Situated in the midst of the Western Ghats of Chikmaglur district in Karnataka, surrounded by the lofty hill ranges of Babubudangiri. The River Tern Lodge is a perfect blend of nature and wildlife. The lodge gets its name from the congregation of thousands of River Terns during their breeding on a nearby island. Indeed a spectacular sight to behold! You can get mesmerized by observing their preening, feeding, cackling and many interesting antics. It is located on a hillock, at the edge of the picturesque Bhadra River, near Lakkavalli, adjoining the northern boundaries of the Bhadra Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary. Soft waves of backwaters of the river lash the edge periodically, harmonizing the sounds of nature, to put you in a perfect state of bliss. The River Tern Lodge is the ideal spot to get acquainted with nature in its serene beauty.

Accommodations : The River Tern Lodge has currently ten twin-beded accommodations - five cottages and five log cabins with cozy interiors to ensure nothing but pure serenity and privacy. Each room has a veranda overlooking the tranquil waters of the Bhadra Reservoir and not to mention the spectacular view of the sunset over the backwaters. To appreciate nature, it is consciously decided not to have TVs in the rooms.

Facilities : Apart from the comfortable accommodation, the Gol Ghar which is a circular, open-to-sides gazebo is the guests dining area, providing an extraordinary close to nature experience. The resort also features wildlife documentaries in the evenings, for those interested. All water activity equipments and instructors are present at the Lodge and adhere to high safety guidelines.

The Cuisine : A delicious spread of South and North Indian dishes, buffet style is served at the Ghol ghar. A choice of both Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian is available.

Activities : Apart from wildlife viewing through exciting jeep rides into the Bhadra Tiger Reserve Wildlife Sanctuary, which is about 4km from the resort, there are water based adventures such as sailing, kayaking, water cycle, water trampoline, joy fishing on offer. A boat ride on the backwaters of the Bhadra Reservoir can also yield great wildlife viewing opportunities. Other activities include guided trekking, island camping, bird watching, mountain biking, rock climbing for children and star gazing. Visits to Tyverekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari and to the Sakkrebyle Elephant camp are also options at the River Tern Lodge .

Wildlife : The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary boasts of rich avian life with birds like the Grey junglefowl, Red spurfowl, Painted bush quail, Emerald dove, Southern green imperial pigeon, Great black woodpecker, Malabar parakeet and Hill myna just to name a few. While among the reptiles, the Marsh crocodiles are usually found in the upstream stretches of the Bhadra River and Monitor lizards are also a common sight. The Common otter and the Smooth Indian otter can usually be sighted at the Bhadra Reservoir. Gaur certainly are the pride of Bhadra which is a common sight. Leopards are also fairly common, particularly in the Lakkavalli area. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary has been recently adopted under ‘Project Tiger’.

This is an ideal tiger habitat although it is rare to see one! Wild dog tracks are also found all over the area. Elephants occur in all parts of the sanctuary and seem to migrate locally between Muthodi and Lakkavalli. Other mammals found in the area are common Palm civet, Stripe necked mongoose, Sloth bear, Large brown flying squirrel, Sambar, Spotted deer and the Wild boar.

Season : The climate is generally pleasant all through the year, while the bulk of the rainfall occurs during the Southwest Monsoon, between June and September, leaving the entire sanctuary lush and green. Summer months of March, April and May would be slightly warm.

Location : From Bangalore: Drive towards Tumkur. Take the Shimoga bye-pass road at Tumkur (instead of going to Tumkur town) and cross Gubbi, Tiptur, Arsikere, Kadur, Birur, Tarikere. After crossing Tarikere, take the left that also has a Kuvempu University direction board. Travel 14Km till you reach Lakkavalli. At Lakkavalli you will find a sign board to the River Tern Lodge, which is about 4km away. Alternately you can contact the Range Forest Office at Lakkavalli for enquiries. The River Tern Lodge is 38km from Shimoga and is located by the Bhadra Reservoir.

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