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Wild Wellness
Naturetakesoverthesensesanddrives every activity at Evolve Back
KurubaSafariLodge,Kabini,Parvati Mohanakrishnan finds.guiding us to Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge,
Kabini. A cow here, a dog there, idyllic village life
steeped every part of the surroundings. And
almost out of nowhere, the majestic gate to the
resort came up in front of us. The music of local
drums and horns heralded our arrival at the
resort, which, at first sight, appeared to be nothing
more than a large village hut. I disembarked to
find myself on a long corridor leading to the
Kabini River, and walked almost all the way down
to it, before I was stopped by Shanmugam, the
in-house naturalist.
I had just enough time to drop my bags off in
the room and catch a quick bite before the boat
safari. So, I gulped down a glass of water and
hurried down a cobblestoned path to my Pool
Hut. A name can be deceptive, I realised as soon
as the door to the hut opened. Inside the thatch-
roofed hut was a lovely living area and bedroom
done up in tribal shades and with tribal artefacts.
But it was the view from the hut that stopped me
short. The opposite side of the hut was lined withTHE RAIN WAS DRUMMING A steady beat on the roof
of the Innova as Srini, more local ambassador
than driver, drove it down the country road
towards the Kabini River. But almost as soon as it
came into sight, the driver of a car coming from
the opposite direction indicated that the road was
blocked ahead. Flooded! The smile on Srini’s face,
however, was reassuring. He drove on, and only
stopped when we reached the gates to what could
only be a dam. Off he sauntered, umbrella in
hand, determination in every step to the gate and
jubilation in every step back. And we went on our
way, through the gates on the narrow road that
made course on top of the dam.
On one side of the dam was an inundated
countryside, water covering almost every inch of
the otherwise verdant land. And on the other was
the swelling brown Kabini River, rising as the
rain fed its watery ego. The sight was humbling—
we were but a spec in the mighty horizon,
consumed wholly by the river.
Soon, we were on another country road, signsEXPERIENCE
Wellness
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COURTESY OF EVOLVE BACK KURUBA SAFARI LODGE, KABINI