HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES OF KARNATAKA TOURISM

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7.  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

8. 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

9. 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

10.  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

11. Activities
 Wildlife Safari
 Trekking
 Coracle ride
 Bird Watching
 Day Visit
 Nature Walk
 Elephant Rides
 Kayaking
 Mountain Biking
 Water Rafting
 Snorkeling

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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!

15. 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

16. Day Visit

17. 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

18. 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

19. Elephant Ride

20. Mountain biking
 Mountain biking is the sport of riding bicycles off-
road, often over rough terrain, using specially
designed mountain bikes

21. 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

22. 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

23. THANK YOU ……
