Dandeli- Resting in the Lap of Nature

  At last, it was the turn of our much awaited trip to Dandeli. Dandeli is a town located in the Uttara Kannada district and is a part of the Western Ghats, which is one of the bio-diversity hotspots in the world. Dandeli is home to some of the finest forests and rarest species of flora and fauna. Dandeli's major tourism activities include the very popular water sports of white water rafting in the Kali rapids, Kayaking, Coracle Ride, Rappelling, Jacuzzi Bath, Angling, Nature Walks, Trekking, Jungle Safari, and Bird Watching. Dandeli proves to be one of the best getaways for nature lovers and adventurers.

The Sun Rise

Road to Destiny

  Our journey started  as we watched a  few playful river terns by a lake near Haliyal, thus guaranteeing a great bird watching ahead.  The list of birds sighted only grew with our journey. Due to lack of time, we chose bird-watching over white water rafting and enjoyed the hours we walked through the jungle and spotted birds.  My wife was doubly excited as we went on to spot the Thrush and Hornbill with the help of our guide and a great bird spotter, Hanumanthu.

Playful River Tern

Indian Magpie Robin

Brown Capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Black Lored Tit

Dense Forest

   The list of birds sighted is as follows- Scarlet Minivet (pair), White Throated Thrush, Greater Racket Tailed Drongo, Common Iora, Marshall's Iora, Greater Flame Back, Common Flame Back, Wood Swallow, Crested Serpent Eagle, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Blue Winged Leafbird, Golden Fronted Leafbird, White Rumped Shama, Great Tit, Black Lored Tit, Barn Swallow, Ashy Drongo, Black Drongo, White Throated Fan Tail, Brown Capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Streak Throated Woodpecker, Hill Myna, Sun Bird, Magpie Robin, Fly Catcher.

Malabar Pied Hornbill

Clipper

Camouflaged Gecko

 Our trip was arranged by Dandeli.com. Dandeli.com is a first official travel website on Dandeli, launched to help travelers visiting Dandeli. In response to the incoming requests and inquiries about Dandeli, and with increasing popularity of the website, a thought of starting a resort arose and the result was, Dandeli Jungle Camp. DJC is located at Pradhani, a village situated on the Dandeli-Karwar Road and is professionally and jointly run by Mr.Sanjay and Mr.Ramnath.  DJC being nestled in deep wooded surroundings overshadows the feeling of being in a resort. The resort being so close to nature, has been designed with the sole purpose of providing the best facilities at affordable prices, without stealing away from mother nature. For further details, contact Ramnath-9900547763, Sanjay-9448797270 or e-mail at: dandelitours@gmail.com.

Tents pitched in the Resort

Spotted

   The staff at the resort are most hospitable, humble and helpful. Accommodation is comfortable with the basic facilities being made available. The food was simple and tasty. The place is quite rustic and is perfect for people who wish to be with nature. Overall, our stay was pleasant and we surely wish to visit Dandeli again and again! Our first time experience at Dandeli will always remain close to our hearts and by far is the most enjoyed bird watching trips ever.

Malabar Giant Squirrel

 Why Dandeli : Dandeli is amongst the most densest of  forests in India with a thick canopy of evergreen trees, making it difficult for light to pass through. River Kali, the life line of Dandeli provides ample opportunities for water adventure sports and  is internationally acclaimed for White Water Rafting. Dandeli is one of the very few places in India where black panthers roam and are sighted regularly. The bird life here is so diverse that we were spellbound at the varieties of birds we spotted in just a few hours. During our visit, we met two bird- watchers from Maharashtra who also acknowledged the same. Dandeli Jungle camp, located amidst the forests gives one an opportunity to explore nature closely. Places worth exploring around Dandeli  include Syntheri Rocks, Kavala Caves, Ulavi caves, Supa Backwaters, and Ganesh Gudi.

Indian Wild Bison

Syntheri Rocks

Ulavi Caves

  Heartfelt thanks to Rajesh, Sanjay, Ramnath, Dharmesh, Hanumanthu, Mahesh and all involved in making our trip memorable.Though this was our first visit to Dandeli, our enchanting experiences here crossed the limit of our expectations by a great margin. It was quite thrilling and much refreshing.We'd like to believe there are many places in Dandeli that are waiting to be explored. Dandeli promises much more than just the water sports and adventure activities. It is a treasure trove of nature with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Panoramic View of Supa Backwaters

Suggested Readings:
1 Huchchara Santhe
2 A Wandering Mind
3 Travel with Neelima
4 Be on the road with Sankara