Mysore to Kabini Ertiga cab — fare breakdown and the road
| Distance | 80 km |
|---|---|
| Drive time | 2h off-peak · up to 2h 45m at busy times |
| One way, from | ₹3,150 incl. GST |
| Round trip, from | ₹5,513 incl. GST |
| Highway | via H D Kote |
| Best departure | Leave by 6am for the afternoon safari, earlier for the morning one |
How that fare is built
| Item | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Chargeable distance | 130 km (min) | 250 km (min) |
| Rate per km | ₹20 | ₹19 |
| Distance cost | ₹2,600 | ₹4,750 |
| Driver bata | ₹400 | ₹500 |
| Toll and parking | At actuals, with receipts — quoted on the call | |
| Sub-total | ₹3,000 | ₹5,250 |
| GST at 5% | ₹150 | ₹263 |
| Total, from | ₹3,150 | ₹5,513 |
One way is charged for your direction plus the minimum distance. A round trip charges both legs with the daily minimum applied — which is why the one-way total is lower even at a higher per-km rate. Prefer a single agreed figure with toll and permit folded in? Ask for an all-inclusive quote.
Two hours, not four
The single most useful fact on this page: Kabini is about two hours from Mysore. From Bangalore it is roughly four.
That halving changes what the trip is. From Bangalore, day one is largely travel and a one-night stay is barely worth the driving. From Mysore you leave after breakfast, arrive for lunch, and are on the afternoon safari with time to spare — which makes a single night genuinely worthwhile.
It is one of the better arguments for basing yourself in Mysore rather than Bangalore if wildlife is what you came south for.
The road out
Via H D Kote, on ordinary district roads rather than highway — narrow in stretches, through sugarcane and paddy, skirting the reservoir as you approach. It is slower than two hours of highway would be and considerably more pleasant.
The lodges run on fixed timings — arrival, lunch, then the afternoon drive — so tell us which lodge and what time, and the departure is set from that. With only two hours to cover there is real margin here, which is not true from further away.
What is at Kabini
Kabini is the western part of the Nagarhole reserve, on the backwaters of the Kabini river, and its reputation rests on the dry season. As the water recedes, animals concentrate at the banks, and the elephant congregations here in the hot months are among the more remarkable wildlife spectacles in India.
Leopard is a genuine possibility. Tiger is present and seldom seen. Wild dog, gaur, sambar, chital and a very long bird list are the realistic returns.
The distinctive thing here is the boat safari on the backwaters, which is often better than a jeep drive for seeing animals come down to drink — and quieter.
As at every reserve, safaris run in the park’s own vehicles. We bring you to the lodge and take you home.
The wider loop
Because Mysore sits close to all of it, a two-reserve trip is practical from here in a way it is not from Bangalore — Kabini and Nagarhole, or Kabini and Bandipur, split across two nights. Tell us the whole plan and it is quoted as one loop.
Why this route suits an Ertiga
Two hours, the last of it on narrow rural road where a smaller vehicle is easier than a large one, with a group carrying a night or two of luggage. Six seats stay comfortable over this distance, and the folded third row takes bags for four or five with room for camera gear, which on a wildlife trip is usually the bulky item.
Still coming to this page: named toll plazas and amounts, named break stops. Those come from our own drivers rather than from a map, and we would rather leave them off than print a figure we have not checked. Ask on the call and we will tell you the toll for this route.
All bookings include a professional driver. We do not offer self-drive rentals.
Booking this route
We drive Kabini to Mysore as well, at the same rate — the fare depends on the distance and the direction of travel, not on which end you start from. There is one page for both directions rather than two pages saying the same thing.
Related routes
Mysore to Kabini — FAQs
Is Kabini much closer from Mysore?
Half the distance. Two hours from Mysore against roughly four from Bangalore. That is the difference between arriving in time for lunch and the afternoon safari, and spending the day getting there — and it is why a one-night Kabini stay makes sense from Mysore and barely does from Bangalore.
Will we make the afternoon safari?
Comfortably, if you leave Mysore in the morning. Lodges here run fixed timings and the afternoon drive usually leaves mid-afternoon; two hours of road gives you real margin rather than a race.
Is a permit needed?
No. Kabini is in Karnataka.
What is the road like?
Ordinary district road out via H D Kote rather than highway — narrow in places, through farmland and past the reservoir. Slower than the distance suggests, and pleasant.
Can we combine Kabini with Bandipur or Nagarhole?
Yes, and from Mysore it is genuinely practical because everything is close. Some guests do two nights split between two lodges. Tell us the plan and we quote the whole loop rather than separate legs.