Kabini: Wild, peaceful and all in between

Kabini, on the border of Karnataka and Kerala, makes a perfect wild getaway The best thing about the foothills of the Nilgiri Hills and Western Ghats is the abundance of wildlife that one gets to spot. It needn't always be about spotting that elusive tiger. The joy for the wildlife lover is to spot many other rare species here, which include leopards, wild dogs and many different reptiles. Kabini too is one such delight, where one can go to check out some rare sightings of animals at the Nagarhole National Park. Found alongside the river banks of the Kabini river are many species of birds and animals, making it a much sought-after destination, especially for the wildlife photographers. The best attractions would have to be the land and water safari. While on land safari, one gets to spot bisons, elephants and peacocks along with some other rare sightings, the river safari is a delight for the ornithologists, with many winged-wonders resting alongside the river. A little known fact is that wild spots around Kabini used to be a private hunting lodge of the Mysore Maharaja as it used to boast of a lot of wild cats. Today, Kabini has many resorts and camps as options for people to stay. The area also boasts of a dam as the other tourist destination. For the culture vultures, there are some interesting tribes that reside in these forests, who have fascinating tales to tell. Their handicrafts are also worth a buy. A 10-hour drive from Chennai is how one would reach this place. Alternately, one could either opt to take a train or fly to Bangalore and Mysore, to reduce the time spent travelling on the road. Getting to Kabini from Coimbatore is also another option, if one wants to make a travel holiday out of it, traversing through Mudumalai and Bandipur National Parks. Kabini is also closely connected to the Wayanad district in Kerala.