Dandeli, Karnataka, India Options

[imjagdish]

Hi ppl,
Recently, I visited Dandeli in Karnataka. I recommend this place for a 2-3 day outing. It's a wonderful place particularly if u r interested in wildlife. Dont have the pics handy, but will post in a few days/ weeks .. The foll things makes it pretty interesting.

Coracle Ride: Probably the most exciting of all the activities. You are taken in a coracle (a small boat made of bamboo) through the river Kali for about 3 km. After about a km from the start, starts crocodile territorry..u get to see them around basking in the sun...u can also see a lot of migratory birds around.

Jungle Safari: Takes u into the dry decidous forests of Kulgi forest. U have to be really lucky to spot wildlife. Tigers, Black Panther (speciality of this forest), leopard, Indian Gaur, elephants to name a few. I saw a tiger when i visited this forest about 12 yrs back .They used to have a night safari then..Stopped it after Sanjay Dutt was caught poaching deer. Anyways, you r also taken to Kavala caves where there is a shiv ling made of natural rocks. Beware, these caves which extend for kilometers may have some big cats hiding inside. The sunset view from outside the caves is wonderful too.

Syntheri Rocks: A huge monolith of granite.

White Water Rafting: The only place south of the himalayas for white water rafting. 4 hrs of pure fun and adventure.

Places to stay:
1. Jungle Lodges and Resorts (preferably the tents for the ambience)..well equipped with attached toilets.
2. Hornbill resorts: A bit expensive, but have heard that their tents on the tree tops are great.
3. Bison Resorts.

I recommend Jungle Lodges and resorts.. Will post the pics soon.

[Mandrake]

Wow!! Dandeli!!! Good ol' memories

The son of the forest ranger in 1982 was my hostel-mate. We all went and stayed in his HUGE 17-roomed bungalow. Took bicycles and rode (I think) 26 km uphill-downhill to Syntheri Rocks... got caught in brambles and had a torn shirt... 17 out of 22 guys got dead drunk... luckily the female ACP was also visiting the same spot for some official work... dumped those 22 fellas in her minitruck... rode back dead tired.... slept in the middle of the road for 5-5 min breaks as the uphill ride was a killer... had a puncture 10 km from civilization... held hand of the pillion rider of a passing scooterist and got thankfully 'dragged' home at 9 in the night on that punctured bicycle...

....dandeli.... won't froget you ever