Dubare is a Forest Department elephant camp on the banks of the Kaveri river, about 30km from Madikeri. Many of the elephants used in Mysore's Dasara festival are trained here, and visitors can watch the morning bath and feeding routines or — for a small fee — help scrub down an elephant in the river.
To reach the camp from the main road, you cross the river by coracle, the round basket-shaped boats traditional to the South. It is touristy, but the elephants themselves are healthier and better cared for than at most other such operations. Visit in the morning when the animals are out; by afternoon they are deep in the forest.