In Nature’s lap
WILD HOLIDAY Forget the beach and hill station. Look at doing something different at Dandeli. ANJANA SANKAR
It is that time of the year when we creep into the holiday mood and start planning a long desired trip. Dandeli is an ideal resort for those in love with nature and adventure. Approximately 125 km from Goa and located along the banks of the Kali with the Western Ghats as a backdrop, the peak season is from October to June.
We travelled from Bangalore (about 480 km) and had a great lunch at the resort. In the evening we went for jeep safari and spotted many wild animals and birds in the sanctuary. Even a poet would find it difficult to describe the spectacular sunset from the mountain top.
The drive back was even more adventurous. Imagine hearing the unique sounds of Nature while driving through a dark forest with only the jeep lights showing the way. At night, we had a huge campfire and games. Even amid all the fun , we could sense that we were right there in the lap of nature.
The best day was when we went for white water rafting in the Kali. Those who enjoy adventure sports must try this at least once. With adequate safety measures and training, you only have to worry about getting the maximum fun out of the ride. I was the only girl to happily float with my life jacket on the calm waters (others feared the crocs in the water).
After five hours of rafting, we went on a crocodile trek on native *coracles’ down the river to spot a few crocs, birds and water snakes too. Rappelling down a high steep cliff is a high-on-action sport for those immune to ‘Altophobia’ (fear of heights). Being suspended from a single rope and looking down on the world makes you feel on top.
Even the most casual activity at Dandeli, like a jungle trek, feels like an extraordinary experience. It’s sometimes great to forget your regular beach vacations and do something different.
- Where is it: 125 km from Goa; 117 km from Karwar; 95 km from Belgaum; 75 km from Hubli; 57 km from Dharwad; 481 km from Bangalore
- How to get there: By train from Bangalore or Bombay, alight at Londa or Dharwad/Hubli Railway Station and then by road for one-and-a-half hours.By road, Dandeli is well connected to Bangalore, Bombay, Goa, Belgaum, Karwar and Dharwad/Hubli by road. By air, Goa is about two and a half hours from Dandeli and is well-connected by air. Air Deccan has recently started flights to Hubli, from where Dandeli is about one and a half hours away.
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Having read about the article describing dandeli,we are inclined to visit the place. As we are always thirsty of adventures it would be a hotpick in this monotonous stressed out life. Further it would be heartwarming experience to enjoy the beauty of the nature which is out of the reach in this technology driven world. As we Indians should be proud to have got such oppurtunities to be in tune with nature.