Our focus is to create immersive wilderness experiences that bring travellers closer to nature: Jungle Lodges MD

Karnataka Government’s Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR) has carved a distinctive niche in India’s wildlife and ecotourism landscape, offering travellers a front-row seat to some of the country’s most spectacular wildernesses. Sivaram Babu M, IFS, Managing Director, Jungle Lodges & Resorts Limited, tracks the changing contours of wildlife tourism, offers a ringside view of JLR’s operations and outlines its vision for the road ahead...

Q: Could you provide an overview of Jungle Lodges & Resorts’ current scale of operations, including the number of properties, rooms, destinations and annual guest capacity?Jungle Lodges & Resorts currently operates 25 properties across national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and the coast, with a footprint extending across the Western Ghats. Our accommodation portfolio offers a variety of experiences, ranging from tents to cottages, with the accommodation capacity varying from one camp to another. During the previous financial year, our properties together recorded an annual guest capacity of 1,61,533.

Q: What has been the occupancy trend across your properties over the last three years? Which destinations have consistently recorded the highest occupancy levels?

The properties that have consistently recorded strong occupancy levels include K.Gudi Wilderness Camp at B.R. Hills, Bandipur Safari Lodge at Bandipur, and River Tern Lodge at Bhadra. These destinations benefit from their distinctive wilderness settings and the strong appeal of wildlife and nature-based experiences.

Q: Which three properties currently contribute the highest revenue to the organisation, and what factors have made them stand out in terms of visitor appeal and commercial performance?

The three properties contributing the highest revenue are Kabini River Lodge, Bandipur Safari Lodge and Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysuru. Kabini River Lodge and Bandipur Safari Lodge stand out primarily because of their exceptional wildlife safari experiences, which attract nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers throughout the year. Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, meanwhile, has established itself as a premier heritage and events destination. Its commercial success is driven largely by its prime location and seamless accessibility from the city, making it a preferred venue for large-scale events as well as heritage tourism.

Q: What was the total visitor footfall during 2025–26, and what percentage of your overall accommodation capacity was utilised?

During the 2025–26 financial year, JLR recorded an overall occupancy rate of 49 percent, with 1,61,533 guests staying across our properties.

Q: Karnataka is witnessing growing interest in adventure, wildlife and experiential tourism. How is Jungle Lodges positioning itself to capitalise on these emerging trends?

The appetite for experiential travel is growing, and travellers today are looking for experiences that go beyond conventional sightseeing. To capitalise on this trend, Jungle Lodges & Resorts has strategically categorised its properties into distinct, theme-based experiences:Wildlife, Adventure, Wellness and Nature Camps. This segmentation enables us to tailor our marketing efforts, activities and facilities to thespecific interests and expectations of modern travellers. It also allows us to create a more specialised and immersive guest experience across our diverse destinations.

Q: Sustainability is central to the Jungle Lodges model. Could you elaborate on the organisation’s current initiatives in wildlife conservation, waste management, renewable energy and community engagement?

Sustainability remains the cornerstone of our operational model, particularly because our properties are located in ecologically sensitive and remote destinations. Our current eco friendly initiatives include: Conservation: We actively participate in programmes aimed at protecting and sustaining local wildlife habitats. Renewable Energy: We are continuously transitioning towards greater utilisation of renewable energy sources across our properties to reduce our carbon footprint. Waste Management: We strictly adhere to comprehensive waste segregation and responsible disposal practices to maintain the ecological balance of our remote locations.

Q: What new experiences, facilities or attractions can visitors look forward to from Jungle Lodges & Resorts over the next 12 months?

Sivaram Babu M: Over the next 12 months, visitors can look forward to a diverse range of newly introduced activities designed to elevate the overall guest experience. We are continuously upgrading our experiential offerings across our adventure, nature and wildlife segments, ensuring that every visit offers fresh, engaging and memorable interactions with nature. Our endeavour is to keep the wilderness experience dynamic while preserving the essence of the destinations in which our properties operate.