Dandeli is a small town, but it promises to whet your passion for the outdoors with a number of adrenaline rushing water sports, treks through the wild forests and rappelling over the hill tops. You will be spoilt for choice with the number of activities you can indulge in and the excursions around town that Dandeli offers for you. The place is more than ever special to bird lovers and nature enthusiasts. Dandeli is tailor made with places where you could just unwind and relax, far from the scramble of city life.

There are so many things you can do in Dandeli and our list is just a few of them. Go on and explore the town to find out what more it has to offer!

The River Kali or Kali Nadi flows all the way from Diggi village of the Western Ghats of Karnataka, flowing on the southern side of Dandeli along to Karwar, before it joins the Arabian Sea, about 180 km on its way. Kali,which is the primary river of Dandeli, meandering through most chief parts of the town, is home to the most trendy water sporting activities that draw tourists to Dandeli. You can go white water rafting, coracle riding, kayaking, raft boating or then try the exclusive river crossing or Zorbing!

If you are an avid fan of avifauna, Dandeli is the place to be, especially in late winter and early summer. Take a trip to the forests where the fruit trees are. You can spot a number of birds like varieties of Hornbills, Orange Minivets, Babblers, Little Spider Hunters, Tits, Woodpeckers and a number of Songbirds. Armed with a camera and lots of patience, you’d have a great time in the forests of Dandeli watching the birds.

The Karnataka Forest Department manages the Kulgi Nature Camp. It’s a jungle camp which offers accommodation in log huts, dormitories and tents in the middle of the jungle, as well arranging wildlife safaris, bird watching, nature walks, mountain biking and treks inside the forest. Buffet meals are offered at the Golghar restaurant inside the camp. Trips by jeep or trekking are usually arranged by these camps, and a guide will accompany to tell you about the best places to visit and the areas that are the frequent haunts of wild animals and birds. Trips are arranged to Kavala Caves, Sykes Point, Syntheri Rocks and Siroli Peak that lie in close vicinity to the Camp.

Kulgi Nature Camp is at Kulgi, about 12 km from Dandeli.

Trekking is one of the most popular modes of exploring the beautiful regions of Dandeli. You can trek off to the most interesting Kavala Cave Trek, Kulgi-Nagazari Valley Deep Jungle Trek, which is quite an exciting one since most of the trek trail lies midstream and the preferable time to go on this trek is post monsoon, when you can escape the leeches. Carry lemon and salt to get rid of the blood suckers and wear ankle length boots. But all worth the trouble, for the treks promise the most beautiful delights wherever you go, with only the dense rich foliage, trickling streams and the chirping of birds to keep you company!

Dandeli has some of the most beautiful waterfalls ever! Surrounded by a pristine solitude, distracted only by the sound of the waters that gush over the rocks, the waterfalls of Dandeli are a must see in your itinerary. Do visit the Sathodi Falls, and the Magod Falls which forms a 200 m fall from the river Bedti near Yellapur. You could also visit the Dudhsagar or Sea of Milk waterfalls on the Karnataka –Goa border. Formed by the Mandovi River, the four tier waterfall is one of nature’s marvels at its best. Treks or tours are arranged from Dandeli to Dudhsagar.

Dandeli is a potpourri of cultural integrity, so you would probably find a number of festivals being celebrated around in the little town. Apart from the mainstream festivals like Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Ram Leela or Diwali, Dandeli celebrates its Hornbills. February gears up bright and beautiful to celebrate the annual Hornbill Festival organised by Karnataka Forest and Tourism Departments. It is a two day festival that invites bird lovers from all over. Discussions on bird life and forest conservation and the role played by people on nature nurture are held and there are bird watching treks to make it more exciting.

You would find a number of lodges in Dandeli that offer a comfortable stay on budget accommodations. Otherwise there are resorts in the forests and beside the river Kali that present a cosy stay that is also exciting since it’s in the midst of nature. Wake up to the calls of the birds and the cries of the animals, go on Jungle safaris and nature walks organised by the resort and spend the evening watching the sun set over a camp fire and a barbeque dinner! Most of the resorts offer adventure tours and outdoor camps and that’s going to be cool for the perfect holidays!