Kabini Reservoir & Village (Mysuru

Kabini river originates in Wayanad in Kerala and joins the Cauvery River! In 1974, a dam of about 700m height was built across Kabini river almost at the border of both Bandipur & Nagarhole National Park.

As I said already in the Nagahole post, it comes under the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Karapur in Kabini was once a hunting lodge during the times of Mysuru Maharaja rule and under the British. This houses the Viceroy's Banglow & Maharaja's Banglow. By 1982, this came under the Indian Govt and today's it within the Jungle Lodge's Resort

Kabini has a very unique topography! Its a rich with plants and vegetation during the monsoon. Bandipur, Nagarhole and the whole of Western Ghats. But during summer, the river shrinks majorly and several smaller waterbodies all over the western ghats disappear! Then what happens is a mind-blowing annual phenomena! World's largest congregation of Asiatic Elephants - Elephants from all over this area, come here for 2 things - water and grass (since the river has now shrunken, the exposed land is rich with grass)!!! With the huge appetite of elephant, this grass in scorching summer, is such a blessing!!! The numbers sometimes go as high as 2000! This place is called the Elephant Corridor.

From 1799 to 1971, this place was also used to conduct Khedda Operation - the process of hiring Kumki (trained) elephants with mahout to redirect a few herds of elephants into an enclosure to tame them and use them in armies! Let's just say, thank God that this was given up by 1971!

Kabini dam was built in 1974 after taking up about 7 villages and large forest areas in this locality and compensating then with land a little farther away! Today the river, when its bulged, forms a huge waterbody, submerging lands which were once villages (the dead tree I'm standing n front of, get completely submerged and the pole tied atop it, is used as a marking by the oarsmen). Today those people live just at the present river bank!

So a stroll in this area when its dry, reveals what was once a forest & village! This includes the trees that are dead and were chopped off to accommodate the river in its full capacity, the base of a temple (believed to be Chola) that were once in worship by the villagers, a herostone etc!

The major population of this locality belongs to the Kuruba tribal community who are categorized into 3 depending on their skill - Jenu Kuruba (honey gatherers), Betta Kuruba (hill tribes) and Kadu kuruba (forest dwellers). Originally hunter gatherers, these tribes took over agriculture and related skills incl basket weaving etc a few centuries back. Originally they lived inside the forests, and when the forests where declared as reserved zones to protect wildlife, they were relocated along the edges of the forests and were employed in the forest department as forest guards, guides, naturalists etc with some training and orientation!

Today this place is not just a paradise of Elephants, but also tons of birds. A walked on the dried river bed helped me spot Red Naped Ibis, Yellow footed Green Pigeon, Spotted Owlet, Little Ringed Plover (above 4 pics respectively), Magpie Robin, Sunbird, Tailor Bird, Cowcal, Red vented/whiskered Bulbul, Green bee eater, Yellow Wagtail, Scarlet Minivet, and ofcourse Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Darter (below 3 pics respectively) etc. Walk about till the border of Bandipur Sanctuary or take a jeep - the bird spottings are just too good!!!

An early morning walk along the river would give such amazing sightings of so many birds! Another excellent way to see the waterbirds & even the crocs here would be on a coracle ride!

To Get There:

Can be accessed directly from the backyard of Jungle Lodges, Orange County etc.
On Google Maps: Kabini Reservoir

Orange County Resorts, Kabini organizes several ways in which Kabini river, reservoir & village can be explored incl Coracle ride, Bullock cart ride, Bicycle ride, Nature walk in early mornings, Night walks, Stories of Kabini (a jeep ride) in the dried river bed etc. They also organize a Tribal music & dance performance by the Kuruba community every alternative nights in the resort premises!

Kabini Reservoir & Village (Mysuru - Karnataka)

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