Set amidst the tranquil and restorative surroundings of Nagarhole National Park, Kabini River Lodge is a favorite among frequent wildlife lovers who visit Kabini. The resort features large grassy lawns, leafy surroundings, and luxurious, rustic vintage-style rooms.

Spread across the edge of the Kabini River, the resort exudes old-world charm with its vintage rooms decorated with rare antiques. You would feel like you were staying in an old Raj era hunting lodge. On offer here for the discerning traveler are four Maharaja Cottages. If you’re not in the mood for too much luxury, you can choose from the 10 cottages, 14 rooms and 6 tents.

Image Courtesy: Kabini River Lodge

Without television, Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity, The Windflower promises an unparalleled experience in the Bandipur wilderness. Wake up to soothing birdsong, take a leisurely stroll through their winding greens, savor a savory breakfast in your luxury cottage or spot a big cat from the safety of your safari, you’ll never be bored at The Windflower.

They also offer outdoor buffet dining. When you are here, you can relax in their expansive infinity pool, light a campfire, or unwind in their award-winning Emerge Spa. The spa offers over 20 different Ayurvedic and other treatments. The resort offers three types of accommodation. These include suites, villas, and studios. The on-site restaurant serves mouth-watering local and Indian dishes.

Image Courtesy: The Windflower

Located on the outskirts of Bandipur National Park, Serai Bandipur offers decadent accommodation options facing the magnificent Nilgiri Hills. The Jungle Resort effortlessly captures the essence of the surrounding wilderness in its living spaces with a careful interplay of natural tones and textures.

Each of the resort’s cottages and residences overlook the green hills while making liberal use of dark wood to create a setting so charming you would hardly want to venture out. Allow resort staff to entertain you with heartfelt stories of surprise wildlife encounters in and around the property. The resort offers nature walks around the property’s protected forest, where an experienced naturalist shares wildlife stories.

Image Courtesy: Le Serai, Bandipur

Beautifully nestled in the middle of a large coffee estate, Machaan Wilderness Lodge is located at Nagarhole Churicad in K Badaga Village, Srimangala. The resort offers tastefully designed rooms built with a minimal ecological footprint. The rooms offer stunning views of the surrounding coffee plantation. You can choose from 12 bedrooms in a choice of twin cottages.

The rooms have rustic interiors and are equipped with private bathrooms. Multi-level cabins have separate entrances and nice seating areas. Their on-site restaurant Vana serves sumptuous Kodava and South Indian dishes. Dining here is enhanced by a 360 degree view of the coffee plantation. There is also a library lounge, which comes with a fireplace. You can also stay at the palatial Churicad Bungalow on site.

Image courtesy: Machaan Wilderness Lodge

Dedicated to responsible hospitality, Red Earth Kabini is a peaceful resort located on the backwaters of Kabini Dam. It offers 20 beautiful eco-friendly red mud cottages, an organic restaurant and cafe overlooking the backwaters. The peaceful resort prides itself on its simplicity and follows a community approach. Almost 95% of the staff belong to the local villages and use local products in their cooking.

The floors of the resort feature Athangudi tiles handcrafted by local artisans. Red Earth Kabini is more than just a hotel in the jungle. They are also involved in charitable initiatives and fund an NGO called Sambramma which helps support folk art and tribal forms of music and dance. The property also runs a school, hospital and ambulance for tribes living in remote areas.

Image Courtesy: Red Earth, Kabini

One of the finest jungle resorts near Bengaluru, Coffee Grove Resort in Chikkamagaluru offers a dream vacation right in the middle of dense coffee forests. The property was built and promoted by environmentally sensitive engineers. The vision behind the construction of the station was to create an ecological tourist destination with minimal impact on the natural landscape of the coffee plantations that surround it.

Only locally available materials were used to build the complex, to reduce the carbon footprint. The resort is a testament to the bliss and tranquility that the idyllic coffee town of Chikkamagaluru offers. Built on an expanse of 30 acres, the resort offers 20 cottages adorned with Varli murals.

Image courtesy: Coffee Grove Resort

Sequestered in the deep valleys and majestic hills of Coorg, this jungle resort is the fourth luxury property from Paul John Resorts and Hotels. The resort offers opulent European-style rooms and lavish suites spread across the picturesque nooks and crannies of sprawling hills and enchanting valleys.

Their Grove View Suites feature spacious and luxurious interiors and serve as elegant chalets nestled amidst dense woods. With floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies, each suite is non-air-conditioned and comfortably heated with traditionally designed electric fireplaces. Their on-site restaurant Vembanad offers a wide range of delicious coastal specialties from Coorg and Kerala.

Image courtesy of Coorg Wilderness Resort, Madikeri

Nestled in the heart of the forest at Veeranahosahalli, Hunsur Taluk, JLR King’s Sanctuary is set in a 40-acre mango orchard. The eco-friendly resort offers a mix of air-conditioned luxury suites and clusters of adobe-style cottages spread across lush green lawns. Each suite features an adjoining veranda, chic bedrooms fitted with woven furniture sourced from Thailand and Indonesia, a peaceful courtyard and open-air bathrooms.

The lagoon suites are aligned around a 6-acre lake, with islands of mango trees. The resort’s multi-cuisine restaurant serves delicious local Mysuru, Indian, Chinese and Continental delicacies. Apart from jungle safaris, you can indulge in a range of activities such as zip-lining, paintball, jumarring, board games, swimming and biking.

Image courtesy of JLR King’s Sanctuary

A quick drive along the Kabini River takes you to Serai Kabini through charming village roads. With many birds chirping atop groves of sandalwood, teak and rosewood, deer roaming free and langurs giving warning cries as big cats roam the surrounding forests, the resort is a gateway to wildlife adventures – it lies between the protected parks of Bandipur and Nagarhole.

A four-hour drive from Bengaluru, the Serai Kabini is where you should go if your adventurous soul fancies spending a few days in the woods. Choose from eight waterfront verandahs, 11 waterfront villas, and a stand-alone private villa called The Residence. Take a nature walk at dawn, spend your time birdwatching, go on a game drive, rejuvenate your body and soul at the holistic spa, experience the thrill of kayaking, or gaze at millions of twinkling stars near a bonfire – the desert is your home here.

Image Courtesy: Le Serai, Kabini

A stay at Evolve Back’s Kabini Estate introduces you to the lifestyle of the Kadu Kuruba tribe. The luxury huts here draw their design from the houses of the Hadis or tribal villages. The resort is bordered on both sides by the Kabini River and promises a memorable stay amidst the wilderness. There are three categories of cabanas here: Pool Reserves, Pool Cabanas, and Safari Cabanas.

The pool reserve is a charming cabana with a spacious living and dining room, a sumptuous bedroom, a luxurious bathroom and a private swimming pool. Then there are the sumptuous pool cabanas, which are also equipped with a personal swimming area. Finally, safari huts offer lavishly appointed living spaces and comfortable bedrooms, but you’ll most likely spend much of your time at the water-jetted pool.

Image courtesy of Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge, Kabini