Mahouts bathing elephants in the River Tunga at Sakrebailu
Karnataka Forest Department
WILD

NATURE

ಸಕ್ರೆಬೈಲು ಆನೆ ಶಿಬಿರ

Discover the life of walking giants on the sacred banks of the Tunga. Watch the morning bath, meet the mahouts, walk where 22 elephants live.


Today's Visit
Open
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Bathing Time
8:30 – 10:30 AM
Open all 7 days
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22
Elephants in Camp
120+
Years of Heritage
2.4L+
Annual Visitors
15×
Dasara Carries
Karnataka Forest Department

A century with the gentle giants of Tunga.

Sakrebailu Elephant Camp protects 22 elephants — wild-captured kumkis, orphaned calves, temple-handed senior tuskers, and camp-born babies.

Each one rescued, raised, or rehabilitated to live with dignity along the banks of the sacred River Tunga in the heart of the Western Ghats.

22
Residents
6
Wild Origins
15
Dasara Carries
Sagar — wild-captured kumki
Wild-Captured Kumki
Sagar · 40 yrs
Airavatha — orphaned calf
Orphaned Calf
Airavatha · 8 yrs
Keshava — senior temple-handed tusker
Senior Tusker
Keshava · 47 yrs
Dhruva — camp-born calf
Camp-Born Baby
Dhruva · 2.3 yrs
Plan Your Visit

A Morning at Sakrebailu

From sunrise mist to the morning bath — here's how a typical visit unfolds along the sacred banks of the Tunga.

Step 01
08:30 AM

Camp Opens

Arrive early to catch the herd as they walk down to the river. Pick up tickets at the gate.

Step 02
08:30 AM

Morning Bath

Watch elephants splash, scrub, and play in the Tunga — the most magical moment of the day.

Step 03
10:30 AM

Meet the Elephants

Walk through the camp to meet each elephant. Learn their names, ages, and personalities, and see how they live.

Step 04
01:00 PM

Camp Closes

The camp closes at 1:00 PM. Please plan your visit within this timeframe so you don't miss the herd.

Camp Life · ಶಿಬಿರದ ದಿನಚರಿ

A glimpse of Sakrebailu

From the morning bath to the Shivamogga Dasara procession — moments that capture life at the camp.

Shivamogga Dasara procession
Shivamogga Dasara procession
Daily life at the camp
Daily life at the camp
Morning bath in the Tunga
Morning bath in the Tunga
Chamundi
Chamundi
Dasara — gold and tradition
Dasara — gold and tradition
Mahouts and their elephants
Mahouts and their elephants
Thunga — youngest of the herd
Thunga — youngest of the herd
The procession in full glory
The procession in full glory
Walking giants of Sakrebailu
Walking giants of Sakrebailu
Caring for the elephants of Sakrebailu
Find Us

14 km from Shimoga,
on the banks of the Tunga.

Nestled in the Western Ghats, the camp is part of the Sakrebailu reserve forest. The closest railhead is Shimoga (Shivamogga); regular buses and taxis run from Shimoga town. Plan a half-day visit — the morning bath is unmissable.

Address
Sakrebailu, Shivamogga
Karnataka 577 201
Hours
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Open all 7 days
Sakrebailu camp on the Tunga
River Tunga
The Living Camp
Open Today