Trekking in Dubare
Posted on 04. Nov, 2011 by Abhishek in Activities, Adventure, Bangalore, Bangalore Weekend Getaways, Day outings, Trekking, Wildlife
Dubara is a forest area, which is located on the banks of the river Cauvery in between Siddapur and Kushalnagar. During the reign of erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, this place was used to train elephants for the Mysore Dussehra festival. Today, Dubara is a popular destination for both nature lovers and enthusiasts of adventure sports.
An elephant training camp of the Forest Department of Coorg is located here. Local tribe, Kurba, dwell in Dubara. Along with offering trekking opportunities and recreational activities, Dubara due to its sublime verdant beauty is also a preferred destination for nature lovers. Here, you can observe and learn a great deal about the elephants. Also, visitors can take part in a number of activities with the elephants.
In addition to elephant training camp, Nisargadhama and Veerabhoomi are the other main attractions of the forest area. The Nagarhole National Park is located close to Dubara. Early morning and also in the evening, tours are conducted by the Forest Department along well-defined routes.
However, trekking is the best way to explore and discover Dubara. The trekking trail leads you through wilderness, forests, hillocks, river banks. The well-known trekking routes are in the hills of Brahmagiri, where the trekking trail leads you to the magnificent Irrupa Falls.
Other Sports:
River Rafting: One of the major attractions in Dubare is the river rafting. Here, you can go rafting down the Kaveri (Cauvery) River.
Angling: One can also go angling in the swirling waters of Kaveri. Anglers can indulge in angling for the majestic Mahseer.
Exact Location: Dubare is located near Madikeri in the Kodagu District
Nearest Town: Udipi (50 km), Mysore (75 km)
Distance from Bangalore: 253.5 km
How to Reach:
From Bangalore: You can reach Dubara via Mysore, Kushalnagar, Gudde Hosur, Siddapura. Around 15 km on the Siddapur Main Road, you will find a JLR Dubare Camp board, taking a left turn from here will lead you to Dubare. The nearest airport is in Bangalore and the nearest railhead is in Mysore. Bheemeshwari is a perfect blend of adventure, adrenalin rush, natural splendours. It is bounded by beautiful valleys and a number of rivers and streams crisscross the undulating terrain. The surrounding forest area houses a large number of wildlife. While trekking, if you are lucky enough, you can spot deer.
There are a number of wildlife trekking trail available for both beginners and professionals. The treks are divided into three categories—easy, medium, and tough depending on the distance from 4 km to 30 km. On the trekking trail, you cross piquant hamlets, verdant neighbouring hills, wildlife and plants used in Ayurveda.
From Bheemeshwari, one can trek to Chellurehill, Doddamkali, and Galibore. The trek to Chellurehill is an easy one and it’s a 7.5 km trekking trail. This trek also involves a boat ride and in the beginning of the trek, you have to cross the Cauvery River, and then pass through Chellure hills.
Doddamkali is 7 km away from Bheemeshwari and is located deep in the forest, while Galibore is 16 km from Bheemeshwari and in the opposite direction of Doddamkali.
Other Attractions in the Vicinity:
Nagarhole National Park: This national park is a bio-sphere reserve. It’s nestled in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, and is surrounded by shallow valleys and gentle slopes on all sides. Nagarhole is blessed with some of the rare species of Indian Wildlife . It hosts a diverse variety of trees and shrubs, and animal life. Over 250 species of birds have been recorded.
Cauvery Nishadhama: This is a beautiful 64-acre island created by River Cauvery. It is located 28 km from Madikeri, 2 km from Kushalanagar, and 11 km from Dubare camp. The surrounding area consists of dense foliage of bamboo groves, sandalwood and teak trees. The major attractions of Nishadhama are elephant rides and boating.
Elephant Camp: Dubare Elephant Camp is a project undertaken by forest department and jungle lodges and resorts. The camp is located at the edge of Dubare forest, and houses an incredible number of trained elephants.
Harangi Dam Site: The dam is located 36 km from Madikeri. The beautiful reservoir is a perfect spot for arranging picnics. The dam has been built across Cauvery River.
Best Time to Visit: Mid- Sept to beginning March
