Sakrebyle Elephant Camp – People Interact with Friendly Elephants

Sakrebyle Elephant Camp is in Shivamogga district, Karnataka. It is located 14 km from Shivamogga on the Shivamogga – Thirthahalli Road, 290kms from Bengaluru. This camp has many elephants and trained by skilled Mahouts. The camp is on the banks of the River Tunga, backwater of Gajanur Dam.

The Sakrebyle Elephant Camp attracts tourists and travelers as this is easily spotted on Shivamogga – Thirthahalli road. It is one of the ecotourism centers in Karnataka. The elephants play and being bathed in the backwater of the Tunga River by the mahouts. Tourists can watch elephants where they spray water on each other and get scrubbed by the Mahouts.

Make sure to reach early morning to this place or else you miss the main attraction here.

Timings will be 8:30 AM to 11 AM every day and there is an entry free of 30INR. Elephant rides available, 70INR per head, for kids it is less.

Boating also available but not sure about the price

Tourists can interact with these elephants, this interacting session takes for approx 2 hours. Visiting early morning is must for this. The Sakrebyle Elephant Camp is the best place where Humans and Elephants can interact and spend some good time.

Places to visit near Sakrebyle Elephant Camp

1. Bhadra Dam

   Bhadra Dam (Bhadra Reservoir) is located on the Bhadra River a tributary of Tungabhadra River in Tarikere Taluk, Chikmagalur District, Karnataka. The project was undertaken by the National Water Management Project(NWMP). The Bhadra River rises in the Western Ghats Aroli hill range of Kudremukh range. Dam water benefits for irrigation, drinking water supply and industrial use. Hydropower was commissioned in 1965 which generates 39.2 MW providing power to towns and villages nearby.

2. Jog Falls

   Jog Falls is located in Sagara Taluk, Shimoga District, Karnataka, 30 km away from Sagara, 100 km from Shimoga, and 385 km away from Bangalore. Jog falls is one of the highest waterfalls in India formed by Sharavathi River, gushing down from a height of 253 meters. Waterfall divided with four names Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket, which describes the flow of the waterfall. Jog Falls also known as the Gersoppa Falls or Jogada Gundi. When the gates of the Linganmakki dam is opened during monsoon is the time to see Jog Falls at its best.

3. Sigandur – Sharavathi River

   Sigandur is located in western ghats of Sagara Taluk, Shivamogga District, Karnataka. Sigandur is famous for temple popularly known as Shri Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple. It is a very beautiful place surrounded by backwater of River Sharavathi.

   Cross The water to reach Sigandur

   To reach temple we need to take a ferry or commonly called as Launch. For tourists, it makes a nice ride along with their vehicles.

   During holidays or festival, you have to wait for many hours to cross the river instead leave your vehicle and take a jeep or auto after crossing the water. As I have seen launch service will start at 6 am and close at 6 pm. For this service, we need to pay Rs 2 per passenger, Rs 15- Rs 20 per vehicle.

   And one important thing to remember, this service was mainly started to help locals as many areas got submerged after building Linganamakki Reservoir, so Local vehicles and Buses get priority over tourist vehicles. Have a good ride.

4. Kavimane (Kuvempu House)

   Kuppali is a small village in Thirthahalli taluk, Shivamaogga district. Kuppali is famous for Kuvempu’s house, popularly known as “Kavi Mane” which means house of the poet. Now, this house has been converted into a museum.

   This is also one of the popular tourist places in Shivamogga. As this place is part of the pure Malnad area. During the rainy season, this place looks heavenly.

   About Kuvempu

   To tell about Kuvempu I definitely need a separate blog post. For his contributions to Kannada Literature, the Government of Karnataka decorated him with the honorific Rashtrakavi (“National Poet”) in 1958 and Karnataka Ratna (“The Gem of Karnataka”) in 1992. So Kuvempu is popularly called as Rashtrakavi.

   Kavi Shaila

   Before going to Kavi Mane you find a path/road towards the right which will go to Kavi Shaila which is rock memorial build after his death. We can take vehicle till top or can go by walk as well. Definitely going by walk make you more refreshed.

5. Sharavathi power plant

6. Gajanur Dam

7. Linganamakki Dam

8. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary

9. Dabbe Falls

10. Kodachadri