Once upon a time

Karnataka’s forests were the playground of

hunters. Kings, queens and ministers from lands

afar, came here in pursuit of big game. The bigger

the game, the harder they were chased. Kabini’s

forests were a special favourite. Rulers came.

The viceroys and the officers of the British East

India Company came. These forests even played

host to the Russian Grand Dukes’ penchant for

game hunting, way back in 1891. Today, these

forests still hold sway. Their allure still brings

people from the farthest outreaches of the globe

– Hollywood even – but with a different motive.

Thus began a new chapter

Kathmandu, 1978; the Late Sri. Gundu Rao makes the journey to attend the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference and, by what must have been an intervention of destiny, is given lodgings at the world-famous Tiger Tops Jungle Lodges. The magical setting within the Royal Chitawan National Park and the number of international tourists it brought, captured the imagination of the far-seeing bureaucrat, who later went on to become the Chief Minister of the State. Tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, crocodile, blackbuck, sloth bear, mahseer, peafowl –the state of Karnataka is home to a fascinating range of wildlife – so why not? Upon his return, he wrote to Tiger Tops, inviting them to build a similar model as he’d experienced in Nepal at Nagarahole. A year later, the Government of Karnataka in partnership with Tiger Tops unveiled the Jungle Lodges and Resorts: and India witnessed the birth of what became the country’s first-ever foray into eco-tourism.

A twist in the tale

In 1980, the Jungle Lodges & Resorts’ River Kabini Lodge, India’s first eco-tourism destination opened its doors to a waiting public. And then, came the challenges. When you’re pioneering something, you have to be prepared for a few set-backs. In 1987, Tiger Tops drew out of the partnership, and sold their interest to the Government of Karnataka. Looking back, Jungle Lodges & Resorts becoming 100% owned by the Karnataka government, was perhaps the watershed in the history of the venture. Today, we’re an eco-tourism brand with properties across Karnataka and countless fans all over the globe. The journey so far has been long, winding, sometimes a little rocky. But above all, it’s been adventurous.

And history followed

What began as an experiment has grown into the

catchphrase of the times. Eco-tourism wasn’t

always as fashionable as it is now. And the story

of Jungle Lodges & Resorts is rightfully the story

of India’s awakening to wildlife preservation. In

the years, we’re proud to have done our bit

towards making the nation more sensitive to the

cry of the wild. In our lifetime, we’ve seen hunters

grow into protectors of the wild; people shedding

their indifference to become fierce ambassadors

of the jungle; and mostly, the JLR raison detre,

positive trends and growth in wildlife numbers.

The Jungle Lodges & Resorts

philosophy

From an idea to an exemplar wasn’t an overnight journey. The years have been a learning process –we’ve weeded out the unnecessary and included practices, what have become the JLR philosophy. Part of our purpose is to help each and every one of our guest understand their role in preserving the gifts of nature. A sense of appreciation for the things around them, which cannot be achieved, if we operate like any other resort. We source a large portion of our provisions from local farmers; our staff includes reformed poachers – capitalising on their sound knowledge of the forest and wildlife for the greater good; and our guests often leave as avid endorsers of conservation. So, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever find a 100-room JLR property. We simply don’t believe in human beings outnumbering the animals.

More experience and redefined luxuries is the JLR motto. The sights, the sounds, the moments all come into play. Moments that are lost in the incessant chatter of the TV; silences that are shattered by a shrill telephone. At JLR, we’ve pulled the plug out on TVs and phones. Out here, nothing comes between you and nature. JLR is also about cultivating your dormant sense of wonder. The sights and experiences, a JLR resort affords you, are unlike any other. And we believe that such stories must be shared. Meal times at JLR are together times. Barring a couple of properties, all our resorts have no restaurants but instead have a group dining area called the Gol Ghar, where lunch and dinner buffets are served at set timings. Dinners by campfires nourish the storyteller in every one of us, past experiences have taught us. Come by and discover the JLR experience for yourself. But tread softly, for these are hallowed grounds.

JLR Objectives

The Company promotes Eco-tourism, wildlife

tourism, adventure tourism and various outdoor

activities like trekking, camping, white water

rafting, fishing etc., that are non consumptive

components of eco-tourism and in general help in

environment conservation

Establishments of JLR

Spread over Karnataka, Jungle Lodges & Resorts

Ltd., operates 16 resorts. Accommodations here vary

from tents to rooms to independent cottages. Besides,

there are 3 resorts operated on management

contract.

Kabini River Lodge, Karapur, H.D.Kote Taluk, Mysore

District.

K.Gudi Wilderness Camp, B.R.Hills, Chamarajnagar.

Bheemeshwar Nature & Adventure Camp, Malavalli

Taluk, Mandya District.

Galibore Fishing Camp, Kanakapura Taluk, Bangalore

Rural District.

Kali River Lodge, Kogil Ban, Dandeli, Uttara Kannada

District.

Devbagh Beach Resort, Karwar, Uttara Kannada District.

Bannerghatta Nature Camp, Bannerghatta, Bangalore.

Bandipur Safari Lodge, Melkamanahalli, Bandipur.

River Tern Lodge, Lakavalli, Chickmagalur District.

Old Magazine House, Ganeshgudi, Uttara Kannada District

Dubare Elephant Camp, Kushalnagar, Kodagu District

Pilikula Nisarghadhama, Mangalore

Sloth Bear Resort, Hampi, Hospet

Blackbuck Resort, Bidar

Upcoming projects

Belgaum.

Apsarkonda is a small village near Honnavar, town in Uttara Kannada district

Ottinani,near Kundapura, Udapi.

Activities

Wildlife Safari

Trekking

Coracle ride

Bird Watching

Day Visit

Nature Walk

Elephant Rides

Kayaking

Mountain Biking

Water Rafting

Snorkeling

Wildlife Safari

A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by

tourists to forest and wildlife. In the past, the trip

was often a big-game hunt, but today, safari

often refers to trips to observe and photograph

wildlife—or hiking and sight-seeing as well.

Trekking

Trekking is making a journey/trip on foot,

especially to hike through mountainous areas

often for multiple days and along lovely

mountains villages and enjoying nature and/or

close contact with people in remote mountain

villages where lifestyle sometimes is unchanged

since many generations.

Coracle ride

on river Kabini. Guests will be taken on a

traditional round shaped boat called a coracle.

The design of the boat is unique to the rivers of

southern India and surprisingly to the rivers of

Ireland!

Bird Watching

Birdwatching, or birding, is a form of wildlife

observation in which the observation of birds is a

recreational activity. It can be done with the naked

eye, through a visual enhancement device like

binoculars and telescopes, by listening for bird

sounds

Day Visit

Nature Walk

A walk in nature brings us a serenity by allowing

our overstimulated modern minds a chance to

rest. It helps us to relax, it lowers our stress,

depression, and anxiety levels, it increases our

attention spans and memory, and it provides a

source of gentle exercise

Kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across

water. ... A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like

boat in which the paddler sits facing forward, legs

in front, using a double-bladed paddle to pull

front-to-back on one side and then the other in

rotation

Elephant Ride

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is the sport of riding bicycles off-

road, often over rough terrain, using specially

designed mountain bikes

Water Rafting

Rafting and white water rafting are recreational

outdoor activities which use an inflatable raft to

navigate a river or other body of water. This is

often done on whitewater or different degrees of

rough water, and generally represents a new and

challenging environment for participants

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or

through a body of water while equipped with a

diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and

usually fins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also

be worn

THANK YOU ……