KARNATAKA TRAVEL GUIDE · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
Dubare Elephant Camp Guide: Reopening, New Rules, Timings and Ticket
Dubare reopened on 20 September 2026 with a different format: guided viewing from a distance, no bathing, no feeding. Here is what changed, what it costs, and whether it still suits your Coorg trip.
Quick answer: should you visit Dubare now?
Yes, if you want to see Karnataka’s best-known elephant camp from a safe distance with a guide; no, if you came to bathe or feed elephants, because those activities are banned. Be at the gate before 9:30 am, expect a 45-minute guided batch, and carry cash for the ticket, which was reported at ₹140 on regular days and ₹160 on weekends and holidays.
Dubare is a forest camp on the Cauvery near Kushalnagar in Kodagu, run with the Forest Department and Jungle Lodges and Resorts. For years its draw was close contact: bathing, scrubbing and feeding elephants, and a boat or coracle ride across the river. That changed after 18 May 2026, when a 33-year-old tourist from Chennai died during a bathing session after two captive elephants fought, according to Deccan Herald and The South First. One of the elephants died the next day. The state responded with new rules for all elephant camps, closed Dubare for about four months, and reopened it on 20 September under a standard operating procedure (SOP).
This page explains the new format using news reports rather than older travel blogs, because many blogs still advertise activities that are no longer allowed. Where reports disagree, we show the range. It sits alongside our Coorg 3-day itinerary, the Abbey Falls and Madikeri guide and the Kodagu district guide.
Dubare at a glance
| Item | What sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Reopened 20 September 2026 under the state SOP (CoffeeLand News, Daijiworld) | Open, with limits |
| Visiting hours | 9:30 to 11:30 am only in the initial phase; may be extended | Arrive by 9 am |
| Ticket | ₹140 on regular days, ₹160 on weekends and holidays (Daijiworld) | Carry cash; confirm |
| Format | Guided batches of about 45 minutes, in groups of 25, with up to 150 visitors per batch | Viewing, not interaction |
| Distance from elephants | About 10 metres behind barricades under the SOP; a 100-foot rule was announced in May for bathing sessions | 10 m is the current SOP figure |
| Elephants | About 30 at the camp, 10 open for viewing (Daijiworld); 27 on a Jungle Lodges page; about 150 in older reports | Sources conflict; expect up to 10 on display |
| Distance | 15 to 16 km from Kushalnagar; 30 to 50 km from Madikeri by different pages | Allow about 45 minutes from Madikeri |
What is allowed now, and what is not
Bannedtouching, feeding, bathingDistanceabout 10 mOn displayup to 10 elephants
The Forest Department’s SOP is dated 11 June 2026, was signed by the chief wildlife warden, and covers elephant camps, holding centres and any place where visitors view captive elephants. Deccan Herald reports that visitors may not touch or feed elephants, must stay at least 10 metres away, and that no more than 10 elephants may be on display. The camp is divided into a green zone for visitors, an amber zone for staff and a red zone for elephants, with CCTV in critical areas and regular veterinary checks of each elephant’s health, musth and stress.
On reopening, CoffeeLand News and Daijiworld report that visitors are taken round in scheduled batches with camp guides, may not have direct contact, bathe or feed the elephants, and must follow staff instructions. A Star of Mysore summary of the SOP adds that only calm elephants may be displayed, that sessions run 45 to 60 minutes with batches of 50 to 75 visitors, and that there is a weekly closure day for the animals to rest. Those batch sizes differ from the 150 maximum reported at reopening, so ask at the gate how your batch is organised.
What no longer happens
The Karnataka government announced on 19 May that bathing sessions, direct feeding with bananas, jaggery or sugarcane, and close-up selfies were banned at all elephant camps, and certain eco-tourism trekking routes were temporarily suspended. Older guides still list bathing for about ₹250 per person, elephant rides, coracle or rafting rides and Jungle Lodges packages such as an interaction package at ₹850 and a day visit at ₹1,350. Treat these as out of date. We could not confirm whether the river crossing by boat or coracle, which one pre-2026 guide put at ₹50 per person, is operating in the same way, so ask at the counter.
What happened and why it matters
On Monday 18 May 2026 two captive elephants, Kanjan (26) and Marthanda (53), clashed during a bathing session in the Cauvery, according to The South First, and a Chennai tourist trapped under one of them was taken to a hospital in Kushalnagar where she died. Marthanda collapsed into the river and died the next day. Both elephants were reportedly in musth. The Star of Mysore reported on 21 May that the camp was closed for at least 15 days, that Kanjan was kept in isolation under strict monitoring, and that officials said visitor movement and structure would change significantly because tourists had previously moved freely and got close.
Wildlife activists quoted by The South First said that confining elephants and offering close contact is risky and called for a shift away from invasive tourism. One conservationist said elephants in musth should be isolated and that the SOP had not been followed. We include this because it affects what you are paying for: the new format treats Dubare as a place to learn about working elephants from a distance, not a place to touch them. The family of the victim has alleged inadequate safety arrangements and a slow emergency response, according to the same report, and we have no way to verify that claim. For wild elephants in their own habitat, our Kabini, Nagarhole and Bandipur safari guide is the better option.
How to reach Dubare
| From | Distance and time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kushalnagar | 15 to 16 km | Turn off the highway towards Siddapur; local sources describe the camp on the Cauvery near Nanjarayapatna |
| Madikeri | 30 to 50 km; about 45 minutes per Jungle Lodges | Pages disagree on the distance |
| Mysuru | About 100 km, 2.5 hours | Mysuru is the nearest railhead |
| Bengaluru | About 235 to 250 km, 5.5 to 7 hours | Range reflects route and traffic |
| Mangaluru airport | About 170 to 180 km, about 4 hours | Nearest major airport on one page |
The camp sits on the banks of the Cauvery, on what one source calls a natural island formed by the river, and many visitors cross by boat or coracle. One guide says the crossing can be slippery and may be unsafe for children and older visitors. Wear shoes with grip and ask about the crossing before you go. If you are building a longer loop, our weekend getaways from Bangalore guide explains how Coorg fits, and the hill stations in Karnataka page shows the alternatives.
Best time, plan and costs
Sources agree that the cooler, drier months from October to early March are best, with one adding that the monsoon brings swollen rivers and leeches, and another noting that activities may be restricted when the Cauvery swells. The reopened schedule is morning-only, so the practical plan is to reach Kushalnagar early, arrive at the gate before 9:30 am and finish by noon.
| Time | Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Leave Madikeri or Kushalnagar | Allow for the river crossing and ticket queue |
| 9:15 am | Buy tickets and join the first batch | The window opens at 9:30 am |
| 9:30 to 10:30 am | Guided viewing | About 45 minutes per batch |
| Midday | Lunch at Kushalnagar | Main highway town on the route |
| Afternoon | Abbey Falls and Madikeri | See our Abbey Falls guide |
For two adults, tickets are roughly ₹280 to ₹320 at the reported prices, which is our arithmetic; add fuel or a cab, which is the larger cost. If you want to see more elephants without close contact, Harangi and Mathigodu camps also reopened under the new SOP in early September, per Star of Mysore, with one report counting six elephants at Harangi and 12 at Mathigodu. For the festival connection, camp elephants take part in the Mysuru Dasara procession, according to Incredible India; see our Mysore Dasara 2026 page.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking an elephant bathing or feeding package from an older blog. These are banned.
- Arriving after 11:30 am, when the initial morning window ends.
- Approaching or touching elephants. Stay behind the barricades and follow staff.
- Wearing slippery footwear for the river crossing.
- Expecting every older price to apply. Confirm at the counter.
- Planning a monsoon visit without checking the river and the camp’s status; see our Coorg in monsoon guide.
Dubare Elephant Camp: frequently asked questions
Is Dubare Elephant Camp open?
Yes. It reopened on 20 September 2026 under the state’s elephant camp SOP after being closed since May. Hours were limited to the morning at first.
What are the Dubare Elephant Camp timings?
Initially 9:30 to 11:30 am, in scheduled batches, with the possibility of extension after review. Older guides listing evening slots no longer apply.
What is the ticket price?
Daijiworld reported ₹140 on regular days and ₹160 on weekends and holidays. Confirm at the counter.
Can I bathe or feed the elephants?
No. Touching, feeding and bathing elephants are banned under the SOP, and visitors stay about 10 metres away behind barricades.
Are elephant rides or rafting available?
We could not confirm either. Older guides list them, but they pre-date the 2026 rules, so ask at the camp.
How far is Dubare from Madikeri and Kushalnagar?
About 15 to 16 km from Kushalnagar and 30 to 50 km from Madikeri depending on the source. Allow about 45 minutes from Madikeri.
Why was Dubare closed in 2026?
A tourist died on 18 May 2026 after two captive elephants fought during a bathing session. The state banned close contact, closed the camp and issued a new SOP.
What are the alternatives to Dubare?
Harangi and Mathigodu camps reopened in September under the same SOP, and for wild elephants see the Kabini, Nagarhole and Bandipur safaris.
Keep exploring Karnataka
Build the rest of the trip with the Coorg 3-day itinerary, the Abbey Falls and Madikeri guide, the Kodagu district guide, the Talacauvery and Bhagamandala guide and our wildlife safaris and national parks page.
Rules, timings and fees at elephant camps are set by the Forest Department and have changed recently, and several figures here come from news reports that differ. Confirm with the camp before you travel. Updated October 2026.