Learn more

Back to Accommodation
Accommodation

Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge

Nagarhole, India
Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge — hotel photograph
Sitting in the southwestern corner of Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka, the individual lodges at Evolve Back Karuba are authentically designed using inspiration from the ‘hadis’ settlements of the indigenous Kadu Kurubas people.

Built with traditional materials and craftsmanship, the buildings blend seamlessly into the beauty of the landscape yet offer all the comforts of modern hotel rooms. The 20 lodges all boast a calming décor that reflects the earthy tones of the structural materials, adding colour and texture with traditional, tribally patterned furnishings. Four-poster beds, draped with the sheerest of white fabrics, set the tone throughout.

The lodges are bathed in natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, while the bathrooms open onto small courtyards allowing you to bathe to the sound of the surrounding birdsong. A private outdoor courtyard and pool add to the sense of privacy and space here. The hotel has an onsite ayurvedic spa, two large outside pools, a sundowner deck and reading lounge, all taking advantage of the far-reaching views across the Kurubu backwaters. Both its restaurants sit riverside, making the most of the panoramic vistas and fabulous sunsets. The Honey Comb offers a broad range of regional and international dishes, while the Kuruba Grill specialises in kebabs and grills.

Luxury hotel gallery image
Luxury hotel gallery image — gallery photograph 2
Luxury hotel gallery image — gallery photograph 3
Luxury hotel gallery image — gallery photograph 4
Luxury hotel gallery image — gallery photograph 5

What we love

    • Floating in the infinity pool as the sun sets over the distant river is the perfect end to a day exploring the national park.
    • There is little more romantic that the private dining experience offered here: floating on the Kabini River on a candle-lit traditional boat while enjoying the highlights of the regional cuisine.
    • Vaidayasala is the hotel’s ayurvedic spa where ancient therapeutic treatments provided under the thatched roof, with doors open to the gentle background noises from the surrounding national park, offer a truly indulgent experience.
What we love — gallery photograph
What we love — gallery photograph 2
What we love — gallery photograph 3
What we love — gallery photograph 4
Whilst the hotel is child friendly, there are certain areas that are adults only, including the large infinity pool but there is a separate family pool where kids of all ages can relax and play The small plunge pools at the hotel are not heated year-round, in line with the environmentally friendly policies of the hotel
The hotel welcomes children and can offer additional beds and cots on request. There is a separate family pool, with specific child safe zones for toddlers. The chef is happy to provide bespoke meals for children, on request, to keep all younger guests happy. An onsite activity centre offers games and adventure ideas for children

Evolve Back is known for its blend of luxury with sustainable and eco-friendly practices. From the environmentally friendly design of its lodges to its energy efficiency and water conservation methods, it makes every effort to lead the way on sustainable luxury tourism. The hotel supports local communities by sourcing as much of the organic, locally grown kitchen produce as possible from local farms and investing in construction and décor materials from the surrounding region.

It is also invested in welfare programmes for the local tribal communities. The hotel collaborates with conservation programmes within the National Park and organises safaris by boat and vehicle to promote awareness about the wildlife preservation efforts in the region.

Sitting in the southwestern corner of this 664 sq km national park, the hotel is the perfect base for both boat and jeep safaris. The hotel is 90km (just under a two-hour drive) from the nearest airport at Mysore.

What our travellers say

We went to Sri Lanka as a three-generation family of three. The superb trip was organised by Samanthie and the team and it's difficult to see how it could have been bettered.
Roy Wood (February 2026)
Red Dot organised the most wonderful 3-week holiday for us. Samanthie built a trip around the amazing sights we had requested visiting, together with her own suggestions and a wide mix of hotels, which gave us the flavours of both traditional Sri Lanka and the sleek, stylish contemporary version of the country. Our Driver made the whole experience incredibly special for us.
Alie C (February 2026)
I can’t thank Cherylle and the Red Dot team enough for their meticulous planning of our family holiday to India travelling through Rajasthan over Christmas. As a family of all adults, every suggestion from daily activities to hotel choices was simply perfect. We travelled through Delhi, Ranthambore (an unforgettable tiger safari!), Jaipur and Agra and I truly feel we experienced the very best of each destination while moving at a relaxed, well thought out pace
Daisy Stanton (February 2026)
My partner arranged a holiday trip at fairly short notice to Sri Lanka with Red Dot on a recommendation, Samanthie was so patient & helpful with her suggested itinerary which we followed with some minor amendments. On arrival at Colombo we met Manjula our chauffeur/guide who was absolutely brilliant!
Andrew S (February 2026)
Dulmini and the Red Dot Team arranged a fantastic trip for us around Assam and North East India. Faultless service. I cannot recommend them more highly.
Martin Thomas (February 2026)
Wonderful company. Our holiday in Sri Lanka was perfect. Local knowledge made all the difference
Sandra Nicholson  (February 2026)
We looked up, and communicated with umpteen tour operators. Though Red Dot seemed to have offices in Sri Lanka and the UK, they seemed to have the best reviews. We were fortunate enough to correspond with Cherylle, who not only assured us of the safety of our friend, but created a personalised, and flexible, itinerary which we could not have done ourselves.
Jayant Banerji (February 2026)
A 14-day tour with Red Dot Tours was the perfect antidote to the bleak UK winter. After a glowing recommendation from a friend, we contacted Red Dot Tours and were not disappointed. Our consultant, Lahiru, curated a seamless itinerary. Throughout the planning phase, Lahiru was incredibly responsive; the final itinerary—delivered via a user-friendly 'Guest Portal'—was impressively detailed, covering every hotel stay and excursion.
Phil Blair ( February 2026)
Traveller testimonial from Roy Wood (February 2026)

Choose your adventure

Speak to one of our team to get started. After all, your travel journal won’t write itself.

Let's get planning
Plan a tailor-made Red Dot holiday