If you are fed-up with the hustle-bustle of city life and just want to take time off for yourself (just alone or with family), Galibore Cauvery fishing and nature camp is highly recommended. The atmosphere is so serene, you would not want to leave the place.
If you have never heard of it, then, for your information Galibore cauvery fishing camp exists in the southern state of INDIA - Karnataka. It's approximately 95km (60 miles) from Bangalore (will be renamed as Bengaluru in future), the silicon valley of INDIA. It's about 3-1/2 hrs drive from Bangalore (the last 9kms from a place called Sangam is motorable but very rough).
Galibore is a heavenly nature resort on the banks of river Cauvery (Kaveri) situated far from the maddenning crowd, deep in the deciduous forests of Cauvery wildlife sanctuary. There is no habitation of any kind for miles around. The only sounds are the birdcalls and the whistling of the wind. In fact the name comes from a hillock nearby. Gali means wind, bore is hillock. The camp is covered with trees lining both sides of the river and mountains on both sides of the river. It's ideal for couples looking for a change of place and nature lovers looking for privacy.
Wildlife
Over 200 species of birds have been identified around the camp. Some of them include grey headed fishing eagle, tawny eagle, pied crested cuckoo, darter, etc. Mammals spotted around the camp include sambar, spotted deer, highly endangered grizzled giant squirrel, jackals, leopard and elephants. However, the main attraction in river Cauvery is the MAHSEER fish. Some people have caught MAHSEERS weighing over 100 pounds in this stretch of the river.
Activities
The highlight of the stay in the Galibore camp is the coracle ride in the calm waters of Cauvery. Do not miss a coracle ride in the evening between 6.15 - 7.00pm. The backdrop of the clear blue sky and the dusk add to the enchanting effect. The peace and tranquility you experience cannot be described in enough words.
Main activities in Galibore apart from coracle rides are hiking in the jungle, joy fishing or lazing under the green old trees lining the river bank. Galibore is also a very popular angling camp. Professional anglers visit the camp during the season. Anglers bring along their tackles and gear to catch the MAHSEER. But, remember, they have a 'catch and release' policy, where you have to let go the fish if you happen to get one. Ofcourse, you are allowed to photograph with it before you leave it.
And before I forget, Galibore is preferred by a lot of corporates for their offsite and outdoor training programmes. Some of the top companies in Bangalore come on a day trip and conduct their outbound learning and team building programmes here.
Season
It's during the months June to August, after the fresh monsoon rains, the river is swollen, the forest is rich, green and beautiful. This is the ideal time for bird watchers as many species of water birds flock here and it is a nesting time for woodland birds.
It's not too bad during the off-season either as we found out during our trip end of April this year. Check out our photos and decide for yourself. Only disappointment was that MAHSEERS dont venture here when the river recedes.
Summers are quite warm (mean hot). Make sure you carry a water bottle with you always. You can dehydrate pretty fast. And since the camp is covered by hills on both sides, you experience very little breeze. To catch a cool breeze, trek up one of the hillocks and you can also catch a glimpse of the landscape, forest and the long winding river.
Accommodation
With special emphasis on minimizing impact on the environment, Galibore has only tented cottages. These are eco-friendly and built on concrete platforms. They are very comfortable and come with attached modern bathrooms. Usage of electricity is to the bare minimum. Lanterns are provided which add to the rustic nature of the place.
Staff are very friendly. No outside food is allowed for cooking. The food provided by the camp is very delicious. We never expected such high standards in such a remote place. But the food was fantastic, the barbecue by the river side and the camp fire in the evening was very enjoyable. As additional information, liqour is allowed, but you have to bring the spirits yourself. However, beer is available for purchase. The food comes free but not the drinks.
Reaching Galibore
Get a good all weather vehicle because some of the stretches are very rough.
Start early from Bangalore (around 8am) . Head towards Kanakapura (about 55kms) on the Bangalore-Kanakapura highway. On reaching Kanakapura, look for signs towards SANGAM. If in doubt, ask the locals. 100 mts before you reach SANGAM, a 'Jungle Lodges' signpost will greet you. You have to turn right here. Make sure, on your way back you stop at SANGAM again to view the confluence (SANGAM) of rivers Arkavathi and Cauvery. After you turn right, there is a 9-10km gravelly road to Galibore. Prepare for a bone rattling drive from here. Well, I'm joking. It's not as bad as it sounds. We should be thankful to this stretch of the journey. This keeps a lot of not-so-serious tourists away and helps maintain the peace and tranquility of Galibore. Probably, that's the main intention of the authorities.
For rates and bookings, check out -
http://www.junglelodges.com/resort_overview.asp?resort=Galibore
Check out the pictures at -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8542567@N06/
Trust me, Galibore is unforgettable.
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