The drive from Mysore to Kabini is one of the most rewarding 80 km stretches of road in South India. It takes you through small Karnataka towns, along the edge of the Hunsur coffee belt, and eventually into the teak forests that signal the beginning of the wildlife corridor between Nagarhole and Bandipur.
The route
Mysore → Ring Road → NH 275 to Hunsur → SH 57 to HD Kote → Kabini. Google Maps will try to route you via Mysore-Ooty Road — ignore this and take the HD Kote road via Hunsur instead. It's wider, better maintained, and passes through more interesting terrain.
Best stops along the way
Hunsur (35 km from Mysore): A busy market town. Good for a coffee stop and fuel. If you're arriving on a Tuesday or Friday, there's a weekly cattle market that's worth a quick detour.
K Gudi (Jungle Lodges junction): About 65 km in, the road forks. Bear left toward HD Kote. This stretch has the heaviest wildlife activity — drive slowly, especially between 6–8 AM.
HD Kote town: The last proper town before Kabini. ATM (SBI and Canara Bank), pharmacies, a government hospital, and several small restaurants. Stock up on cash here.
Why leave early
If you're coming from Mysore, leave by 7 AM. The wildlife activity on the HD Kote road is highest from dawn until about 9 AM. Elephants crossing the road are common. Leaving early also means arriving in time for a late breakfast — exactly when you want to arrive at Kabini Kaanana.
What to carry
Fuel: Fill up in Mysore or Hunsur. There are no petrol stations in the last 10 km.
Cash: ATMs end at HD Kote.
Offline maps: Download the HD Kote and Kabini region on Google Maps before you leave — connectivity is intermittent on the forest road.
Warm layer: Kabini mornings and evenings are cool, especially October through February.