Kabini river is known by many names – Kabani, Kapila are a few of them. Originating in the Pakramthalam hills at Kuttiady-Mananthavady road, Kabini River is a major tributary of River Kaveri or Cauvery. A number of minor but important rivers such as Makkiyad river and Periya river confluence near Korome and Valad respectively. Further flowing through Mananthavady town, the Panamaram river joins Kabini near Payyampally, another tributary flowing in from the beautiful Banasura hills and Banasura Sagar reservoir near Grassroots Wayanad carves out the beautiful island of Kuruva. Further joined by Kalindi from Brhmagiri hills, Taraka and Nugu rivers forming one formidable river. This complex network of seasonal rivers, rivulets, and streams is essential for the health of the entire region. Every bit of forest and catchment area has a major impact on the health of River Kabini and through it to River Kaveri, the lifeline of South India.
Image Credits: The Hindu
Although these rivers flow in full force from June to November, they would go dry post Monsoon, leaving many of the lands parched. So the powers that be had to make some hard decisions to construct a few dams along the rivers. One such was the Kabini River, one of the largest dams and reservoir in the region. Built close to the ecologically sensitive region of Nagarhole National Park and Bandipur too, a lot of thought and study went into the choice of location to ensure the habitats of wildlife were disturbed minimally.
But over the years, close to half a century later, nature has coopted the reservoir, creating rich biodiversity, so much so that the region around Kabini Reservoir has become a wildlife hub, sought after by wildlife enthusiasts world over. Red Earth Resort in Kabini occupies a prime spot on the peninsula with sweeping views of the entire reservoir, including the dazzling lights of the dam in the evening. The availability of water throughout the year along with a preexisting plurality of biodiversity makes Red Earth Kabini and it’s surrounding a hotspot for wildlife and birding.
Built-in 1974, Kabini Dam is 696 meters in length with a catchment area of 2,141.90 sq km providing water to 22 villages and 14 hamlets around there and also a prominent source of drinking water to Mysuru and Bengaluru. Kabini Dam is a Masonry gravity dam with overflow and non-overflow sections with earthen flanks on either side. It is an irrigation dam and no hydel power project is installed. Although the dam itself is not open to the public, the areas around are open and beautiful for walking or driving around. There are talks of a new garden on the lines of the famed Brindavan Garden being built attached to the dam in time for the literature festival, Kannada Sahitya Sammelana that is to happen in 2021-22. That is a welcome addition to the things to do in Kabini. We sure hope they will take a leaf from our book and plant a lot of indigenous plants as in Red Earth Resort in Kabini with its 300 species of medicinal and fruiting plants and trees.
Whether or not the Botanical Garden at Kabini comes up, there is a richness of nature here that is unparalleled and has been so for centuries with even the Mysore Wodeyars and the British recusing here time and again to indulge in nature and game hunting. With a large elephant and tiger population both apex animals, forests around Kabini have a lot of flora and fauna to explore. Even the campus of Red Earth Resort in Kabini is rich with regular birds and occasional visitors from forests around.
A cultural, religious, and historic site of Mastigudi village is another reason for you to visit Kabini during the summer apart from better sightings of wild animals at both Nagarhole and Bandipur. As the water recedes in summer, the ancient temples of Mastigudi village become visible and accessible. Through the year it is submerged. The reservoir is also called Mastigudi Lake as this village was one of the oldest and biggest that was submerged when the Kabini reservoir was constructed. The Kabini river and Mastigudi reservoir act as a natural separation between Nagarhole and Bandipur sanctuaries. Red Earth Resort in Kabini located on the peninsular edge has easy access to both and more.
