The Serai Resorts Kabini. Discover Luxury In The Wild In Karnataka.

Bindu Gopal Rao discovers the Serai Resorts Kabini as a property that is the ideal way to enjoy a getaway to the Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka.

Kabini is an easy four-hour drive from Bengaluru on the new motorway with sights and sounds of nature to keep you company. As you make your way into the vicinity, the gleaming Kabini River welcomes you with its pristine clear waters.

The Setting

As the car veers off the main road, the landscape changes colour to all hues of green. The monsoon rains have ensured that the environs have a fresh new look and feel. A slight drizzle accompanies me along the drive. Entering the last stretch on a rather bumpy road, I notice the river is right next to the property. I am welcomed with a glass of jaggery coffee, and as the check-in formalities are going on at the reception, I notice that the place is completely calm and the only ‘noise’ here is the chirping of the birds. A buggy is summoned, and I hop in to be led to my room.

The Rooms

The property has 20 cottages – the Waterfront Verandah, Waterfront Villa, and The Residence. My room is a waterfront villa that offers a spectacular view of the Kabini River. A small sit-out area outside the room is the best way to soak in these views. The room itself is spacious, furnished with a king-size bed and an attached bathroom with branded toiletries. The room also has a rear door that opens to the wilderness.

The in-room amenities include a mini bar with complimentary fruit juice and protein bars, a selection of in-house baked cookies, as well as a bowl of fruits. A row of jars with traditional sweets is also part of the room, so you will never be hungry here. As this is within a wilderness area, mobile reception is weak, but the Wi-Fi makes sure that you are well connected.

The Dining

All meals are at the in-house Wildgrass restaurant, which offers a la carte as well as buffet meals (based on occupancy). When I was here, Chef dished out a special meal based on my dietary preferences, and I sampled a crunchy vegetable salad, a tomato basil soup, and a selection of starters – a yoghurt-based kebab, corn cutlets, and cottage cheese tikka (thickly sliced and marinated with tangy masala paste).

This was followed up with curries and dal that I mopped up with a wheat roti, biryani with raita (a curd-based dish with onions and tomatoes) and a gulab jamoon (milk-based dessert) with vanilla ice cream. The chef also makes regional specials like finger millet rotis, neer dosa and chutney, and Maddur vade (a crispy fried dish) as part of his regional, local dishes. The other outlet is Outpost, the bar located behind the lobby that serves a selection of drinks. The retreat also has in-room dining and also sets up dining venues for celebrating special occasions.

Do More

While you are here, there is much to do. Sign up for a cooking class where the chef teaches you how to make a local dish. Step into the kitchen for an interactive cooking experience, where local ingredients and traditional techniques come alive. Alternately, unwind by the Kabini River with a range of water experiences, kayaking, coracle rides, paddle boating, or simply soaking in a serene sunset boat ride (at an extra cost).

The retreat also has a wildlife documentary screening at the huddle room every evening, which is a great way to understand the local flora and fauna. The evenings also see a cultural showcase, be it Pooja Kunita (a traditional dance performance), a soulful musical evening, or a calming flute performance, in a bid to encourage local artists. You can also spend some of my time with a relaxing massage at the in-house spa.

The biggest draw here, however, are the jungle safaris that happen twice – early morning at 6:00 a.m. and in the afternoon at 3:00 p.m. These start at the government-run Jungle Lodges & Resorts that are located within five minutes from the resort. These need to be booked in advance and can be done through the front office team (to be paid for separately). The best part is that you have a jeep/canter safari as well as a boat safari that you can choose to do. My suggestion is to try both, as they offer very different sightings.

The jungle is home to a variety of species, with the tiger being the key attraction. However, there are elephants, wild boar, Indian gaur, wild dogs, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambhar, barking deer, and more that are sighted here. The park also has a lot of bird life, and special mention must be made of the white-bellied woodpecker, the largest species of bird that is seen in abundance here.

On the boat safari, you can see salt marsh crocodiles as well as smooth-coated otters, apart from birds like cormorants, snake birds, egrets, and eagles. I was lucky to spot a large family of otters as well as an osprey on my boat safari.

“The Serai Kabini brings together the many facets of the wilderness — the ever-changing moods of the Kabini waters, intimate boat safaris, abundant birdlife and the untamed landscapes of Nagarhole explored by land. With its refined culinary experiences, gracious hospitality and easy driving distance, The Serai Kabini is an unhurried escape for both families and couples,” says Prachi Tandon, Group General Manager – Marketing & Communications, The Serai Resorts. In all, this was a trip that was fulfilling in more ways than one, and as I looked back one last time at the river, I knew I would be back soon.