Kodagu in Karnataka. In fact, it’s the fourth largest river in the whole of South India. Its basin is around 31,334 sq. mi. with about 8 tributaries. 

To top it off, every tourist finds relief here by watching the local fishermen at their work. Other than that, at times, river rafting is also allowed. Therefore, those who need adventurous sports in summers can try visiting this river, floating nearby Dubare Elephant Camp.

2. Kushalnagar: It’s a town on the banks of Kaveri river in Coorg. And by road, it is around 14-15 KM away from the camp. Area wise, Kushalnagar is 8 KM sq. with a population of 27,000 people approximately. Herein the languages that locals speak are Kannada, Are Bhashe, and Kodava Takk. Also, in many places, tourists can find people speaking simple or broken English or Hindi. 

This has happened lately due to the growing importance of this small but quaint town in Karnataka. Another reason for its appearance is the comfortable lodges, and hotel stay offers that has been preferred by the tourists, wanting to explore Dubare Elephant Camp.

3. Abbey Falls: By road, it will take an hour or more from the camp for the tourists, wanting to visit this extravagant waterfall in Madikeri. And this fall is also known as the Abbi Falls by the locals. The cascade of the lapping water drops down from the 70 feet, compelling the visitors to stand and watch the whole scenario. 

Also, this waterfall is nestled between private coffee plantations, spice trees, and pepper vines. Therefore, the aroma of coffee and spices always leave a trail behind in the air while visiting this fall. The walkover bridge located on the opposite side of the waterfall gives a spectacular viewpoint for a perfect photoshoot with friends and family.

4. Nisargadhama: Also named as Kaveri Nisargadhama, it is a small island in Coorg. It’s a top-class destination for couples and bigger families. As tourists enjoy their quality time here, amid the greenery, boat riding is another reason for young kids and parents to spend their day.

Though, for kids up to 5 years of age, the boating is free. So, only the parents would need to pay for their seats. The entry to this island is free, but the nearby lodges can cost up to Rs. 600-1500. And either before or after exploring the camp, visitors can reach this small island within 45-60 minutes of drive. 

5. Golden Temple: Just a 20 KM drive away from Dubare Elephant Camp, visitors can enjoy this attraction with their group of friends or travellers. In fact, it is actually called Namdroling Monastery. It is a beautiful and serene Buddhist Monastery located at Bylakuppe, wherein the temple has gilded images of Lord or Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha Amitayus, and other Buddhist Gurus.

These images are at least 40-feet high, followed by the majestic doorways that are coloured in different murals. And every day, visitors can find Tibetan Buddhists chanting numerous prayers as well as delivering educational speeches.

6. Chikliholi Reservoir: This dam is only 15-20 minutes from Elephant Camp. It is open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM. And this place is not even that famous for tourists to crowd it like other tourist spots in Coorg, Karnataka. So, this place is a complete relief for those who are searching for a peaceful location.

The lush greenery around this reservoir becomes a good picnic spot. Even for those who love nature tourism, this reservoir is a hidden gem. While roaming around this area, tourists can check out the amazing sunsets, eat their favorite lunch or late evening snacks and do so much more with a bunch of friends together.