Dandeli- Things To Do And Places To Visit

Dandeli is a splendid town situated on the banks of the river Kali in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. Popularly known as” Adventure Capital Of Karnataka “ sits at 1551 ft above sea level amid the greenery-filled Western Ghats. With striking streams, diversified wildlife, exquisite nature, numerous trekking trails, and daring water activities make this a dream destination for nature-lovers and adventure freaks.

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Things To Do And Places To Visit In Dandeli

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

Steep slopes, deep valleys, and thick forest covering 834.16 sq km make the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. This is also the 2nd largest sanctuary in Karnataka. A wide variety of flora and fauna found in this place makes this a hotspot among wildlife photographers.

This sanctuary is home to some of the rarest species like Black panthers, Giant Malabar Squirrels, and Barking Deers. In addition to it, there are tigers, leopards, bison, pangolins, wild dogs, gaur, sloth bears, elephants, langur, and jackals,

This is possibly one of the best places to spot birds and it is home to 200 plus bird spices. You can spot birds like Malabar pied Hornbill, kingfishers, Malabar parakeets, peregrine falcons, woodpeckers, Blue-throated barbets, and Indian lorikeets.

You can see thousands of photographers hopping in every year to capture the unparalleled beauty of these creatures.

River Rafting In Dandeli

Indeed, you can tell rafting experience in the river Kali is one of the best in the whole of South India. Rafting circuit stretches for over 12kms with grade 2 and 3 rapids that are ideal for both professionals as well as amateurs.

Some of the famous rafting rapids in Dandeli are Snuggler’s Trove, Adi’s beard, Stanley’s squeeze, and the stitch circuit.

Apart from this, Dandeli is also known for adventure sports like kayaking, angling, jungle safaris, rappelling, trekking, nature walks, and night camping that is sure to thrill any individual.

Sykes Point

This is a popular viewpoint in Dandeli and it is named after a British engineer “Sykes” who discovered it. Sykes point offers the best view of silently flowing river Kali, deep valley, and hillocks with lush green forest. Above all, birds flocking their way towards home as the Sun hides behind the mountains is a great sight to watch.

Kavala Caves

Kavala is a limestone cave that is formed by volcanic activities that happened millions of years ago. These caves with winding tunnels can be reached by climbing 375 steps. Inside the cave, there is a huge Stalagmite in the shape of Shivling that attracts thousands of devotees every year. Be careful as you crawl through the cave entrance that is pitch dark. Also, be beware of snakes and bats that live here,

Syntheri Rocks

Deep inside the Dandeli sanctuary, near the river Kali, there is a monolithic gigantic limestone rock called Syntheri rocks. These rocky structures are formed due to the volcanic activities that took place millions of years ago. There are about 400 steps to reach the top of the structure and it offers the best panoramic view of the whole Dandeli valley.

Shiroli Peak

Shiroli peak in Western ghats is the highest point in Dandeli and it can only be reached through a trek. This trek has multiple routes that lead you to the top. Trekking is a little harder and dangerous as you need to hike through the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary. But it is totally worth climbing as the view of Western ghats and Dandeli town is simply superb.

Supa Dam

Supa is an earthen dam built across river Kali in Joida taluk of Uttara Kannada. This dam is 101 meters in height and 332 meters in length. It has a catchment area of 1000 sq acres with a storage capacity of 145 ( thousand million cubic feet). Renowned for its hydroelectricity plant as the powerhouse at the foot of the dam generates 100 MW. And the electricity generated is supplied to different parts of Karnataka. Apart from this, the banks of the Supa dam also acts as a perfect picnic spot for travelers.

So, what are you waiting for? Just decide the dates, pack your backpacks, and take your friends on an adventurous journey to Dandeli. Get ready to roll.

Do you have any unforgettable experiences? Then share your memorable stories in the comment section below.