Galibore Nature Camp

Set on the banks of the Cauvery river, below the windy rise that gives the camp its name, Galibore lies inside deciduous forest in the Cheelandavadi range of Karnataka. The approach itself sets the tone: an eight-kilometre forest track off the Sangam road, about 102 km from Bangalore, that most maps do not show. Hills close in on three sides, and the river runs wide and shallow over rapids once prized by anglers after the local masheer, a fish still present though no longer caught. Twelve tented cottages face the water, each with a hammock strung outside. Meals are taken at the riverside Gol Ghar, where a careful look upstream usually turns up a fish eagle or a kingfisher. Evenings run to a bonfire and barbecue on the sandy bank, with grilled fish or chicken served while guests trade notes on the day. You can spot spotted deer, marsh crocodiles and the grizzled giant squirrel along the forest edges, and over 230 recorded bird species keep the binoculars busy. Coracle rides on the Cauvery are the main daytime activity, alongside guided walks and birding at dawn. Low water months, from March to June, expose broad sandbanks and shallow lagoons; the period from August to February brings a swollen river and thicker cover. It is a quiet, compact stay, built around the water rather than around itself.