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Bandipur Safari Lodge – Jungle Lodges Resorts
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Bandipur Tiger Reserve
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During one of our March weekend getaways, Kamal and I, decided to make our 5th trip to one of our favorite Jungle lodges & resorts properties – The Devbagh Beach Resort situated in Karwar , Karnataka.
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Devbagh beach resort in karwar is around 525 kms from our home in Bangalore – around 9hrs drive, we decided to take a bus which departed from Bangalore at around 9:00 pm. We reached Karwar the following morning at 8:30 am and took an autorickshaw towards the Jungle lodges office which is mere 10 minutes away from the bus stand.
After completing the formalities, a jungle lodges vehicle escorted us to one of the boats that took us to the Devbagh Island on the other side.
The moment we entered Devbagh island, we were welcomed with the sweet chirping of birds. You will be totally amazed with the setting of the resort – with just 18 cottages separated from each other by 20 feet, each one of them is equipped with a hammock and all the cottages facing the sea and private beach.
Devbagh Beach Resort Review
We quickly checked-into our cottage, freshened up and headed towards the dining area- golghar for breakfast and later spent some time lazying around over the hammock and taking a walk around the property.
At 1:30 pm lunch was served at gol ghar. The food was a mix of North Indian and south Indian dishes and was simple and delicious. Post lunch we took a short nap and woke up for evening tea at 4:30 pm after which we headed towards the beach which is only 100 meter walk from the cottage.
The pristine Devbagh beach is unique on its own. Located between the Karli backwaters on one side and the majestic Arabian Sea on the other, The Devbagh Sangam is one of the highlights of this beach resort.
Devbagh Beach Resort jungle lodges Karnataka
Devbagh Beach Resort Jungle Lodges and Resorts Karnataka
It’s a a perfect sandy private beach to laze around. The management has installed a couple of beach chairs with umbrellas for lounging at the beach and a number of hammocks to laze around and enjoy the gentle breeze. The beach is pristine and ideal for swimming. A life guard is available at fixed timings when you can dare to venture into sea.There is a Bar on the shore which is operational during evenings only.
The beach is clean and gorgeous and offers a spectacular view of the sunset – yet another highlight of this resort. Delicious Snacks are served by the bonfire right on the beach so that you can enjoy the peaceful and picturesque surrounding and let yourself loose and we totally enjoyed the experience.
Snacks was followed by Dinner which was again served on the beach following which we called off the lights.
Day 2
In the morning the management arranges a gentle nature walk with a naturalist inside the island at 6:00 am. A great opportunity to gather information about the flora and fauna of the place. But since we have already been to this place before, we willingly skipped this activity.
Watching Dolphins Devbagh Beach Resort Jungle Lodges
Breakfast was served at 8:30 am followed by a boat ride in the ocean to watch dolphins. The boat ride took us through the little islands spread across and the guide provided some interesting information about those islands and the dolphins. We were able to spot a number of dolphins during the ride which ended after 45 minutes.
The resort also offers a variety of water sports like speed-boat ride, kayaking and snorkWatching Dolphins at Devbagh Beach Resort – Jungle Lodgeseling that one can indulge into after the boat ride.
Activites Devbagh Beach Resort jungle lodges resorts
Snorkeling Devbagh Beach Resort jungle lodges and resorts
Kayaking Devbagh Beach Resort jungle lodges
On our return to the shore we decided to spend some time casually sitting under the shade along the shore and soak in the beauty of nature around us. Post lunch we took some rest under the trees after which we stared to pack for our return.
After having a cup of tea in the evening at 5:30 pm a boat took us back to the Office on the other side after which we made our way towards the bus stand with luggage in our hands and heart filled with joy and happiness.
Verdict!
If you are looking for a pristine private beach getaway with your spouse, family or friends and want to experience a fulfilling holiday packed with fun and plenty of relaxation, then Devbagh beach Resort in Karwar Karnataka is the place you should be visiting.
Spending lazy afternoon on a hammock at A private beach resort situated on an isolated island surrounded with tall trees squeaking with gentle breeze, Delicious simple food, courteous staff, decent cottages, water sports and bonfire by the beach – Devbagh Promises an experience you will cherish forever!
Devbagh Beach Resort REVIEW Jungle Lodges and Resorts India Ghoomo
Bangalore can get hectic, so you can’t really fault hubby and me for wanting to get away from it whenever we can. Fortunately, there are plenty of places we can escape to just around the city. We sought out one of these little havens toward the end of May 2015.
The Galibore Nature Camp is a rustic getaway with modern facilities deep in the heart of the forest. And so close to horrific Bangalore traffic (just 100 km) that you almost can’t believe it. Not only are you bang in the middle of deciduous trees, you also have the Cauvery River close by and the windy Galibore hill in the backdrop.
It’s located quite close to Sangam, near Mekedattu. The drive takes only two hours, and calling the route scenic is an understatement. The further you get from Bangalore, the thicker the greenery gets and there comes a point at which you forget that concrete buildings and nausea-inducing pollution even exist.
Traveled – 23rd May 2015
Duration of stay – 1 night
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Day 1
We left from Bangalore at 9:00 am and reached at around 11:15 am.
As you enter Galibore Nature Camp, you are submerged in silence and greenery. Instead of a concierge or bell boy, monkeys and a variety of birds welcome you. Apart from the wildlife, the only sound you hear is the gushing waters of the River Cauvery.
Galibore Nature Camp – Jungle Lodges
It’s a very calm and serene place, nestled in the lap of nature. Even though we knew Bangalore was so close by, we felt like we were in the middle of nowhere.
Check -In
We checked in and were escorted to our tent near the dining area. There are around 10 tents in the camp, all of which face the River Cauvery. Each one if spacious and neat, and like the rest of the camp, very beautiful. Outside each tent is a hammock that faces the river.
After we had unpacked at the tent, we had cup of tea and freshened up. Then we wandered around the property for a while.
The layout of this camp is typical of a Jungle Lodge property. Since it’s so deep within the forest, there is no mobile reception, which means no distraction, and you are truly away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Despite being summer, this place was far from warm thanks to the Cauvery river and the dense trees spread across the property.
Galibore Nature Camp at Jungle Lodges
Galibore Nature Camp Jungle Lodges and Resorts
Lunch
At 1:30 pm, lunch was served in Gol-Ghar – the trademark dining area of the Jungle Lodges group. It was set up in a gazebo that had green netting surrounding it on all sides to keep animals at bay. No walls mean that we had a 360 degree view of the forest while we ate. The dining area is quite spacious and the tables are set far enough apart so that even if the place is full of people you still have your privacy. The menu was satisfying with plenty of dishes to choose from and everything we tried was delicious.
Galibore Nature Camp Jungle Lodges Resorts
After lunch, we just relaxed for a while on the hammock and spent some time appreciating the place from our tent, resting up a bit for the activities planned for later in the day.
In the evening, we went on a 3-kn long coracle ride on the river. It’s a long ride that goes really slow, giving you the space and time you need to unwind. We spotted many birds and crocodiles, and where there weren’t any animals there was a mountainous view to enjoy.
The coracle ride ended at quite some distance from the tents, and although there was a jeep to take us back we chose to walk it. Whatever last bits of stress there may have been left simply dissolved as we strolled through the forest.
Jungle Lodges Resorts Galibore Nature Camp
Jungle Lodges Resorts Galibore Nature Camp pics
On our return, a camp fire and barbeque were organized on the banks of the river. Tea and snacks were served – it was an altogether unique experience sipping tea while walking along the river side.
It turned dark soon. If the camp seemed impossibly serene in the day time, at night you just felt like you had entered a different world. Dinner was served at Gol Ghar at 8:30 pm after which we turned in for the night.
Day 2
We awoke bright and early to the sound of chirping birds, freshened up and had tea, and then headed out to enjoy the forest some more. The camp had arranged an early morning trek above the river bank which was an awesome experience as we got a bird’s eye view of the flowing waters.
Galibore Nature Camp pics
While we could have stayed there all day, we were leaving in a few hours so we headed back to the resort where a sumptuous breakfast awaited us. After breakfast, we simply lay in the hammock and cherished our last few moments there. Relaxed and refreshed, we made our way back to Bangalore at 12:30 pm.
Galibore Nature Camp Pictures
VERDICT
If you are a true nature lover, then Galibore Nature Camp promises to provide a true nature experience. It’s the perfect place to take a break from the monotony and stress of city life. The great things about it are:
The camp is the perfect package for those who can’t get enough of everything that nature has to offer.
Travel Tips
When we’ve got a weekend to spare, we generally turn to the Jungle Lodges & Resorts group for a short trip. They offer, as I’m sure you’ve guessed from the name, a range of jungle resorts which give us everything we want – a little fun and plenty of relaxation at some of the most scenic locations in Karnataka. And since we always have a good time, we tend to pick them for special occassions as well. Like the long weekend that clubbed both my birthday and our 7th wedding anniversary from January 24th to January 26th, 2015.
Instead of re-visiting some of our old favourites, we picked one of their newest resorts – the Sharavathi Adventure Camp in Kargal, Karnataka – which had only been open for seven months at the time of our stay.
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Day – 1
Since the resort is about 380 Kms from Bangalore, we started early at 6 am. Here’s the route we took – Tumkur-Shimoga-Sagar-Talaguppa-JogFalls-Talakalale Reservior. We arrived at around 11:30 am and checked in at noon.
Sharavathi Adventure Camp – Jungle Lodges Resorts Karnataka
Sharavathi Adventure Camp Cottages at Jungle Lodges and Resorts
The resort has 20 cottages in all. They are all spacious, neat and very comfortable. But the best part is that they all overlook the Talakalale Reservior. The wall of our cottage that faced the reservoir had French windows which allowed us a view of the scenery even when we were indoors. The French windows led out to a cozy balcony that just begged for some lolling around.
We were suitably impressed and quickly took showers so we could go check out the rest of the property.
Jungle Lodges Resorts Sharavathi Adventure Camp
Sharavathi Adventure Camp – Rooms
Food & Dining Area
Ravenous, we headed towards the dining area called Gol Ghar for a delicious lunch. The drive had wiped us out so we decided to postpone our exploration and returned to the cottage for a splendid 2-hour nap which was a different kind of delicious!
Evening Boat Ride and Kayaking
Evening brought a welcome cup of tea. Refreshed, we then headed out to the reservoir for some water activities that were a part of our package. First, there was a gentle boat ride for half an hour that brought home exactly how beautiful the scenery was.
Sharavathi Adventure Camp Kargal Karnataka
The boating was followed by our favourite water activity – kayaking! Something that both hubby and I had been looking forward to. We indulged ourselves for around 2 hours and it was one of the high points of our trip.
The Talakalale reservoir is a lovely place to kayak. The water is crystal clear and blue – which is so rare nowadays. Being on the river allowed us a spectacular view of the banks and the cottages nestled midst abundant greenery. It was like going through through the Grand Canyon, if the Grand Canyon was made up of hills of trees instead of bare rocks.
Sharavathi Adventure Camp – Kayaking
We were also able to spot a variety of birds including brahmini kites and egrets. I managed to get a few photographs but they were just a fraction of what nature had on display.
Sharavathi Adventure Camp – Birds spotted during Kayaking
On our return to shore, we decided to go back to out cottage and enjoy the sunset from the balcony. It was serene, breathtaking and romantic. The exercise on the water had gotten us hungry again so we were were grateful for the soup, pakoras and tea the resort offered soon after while screening a wildlife film. That was followed by an early dinner at 8:30 pm as the next day too had plenty in store.
Sharavathi Adventure Camp – Snacks at Jungle Lodges and Resorts
Sharavathi Adventure Camp – Jungle Lodges and Resorts pics
Day 2
Early Morning Visit To Jog Falls
We were woken up quite early the next morning, and after a quick bath and a cup of tea we made our way to Jog Falls which is only 6 km from the resort.
Jog Falls Karnataka
Located right on the border of Uttara Kannada and Shimoga, Jog Falls is a major tourist attraction since it is the second highest in the country. The Falls are immense, broken up into four parts that have been dubbed Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani. You have to walk 1400 steps to get to a point opposite the base of the Falls. According to our guide, morning is the best time to visit as that is when the view is most stunning. He wasn’t wrong.
It’s an awe-inspiring sight, powerful enough to keep you rooted to the spot and gaping for hours. But we were on a schedule so we returned to the resort after just one hour.
Jog Falls in Karnataka
A Low-Key Rest of the Day
There was nothing else planned till evening, so after breakfast we finally started to explore the property and take pictures. These unplanned wanderings can be quite relaxing and very rewarding because we can pretend for awhile that we actually live there.
We had an early lunch and it was back to our cottage for a nice, long nap. I swear my naps are more satisfying when I’m on vacay.
Sharavathi Adventure Camp – Jungle Lodges
The evening was a quiet one. A nature walk was organised along the river Sharavathi where we did some casual bird watching and just chilled out. Then back to the resort for snacks, tea and another wildlife documentary followed by dinner.
Day 3
We woke up early the next day – around 5:30 am. It was the 26th of January, my birthday and our 7th wedding anniversary. I believe in doing something you love on special days, so we started our day with another 2-hour kayaking session. It was so incredibly gorgeous and so, so peaceful that we both just wanted time to stop!
On our return, a short flag-hosting ceremony was held at the resort since 26th January is also India’s Republic day.
After breakfast, we packed our bags and checked out of at 11:00 am, bidding the resort goodbye as we headed to our next destination – the Murudeshwar Temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiv and Maa Parvati.
VERDICT
Sharavathi Adventure Camp Jungle Lodges and Resorts – Karnataka
PICTURES of Sharavathi Adventure Camp
The River Tern Lodge is located on a hillock on the edge of the Bhadra Reservoir in Karnataka. It’s a part of the Jungle Lodges franchise and while we had been browsing the latter’s website for another trip, the River Tern Lodge caught our eye. It was next on our list of jungle trips and a short break in April 2014 afforded both my husband and me the time to realize the plan.
Anticipating a long drive ahead of us, we started out early in the morning at 6 am choosing our own car over public conveyance. The road is relatively simple from Bangalore where we live. We headed to Tumkur and then got on the Shimoga Bypass. From there it’s only 38 km to the lodge right after Tarikeri and Lakkavalli respectively. Overall, the distance from Bangalore is about 275 km.
We had absolutely no trouble finding the place as there are signboards everywhere that keep you on the right track right up to the door step of the lodge. So we arrived at 11:30 am with no wrong turns anywhere.
We checked in and were led to our cottage. The resort offers loghuts and cottages, all of which face the Bhadra Reservoir. The loghuts are close to the reception area while the cottages are quite far, the path entailing about 60 steep steps, a narrow hanging bridge and 60 more steep steps. It takes 10 minutes to walk there. That may seem like a long road for most people, but we loved the exercise.
The cottage itself was a delight – clean, spacious, beautiful and with air conditioning to boot. Plus, it came with a huge balcony facing the reservoir as well as the loghuts. But we didn’t have to get out of the room to see the spectacular view because the wall facing the reservoir has a huge glass panel which allows access to the scenery outside even when indoors.
After almost 6 hours on the road, we were famished. We took a quick bath and then headed towards the dining area – GOLGHAR – to have our lunch. Thankfully, a variety of delicious food was available and we would have found something to suit our palates even if we were fussy eaters.
Our appetites satisfied for the moment, we wandered around the property for a while clicking pictures. The view was something we could not get our fill of and we continued to enjoy it from the balcony once we got back to our cottage.
The drive had taken its toll and the evening had a jeep safari in store. We took a short nap so that we’d be fresh to enjoy the sights.
At 4:30 pm, the wildlife jeep safari began, For two hours, we drove around the jungle hoping to catch sight of some of the more exotic animals. The forest was dry (still very beautiful though) since it was summer, and most species were seemingly doing their own but of hiding from the heat. But we did spot monkeys, deer, elephants, a peacock and a couple of other birds. While I’d have loved to get a glimpse of more wildlife like a monitor lizard or a wild boar, the safari was still a balm to the soul.
Too bad we couldn’t have driven around longer, but we did need to get back before it got too dark.
On our return, we snacked on vegetarian cutlets, soup, pakoras and tea around a bonfire while watching a wildlife film. Dinner was served soon after at 8 pm. It had been a long day for us so we were glad to call lights out pretty early that night.
Although we were heading back to Bangalore later the next morning, our trip was still far from over. We woke up before dawn, had tea, watched the sunrise and were ready for the boat safari which started at 6:15 am.
Over the next couple of hours, we must have seen thousands of river tern birds! They were all over the place – on trees, on the water, in the bushes. We also saw peacocks again in addition to a few more deer and other common varieties of birds.
We got back at 9 but there was more fun in store. After breakfast to get our energy up, we indulged in some kayaking for around 45 minutes and stopped only very reluctantly even then.
Still high from the thrill and freedom of being on the water, we checked out at 11 am and made our way back home.
Did we like it? No, we loved it! We’ll surely be going back here again. You have mountains, jungles, water sports, a jungle safari and a boat safari. What more could you want?
Staff – Cordial.
Food – Delicious. Good variety.
Rooms – Decent.
Location – Spectacular.
Activities Offered – Good.
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges and Resorts – Karnataka
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges and Resorts
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges and Resorts Karnataka Pics
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges and Resorts
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges Resorts
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges Resorts – Rooms- Cottages
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges Resorts – Cottages
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges Resorts – View From Cottage
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges Resorts – Rooms – Loghuts
River Tern Lodge – Jungle Lodges Resorts Wildlife Jeep Safari
Jungle Lodges and Resorts Wildlife Jeep Safari
Wildlife Jeep Safari Jungle Lodges and Resorts River Tern Lodge
River Tern Lodge Wildlife Jeep Safari Jungle Lodges and Resorts
River Tern Lodge Jungle Lodges and Resorts Wildlife Jeep Safari
River Tern Lodge Jungle Lodges and Resorts Jeep Safari
River Tern Lodge Jungle Lodges Resorts Jeep Safari
Wildlife Jeep Safari Karnataka
Wildlife Jeep Safari Karnataka Jungle Lodges
Sunset View Jungle Lodges and Resorts River Tern
Jungle Lodges and Resorts River Tern Lodges Morning Boat Safari
Jungle Lodges and Resorts River Tern Lodges Morning Boat Safari Pictures
Jungle Lodges and Resorts River Tern Lodges Morning Boat Safari Pics
River Tern Lodges Morning Boat Safari Pics
River Tern Birds at River Tern Lodge Jungle Lodges and Resorts
River Tern Birds at River Tern Jungle Lodges and Resorts
River Tern Birds at Jungle Lodges and Resorts River Tern Lodges
River Tern Birds
River Tern Birds Pictures
River Tern Bird
Boat Safari
Birds Spotted during Boat Safari
Birds Spotted during Boat Safari Jungle Lodges River Tern
Birds Spotted during Boat Safari Jungle Lodges River Tern
Water Sports Activity Centre River Tern – Jungle Lodges and Resorts
Water Sports River Tern Jungle Lodges and Resorts