The most convenient way to get to Kabini River Lodge from Chennai is by train. Train No.6222 Mysore Express leaves Chennai at 21.30pm and reaches Mysore at around 8am. The Kabini river lodge is located about 80 kms from Mysore and is a one and a half to two hours drive by car from the Mysore station. This works out well because the check in time at the Kabini River Lodge is 11am so by the time one has breakfasted leisurely somewhere in Mysore and drives down to the resort its around check in time. I would recommend a taxi company called Skyway Travels(Tel No. 0821 2444444) they pick you up at the Railway Station and drop you off at Kabini for. The fare is Rs.1600/- one way by non air-conditioned cab.
The package we took was for two nights commencing at11am on the first day and ending after breakfast on the third(checkout)day.
We were two adults and an 11-year-old kid and the package cost us Rs.8000 on the first day for a "room’ and Rs. 9250/- for a cottage on the second day. Both were good but I liked the room better as it really had a jungle lodge feel. The room was very spacious with a really high wooden ceiling. There was something that felt nicely’heritagy’ about it. As a bonus the bathroom was large and had a door leading out into the greens.
The package comes with breakfast, lunch and Dinner thrown in. Early morning and evening Tea too. The food was really good. The spread was huge and tasty. Not five star food but more of a home cooked feel. At the end of the day .everything tasted yummy!
The package also includes the cost of the jungle safari in Nagarhole ( Rajiv Gandhi National Park) which they take you out on twice a day. They wake you up at 6am with tea or coffee and drive you out to the park by 6.30am.Another safari follows at 4pm. Early mornings and evenings are apparently the best time for animal sightings.We were lucky to have spotted a leopard. Other animals we caught sight of were gaur, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, elephant, mongoose, malabar giant squirrel, peacock and many birds.
All in all we had a great experience. Ideal place to go with family. For a Government run place its terrific. Amazingly efficient and friendly! You can make bookings by calling the jungle lodges and resorts limited at 080 25597025 and 080 25597021. Check out is after breakfast. We left around 10.30am to reach Mysore at 12 noon, which gave us a bit of time to see the Mysore Palace before we boarded the Mysore-Chennai Shatabti(No.2008) which departs at 2.20pm.