By road
~80 km from Mysuru
South India · Karnataka
Kabini, Karnataka
Elephants at the water's edge of Nagarhole · ~80 km from Mysuru
Getting there
By rail
Mysuru Junction, ~80km
By air
Mysuru Airport, ~80km, limited flights
Best time to visit
October to May — the dry months bring animals to the water
Don't miss
The Kabini backwaters
Nagarhole National Park
The Kabini dam
Bandipur National Park
Things to do
Jeep and boat safaris
Birdwatching
Coracle rides
Where to eat
What to pack
Neutral-coloured clothing, binoculars, a light jacket for morning drives
A quieter corner
A coracle ride on the backwaters at dawn
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kabini?
October to May — the dry months bring animals to the water. What to pack: Neutral-coloured clothing, binoculars, a light jacket for morning drives.
How do I get to Kabini?
The nearest airport is Mysuru Airport, ~80km, limited flights. The nearest railway station is Mysuru Junction, ~80km.
What is there to do in Kabini?
Jeep and boat safaris, birdwatching, coracle rides. A quieter find: A coracle ride on the backwaters at dawn.
What should I eat in Kabini?
Karnataka meals at the lodges and Mysuru pak.
About Kabini
- Riverside
- Forest
Where it is
Kabini is the area around the Kabini River's reservoir in the Mysuru district of Karnataka, India, on the edge of Nagarhole National Park, about 80 km from Mysuru.
History
The forests here were the hunting grounds of the Mysore maharajas, and the Kabini dam built in the 1970s created the reservoir whose shores now draw wildlife in the dry months; Nagarhole became a national park in the 1980s.
People
The villages around Kabini are home to Kannada-speaking farmers and to forest communities such as the Jenu Kuruba, and many people work as naturalists, drivers and boatmen.
Known for
- Herds of elephants by the backwaters
- Leopard and tiger sightings
- Boat safaris on the reservoir
- Rich birdlife
Did you know?
In the dry season the Kabini backwaters draw some of the largest gatherings of Asian elephants in India.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.