New Delhi, March 28 -- On the banks of the Kabini, about 250km southeast of Bengaluru, between Nagarahole Tiger Reserve and Bandipur National Park, the landscape is a mix of grassy shore, shrubbery and swathes of dense forest. The gently flowing river is the lifeline for the region and is revered by the local communities. Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge tries to blend in with the surroundings with its rustic walls and cane-reinforced straw roofs inspired by the indigenous Kadu Kuruba tribe, while the colours and textures are drawn from the landscape.

Flanked by two national parks that form a part of the ecologically diverse but also sensitive Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and watched closely by environmentalists, the resort is at pains to w...