Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

About Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Tucked in the mountains with the majestic Cauvery flowing through it, the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Mysore district, covering an area of 526.96 sq km. It has dry deciduous forest as well as some patches of scrub forest. Lurking in the thick growth you can spot tigers and leopards seeking their prey, herds of elephants in search for greener pastures, spotted deer and four horned antelope making their way across the flowing river, wild boars, sambhars , barking deer, Malabar giant squirrel, grizzled giant squirrel, common otter and hare enjoying their habitat. The river Cauvery which traverses along the eastern boundary of the sanctuary gives the name to this sanctuary. There are a number of low hills, rocky knobs and out crops all along the length of the Cauvery.

The Cauvery leaves several waterfalls in its path towards the sea in this stretch. These waterfalls form the backdrop for famous Bangalorean weekend getaways - Mekedatu, Hogenakal falls, Sangama and Muthathi. Notable are Sangama where two tributaries of the mighty Cauvery join the main river. Muthathi is a place mentioned in the Ramayana and thus is an important pilgrim place. This sanctuary has the famous cauvery fishing camp and is one of the best places to have a great time on the banks of a river.

An idyllic place to trek, you can climb a hilltop to get a spectacular view of the Cauvery flowing and the picturesque view of the vale below. The best time to visit the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is from November to March. The river that meanders through the valley offers an excellent opportunity to go angling mahseer fish as well as go rafting. Within the thick growth bird watchers can catch the sirkeer cuckoo, green-billed malkoha, white-browed bulbul and the pigmy woodpecker with their binoculars. Marsh crocodiles, python, turtles, Russell’s viper, cobra, and the banded krait are also found here.

The river cauvery passing through the sanctuary has otters, crocodiles and many varieties of fish. The famous “Masheer fish” is found here. The jungle contains very valuable trees like rose wood, teak and several hard wood. Evergreen sholas have joined forces with the hills and valleys to give us mortals a manifestation of divine beauty. Also, this is a bird watchers paradise. About 100 species of birds are identified and listed here. If this is not enough, add elephants, spotted deers, sambars, wild dogs, barking deers, jungle fowl, huge monitor lizard, giant squirrels, peacock, and monkeys to get the whole picture. Think of nature being perfect and it is in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

Flora and Fauna: Riverine and dry deciduous forests with some patches of scrub forest
Mammals: They include the tiger, leopard, elephant, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope, Malabar giant squirrel, grizzled giant squirrel, common otter and the hare.
Birds: The Sirkeer cuckoo, green-billed malkoha, white-browed bulbul and the pigmy woodpecker are found here. The sanctuary is also famed for the endangered mahseer fish.
Reptiles: The marsh crocodiles, turtles, python, cobra, Russell’s viper and the banded krait are found here.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation

Package Tariff per person on AP:
Room Type - Tent
No. Of rooms - 15
Occupancy - Twin sharing
Tariff Per person - Rs.1,750/-

Room Type - Log House
No. Of rooms - 03
Occupancy - Twin sharing
Tariff Per person - Rs.2,000/-

Room Type - Villa
No. Of rooms - 03
Occupancy - Twin sharing
Tariff Per person - Rs.2,250/-

Includes:
Accommodation as per the booking (two adults in a room basis) Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast Coracle ride, trekking Jungle Gym which includes Tarzan jump, ditch jump, balancing beams, trust fall etc. Visit to nearby Gurukula and Mekedatu (Optional) All applicable resort taxes included.

Note:
Children b/w 4 and 12 Yrs 50% of the adult tariff Tariff subject to change without prior notice Check in: 12:00 Noon, Check out: 11:00 AM Govt. Service tax @ 1.03% extra on the tariff

Location info

• **Address:**districts of Mysore, Bangalore and Mandya, the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Mysore district, covering an area of 526.96 sq km.

• **District:**Mysore district

• **Nearest City:**Mysore

• Best time to visit: The best time to visit the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is between the months of November and March.

Things to do at Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

The forest authority provides a number of facilities to the wildlife enthusiast. They can trek to the hill top of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary or raft in the rapidly flowing Cauvery river. They are allowed to indulge in game fishing in the Cauvery waters of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka.

How to reach Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

• **Nearest Railway Station:**Mysore

• **Nearest Airport:**Mysore

• **Road Transport:**Bus service is available form Mysore.

Nearest visiting places

• Mudukuthore Temples

Mudukuthore is located at a distance of 60 km from Mysore, 25 km from Somnathapur, 5 km from T.Narsipur and is close to Talakad. The place is known for the temple of Lord Mallikarjuna. During January-February, every year, a big festival fair is organized for a week where cattle and agricultural items are traded

• Nanjanagudu Temples

Located near the city of Mysore, the town of Nanjanagudu (a.k.a. Nanjangud) is a traditional and historical place known for the temple of Lord Shiva, and a variety of flavorful bananas that are grown in the region, called Rasabale

• T.Narasipura Temples

Tirumakudalu-Narasipura (Kannada: ) , officially known as T.Narasipura [1],is a panchayat town in Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The first letter “T” of the name (T.Narasipura) refers to Tirumakudalu,the peninsular town (Trimakuta in Sanskrit) at the confluence of the Kaveri, Kabini and Spatika Sarovar (a hidden mythical lake or spring, also named Gupta Gamini)

• Talakadu Temples

Talakad is a scenic and spiritual pilgrimage center located in near T. Narasipura, Mysore district. Talakad is also know as Talakadu in Kannada, state language of Karnataka. Talakad is situated on the banks of the Kapila Cauvery River. Talakad is about 130 Kms from Bangalore and 50 Kms from Mysore. River Cauvery makes a sharp turn here

• Mysore Historical

140 Kms from Bangalore lies the abode of untold grandeur and glory. Mysore,the capital city of the Wodeyars has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm,rich heritage, magnificent palaces,beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings,broad shady avenues and sacred temples

• Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread across 14 sq km, Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1985, is situated in Mysore District of Karnataka. The area has scrub forests and plantations and is surrounded by agricultural fields

• Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary

Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is situated north of Bandipur National Park in Mysore District, Karnataka. It covers about 30 sq km and the northern part of the sanctuary is occupied by the Nugu Reservoir

• Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole National Park also known as ‘Rajiv Gandhi National Park’ is located 94 km away from Mysore. It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore districts. The national park has rich forest cover, little streams, valleys and waterfalls

• Mysore Archeology

This was the capital of Mysore during British times. It was highly developed city with a population of 700,000. Chamaraja established it in 1640. Between 1760 and 1799 the Muslim Hyderali and Tippu Sultan, father and son duo, gained control and shifted the capital to Srirangapatnam in the north

• Somanathapur Archeology

“There is a stillness and everlastingness about the past, it changes not and has a touch of eternity,” wrote Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in his “Discovery of India.” These words somehow hold true when one arrives at Somnathpur, a tiny village on the banks of the Kaveri, 140 kms, south-west of Bangalore

• Balamuri Falls

On the way to K.R.S. from Mysore, 3 Km away from the main road, there are two beautiful small waterfalls, which is the hot spot for students and nature lovers. You also come across an ancient Ganesh temple in the vicinity

• Chunchanakatte Falls

Chunchanakatte Falls is a waterfall on the Kaveri River, near the village of Chunchanakatte in Mysore district, Karnataka, India. Water cascades from a height of about 20 meters.It is in the Western Ghats. Here the river falls in two small cascades before joining again to flow as one

• Kabini River

The Kabini is a river of southern India. It originates in Wayanad District of Kerala state, south India from the confluence of the Panamaram River and Mananthavady River, and flows eastward to join the Kaveri River at Tirumakudal Narasipur in Karnataka, which empties into the Bay of Bengal

• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, is an important tourist destination from Mysore city orthe adjoining Vrindavan gardens, both of which are barely 20 km away

• Gundal Reservoir

This place is located in Western Ghats hill range starting from Kerala and ending in Tamilnadu. MM Hills also extends beyond B.R.Hills.In between these two hills there is a dam called Gundal dam constructed between two hills,is a picnic spot. In B.R. Hills and attracts lot of devotees from South India

Helpline & emergency contacts

• **Police Station:**Mysore

• **Nearest Hospital:**Mysore

• Society/Community Phone Number

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Karnataka. 4G is reliable in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, and along highways. Coverage may be weaker in deep forest areas of Bandipur, Nagarhole, and certain Western Ghats sections. Most hotels, resorts, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Food options are available in the nearest town. Karnataka cuisine ranges from coastal seafood to Udupi vegetarian to Coorg’s pandi curry. Dosa, idli, bisi bele bath, and filter coffee are iconic.

Climate & weather

Karnataka has a varied climate from the humid coast to the dry Deccan plateau and cool Western Ghats. The best time to visit is October to March, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C depending on region. April–May is hot across most of the state (up to 38°C). The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rain to the coast and ghats but transforms the landscape — this is the best time for Jog Falls and Coorg’s lush greenery. Hill stations (Coorg, Chikmagalur) remain pleasant year-round. Bangalore has a moderate climate throughout.

Nearest petrol pump

Petrol pumps are available in the nearest town or on the approach road — check locally for the closest option.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is not currently available for this site. Contact the venue directly or check with your accommodation for the latest accessibility details.

Rules & restrictions

Standard visitor rules apply. Check locally for any specific restrictions at this site.

Best photography spots

The best photography spots are typically during the golden hours (early morning and late afternoon). Scout the location first to identify the best angles, and consider the direction of light at different times of day.

Best time to visit Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

October to May is the best time for wildlife viewing. During the dry months (February to May), animals congregate around water sources, making sightings more frequent. The sanctuary is closed during the monsoon (July to September). December to February offers pleasant weather for safaris.

Timings & opening hours

Safari timings: Morning safari 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, Evening safari 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM (timings vary by season). The sanctuary is typically closed during the monsoon season (July to September) for breeding and forest regeneration.

Entry fee & tickets

Entry fee: ₹50-₹100 for Indian nationals, ₹400-₹600 for foreign nationals. Safari vehicle charges: ₹600-₹2000 for a shared gypsy or bus safari. Guide fee may be additional. Camera fee: ₹50 for still, ₹200 for video. All fees are subject to change.

Duration needed

A typical safari lasts 2-3 hours. One safari is sufficient for a basic experience, but staying overnight and taking both morning and evening safaris increases wildlife sighting opportunities significantly.

Safety tips

Stay inside the safari vehicle at all times. Do not get out of the vehicle inside the sanctuary. Do not feed or tease animals. Maintain silence for better wildlife viewing. Wear earth-toned clothing. No smoking or littering inside the forest. Follow the guide’s instructions at all times.

Things to carry

Binoculars for wildlife viewing, camera with zoom lens, water bottles, hat/cap, sunscreen, insect repellent, light snacks, and identification documents for safari booking. Wear earth-toned clothing — avoid bright colours.

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest railway station varies by sanctuary location — typically Mysore, Shimoga, or Hubli. Nearest airport: Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Mysore Airport (MYQ), or Hubli Airport (HBX). KSRTC buses connect nearby cities to the sanctuary approach road.

History of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Karnataka, part of India’s network of wildlife sanctuaries and reserves. The sanctuary was established to protect the region’s rich biodiversity, including flagship species such as tigers, elephants, and leopards. The area is part of the Western Ghats or the Deccan Plateau ecosystem, supporting a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Things to visit & highlights

The main wildlife viewing areas where tigers, leopards, elephants, deer, and other mammals are commonly sighted. Watchtowers and waterholes offer concentrated wildlife viewing. The sanctuary entrance has interpretation centres. Nearby reservoirs attract birds and animals.

Frequently asked questions

What animals can I see? Karnataka sanctuaries are home to tigers, leopards, elephants, gaur, deer, wild boar, and numerous bird species. Sightings depend on season, time of day, and luck.

How do I book a safari? Safaris can be booked online through the Karnataka Forest Department website or at the sanctuary entrance. Advance booking is recommended during peak season.

Is the sanctuary open year-round? Most sanctuaries close during the monsoon (July-September) for breeding season. The best wildlife viewing is from October to May.

Quick facts

• Type: Tourist Attraction
• State: Karnataka
• Category: Wildlife Sanctuaries

Visitor information

Please check locally for current visitor information.

Photo gallery of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Photos coming soon. In the meantime, you can find images of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on popular travel photography sites and social media.