Dubare elephant camp is located in Kushalnagar, Mysore district in Karnataka. It is about 20 Kms from Coorg and about 160 Kms from Bangalore. 

This is mainly an elephant-capturing and training camp of the Forest Department, at the edge of Dubare forest, on the bank of the river Kaveri, on the Kushalnagar - Siddapura road.

The wild elephants are tamed and trained with the help of other tamed elephants and local tribes (the Kurubas). The tamed elephants attend to various jobs during the day and in the evenings they come down to the river to bathe and to be scrubbed clean by their mahouts.

The elephants at Dubare were once trained to participate in the famous Mysore Dasara (Navaratri) festival procession. They have discontinued the practice now. 

What other tourists have not told you about Dubare

Riverside at DubareEven though seeing the Elephants being trained by their mahouts is not regular, you can still have some fun here. The river Kaveri flows just in front of the camp (you will have to cross the river on an irregular stony path to reach the camp).

It is shallow at places and you can have a swim here or relax in the water. But you need to watch out for sharp pebbles under water and the slippery rocks.

Wildlife in Dubare

Apart from the trained elephants, one can also spot Wild Elephants and the Spotted Deer. The Indian Bison or Gaur and bears are also seen in these forests. Visitors also get to notice many crocodiles in the waters of River Cauvery at Dubare. Birdlife in Dubare is wonderful with peacocks, partridges, kingfishers and woodpeckers topping the list. 

(An elephant waiting for its food. Photo by anaxila) 

How to reach

Dubare Elephant Camp is easily accessible from Bangalore. The route from Bangalore is via Mysore, Kushalanagara, Gudde Hosur (4km from Kushalanagara on BM Road), then a left turn towards Siddapura. About 15 kilometer on the Siddapur Main Road visitors would find a Dubare Camp board.

A left turn at the board and about kilometer drive would reach you bank of River Cauvery. Cross the river by a boat and you would be at the Dubare Elephant Camp.

Note: The Camp closes at 6pm daily. If you plan to visit it in the evening, do so before 6. If you are on a holiday to Coorg, you can visit Bylakuppe first and then go to Dubare. Later you can proceed towards Coorg.

Other places to see nearby (in Kushal Nagar)

• 1. Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlements - See Tibetan Monasteries and Settlements
• 2. Nisargadhama - Tourist Island on the banks of the Kaveri

• Go back to tourist attractions in Madikeri
• or Learn more about Coorg or
• See Coorg Holiday Guide