What to expect
Highlights
- A regenerated private Western Ghats rainforest reserve.
- Guided nature walks and birdwatching.
- A quiet eco-stay near the Brahmagiri hills.
SAI Sanctuary
The SAI Sanctuary is a private rainforest reserve of about 120 hectares near Brahmagiri in south Kodagu, created by conservationists Anil and Pamela Malhotra to protect and regenerate Western Ghats forest on former farmland.
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SAI Sanctuary
Place
Practical guide
Plan SAI Sanctuary
Who's going?Tailor SAI Sanctuary to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseSrimangala
DistrictKodagu
Best timeOctober to March
Time neededA half day, or an overnight eco-stay
EntryBy prior booking only (walk/stay charges)
Places to visit4→Now a thriving wildlife corridor visited by elephants, deer, birds and occasionally big cats, it offers guided nature walks and a small eco-stay for those who want a quiet, low-impact forest experience.
Getting there
How to visit
- Near Brahmagiri in south Kodagu, off the Srimangala/Kutta side; reached by car — the location is deliberately low-key.
- Visits and stays are by prior arrangement only — contact the sanctuary in advance; casual drop-ins are not encouraged.
Distance by road
- Mysuru120 km
- Bengaluru260 km
- Mangaluru135 km
- Kannur115 km
- Ooty210 km
Road km to Kodagu; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to March; early morning for wildlife and birds.
Weather in SAI SanctuarySeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at SAI Sanctuary
Sunrise6:16 am
Sunset6:37 pm
Golden hour best light5:37 pm–6:37 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:37 pm–7:02 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 279°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 77%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Karnataka. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- Entry is by prior booking only; it is a private conservation reserve — follow the hosts’ rules and keep noise and impact low.
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near SAI Sanctuary
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around SAI Sanctuary — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
Verified inventory is being added here.
Verified places are being added. The category filters will fill in as approved stays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and nature listings go live.
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Top experiences around Srimangala
3 more places around Srimangala, each worth a day of its own.
waterfallIruppu Falls
11.0 km · ~18 min by cab
A 52 m waterfall on the Lakshmana Tirtha in south Kodagu near Srimangala, sacred for its Rameshwara Shiva temple and set at the foot of the Brahmagiri hills; it is the starting point of the Brahmagiri trek and is fullest during and after the monsoon.
wildlifeNagarhole National Park
30.9 km · ~52 min by cab
The Kodagu side of Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park, a tiger reserve of teak and rosewood forest entered from the Kutta and Nanachi gates in south Kodagu; jeep safaris offer elephants, gaur, deer and wild dogs and, with luck, tiger or leopard (the park is shared with Mysuru’s Kabini side).
trekBrahmagiri Peak
7.6 km · ~19 min by auto
A shola-grassland peak and wildlife sanctuary on the Kodagu–Wayanad border, trekked from Iruppu Falls in south Kodagu; the ridge marks the state line, with rich birdlife and views over both Karnataka and Kerala (forest permits required).
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Add a nearby businessBefore you go
SAI Sanctuary — at a glance
TimingsBy appointment
Best timeOctober to March; early morning
Entry: By prior booking only (walk/stay charges)
Getting here
How to reach SAI Sanctuary
Near Brahmagiri, south Kodagu off the Srimangala/Kutta side
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and SAI Sanctuary is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- KSRTC — the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries. Online booking.
- Indian Railways — live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around SAI Sanctuary
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at SAI Sanctuary
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near SAI Sanctuary
On the map
Where SAI Sanctuary is
Good to know
SAI Sanctuary — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit SAI Sanctuary?
October to March; early morning for wildlife and birds.
What are the entry fee and timings at SAI Sanctuary?
Entry: By prior booking only (walk/stay charges). Timings: By appointment.
How do I reach SAI Sanctuary?
Near Brahmagiri in south Kodagu, off the Srimangala/Kutta side; reached by car — the location is deliberately low-key. Visits and stays are by prior arrangement only — contact the sanctuary in advance; casual drop-ins are not encouraged.
How much time do I need for SAI Sanctuary?
A half day, or an overnight eco-stay.
What else is near SAI Sanctuary?
Nearby you can pair Brahmagiri Peak (7.6 km), Iruppu Falls (11.0 km), Nagarhole National Park (30.9 km), Chelavara Falls (34.9 km).
Read before you go
SAI Sanctuary guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about SAI Sanctuary itself yet. These cover Srimangala, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
