FAQs
Where exactly is Dandeli located?
Dandeli is a small town found in the Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka. It falls under the Western Ghat region.
How do I get there?
By road: Dandeli is easily accessible from cities like Bangalore and Mumbai. The most preferred and an efficient route from Bangalore to Dandeli is through Dharwad. It is a 7 hour drive covering 462 kms. You will be following the national highway upto Dharwad after which it is a 1 hour drive to Dandeli covering 57 kms. En route, the roads in Dharwad begin to narrow and are bordered by belts of lush green without any hairpin turns. If you're a lover of green and tranquility this one should make the list.
From Mumbai, it takes around 10 hours to get to Dandeli via NH48. If you're a biker,the route to dandeli is heartening!
By bus: There are frequent government and private buses to Dandeli from Bangalore even at the nick of time with convenient boarding points, dropping off to CMC complex or Dandeli Bus Stand in about 9 hours.
There are no direct buses to Dandeli from Mumbai. However,you can take a day bus to Dharwad (460 kms) followed by a taxi (56 kms) to Dandeli.
By train: Although there aren't any direct trains available from Bangalore to Dandeli, you can take a 'Jan Shatabdi' from Bangalore City Railway Station to Alnavar and then a taxi to Dandeli.
There are no direct trains to Dandeli from Mumbai either. However, you can take a day train to Londa (535 kms) and then a taxi (52 kms) to Dandeli.
By Air:
There are no direct flights to Dandeli as the region does not have an airport. As such, if you want to travel by air, the nearest major airport to Dandeli is at Hubli. From here, Dandeli is around 77 kms away.
When is the best time to visit Dandeli?
Though the ideal time to visit Dandeli would be during winters (October-March) or summers (April-June), the monsoons (July-September) also bring out Dandeli's scenic beauty. However, if you're a wildlife enthusiast or want to engage in water activities, time your visit sometime between October and March.
What are the main attractions?
Things to see:
Syntheri rocks: A small water fall of the Kali River flowing swiftly on a huge rock surrounded by plenty of green trees,shrubs and rocks.
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary: Dandeli is known to home a lot of black panthers. Apart from that the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary houses tigers, Indian jackals and an elephant reserve.
Sykes point: A famous sightseeing spot, Sykes point serves a spectacular view of the thick forest hills, valleys and waters of the Kali.
Things to do:
Water Sports: Kali River is the heart of Dandeli tourism. It hosts a variety of watersports like white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, etc.
Bird Watching: Photographers can surely catch glimpses of the Great Hornbill, a rare forest bird variety. Speckled Piculet, Brown-capped Pigmy, Greater and Common Flameback woodpeckers are some others.
Camping: There are several camping sites in Dandeli. Kali adventure camp and Dandeli jungle camp are two popular ones.
Other adventure activities: Outdoor adventure activities like mountain biking, rappelling, zip-lining, jungle safaris, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, etc. are popular among tourists looking for an adrenaline fix.
What to eat and where?
Although the locals of Dandeli do not follow a restricted cuisine, delicacies like samosas, kachoris, akki roti, jolada roti, Mysore pak, etc. are favourites. Though there aren't many stand-alone eateries around the region, there are a couple of resorts that offer good food for the weary traveler. Among these are Bison River Resort and Amara Homestay, both of which promise a sumptuous meal.