Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

Location :Kannada District of Karnataka
Coverage area : 5729.07 sq. kms
Main attraction :
Best time to visit :October to April
Nearby excursions : Anshi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kavala Caves, Molangi Falls
Nearby cities :Karwar

The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary finds its home in the Uttar Kannada district of the state of Karnataka. It lies in the Western Ghats region and hence it is blooming with rich biodiversity. Area wise, it is the second largest sanctuary. However, the exotic creatures found here are second to none. Situated on the banks of River Kali, it is surrounded by majestic hills and thick

forests of the Uttara Kannada district.

The park is a serene area, abundant with the Flora and fauna that contributes to the beauty of the region. Dandeli National Park and Anshi National Park got the status of Project Tiger Reserve, this wide area of the two parks combined is known as Anshi Dandeli Tiger Reserve. This area is amongst the most uninterrupted protected forest zone.

Location of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

The region is spread over 834.16 sq.km. It is located in the Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka. It is located between 15:30 N and 74?23? E.

Geographical landscape

The sanctuary has a different altitude ranging from 100m to 970m in height. The forest type is evergreen and deciduous forests.

Climatic conditions

Dandeli experiences heavy rainfalls in the monsoon seasons of June to September. While in the summers the temperature reaches 33?C and it faces a low of 26?C in the winter months. The climate is pleasant throughout the year.

Best time to visitDandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

The best time to visit would be from October to April. However, the months of December to February is when you will experience Dandeli at its best, for the weather is pleasant and cold. Bird lovers should visit Dandeli in October to November as this is the best time to experience the birds of Dandeli.

Nearby wildlife sanctuaries

Anshi National Park
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Mundigekere Bird Sanctuary
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary
Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
Attiveri Bird Sanctuary
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

The flora

The exotic flora is the main reason why so many animals dwell in this region; the rich vegetation allows them to live peacefully in this area. Bamboo and teak trees are abundant. There are many creepers, trees, shrubs and plants in this region. You will find trees of Eucalyptus, Tectona Grandis, Adina Cordifolia, Acacia, Xylia, orchids, etc. You will also find Jamun, Mango, Behda, Fern, etc. in abundance here.

The fauna

You will find a variety of animals and birds in this area. The animals are in abundance, and with the efforts of the Tiger Reserve Project, the count of tigers here has gone up from 13 to 40. This place is home to the Elephant, Leopard, Guar, Tigers, Sloth Bears, Barking Deer, the black panther, The Indian pangolin, the Malabar Giant Squirrel, Indian Bison, Spotted Deer, Malabar Civet, etc. Many reptiles are dwelling in Dandeli which include the viper, rat snake, King Cobra, Python, etc.

The area is a heaven for bird lovers. Many types of birds are spotted in and around the sanctuary area. There are around 200 species of birds found here. Some of the birds found here are the Blue Throated Barbet, Peregrine Falcon, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Peafowl, Woodpeckers (Rufous, White Bellied, Brown Capped Pygmy, Yellow Crowned), Kingfishers, Cuckoo, Drongo, Bulbul, Jungle Babbler, etc.

Distance of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary from major cities:

Hubli, 65 km
Belgaum, 86 km
Bangalore, 456 km
Mumbai, 581 km
Ahmedabad, 1090 km
Chennai, 809 km
Kochi, 902 km
Hyderabad, 560 km
Indore, 1034 km
Delhi, 1984 km
Chandigarh, 2220 km"

How to reach the National park ?

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Airways

The Nearest Airport to Dandeli is the Hubli airport which is around 75 km away from the Sanctuary. There are other airports not too far away, including Belgaum, Goa and Bangalore. From any of these airports, you can take a bus or book a car service to get to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.

Railways

The Alnavar railway station is around 32 km away from Dandeli, while you can also get down at the other stations like Londa, Dharwad and Hubli, all of these are less than 100 kms away from Dandeli. There are usually bus stations right outside railway stations so you can opt for buses or you can book a car service to get you to Dandeli.

Roadways

The road is well connected from various cities and towns like Bangalore, Goa, Hubli. At any of these places, you can easily book a bus service or a car service.

Accommodation facilities

Since Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in a hotspot of Wildlife Sanctuaries, there are many places resorts and hotels in and around the area which are close to the Sanctuary. Some of the places you can stay at are:

Outside the park

Hornbill Resort, 28 km
Panther Stay Jungle Resort, 2 km
Jungle Nest Resort, 2 km
Bison River Resort, 20 km
Whistling Woodz Resort, 24 km

Things to do

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary has a lot to offer to tourists. For the Wildlife enthusiasts, there are Safaris available throughout the day. You can enjoy a jungle safari between 6 am to 9 am or between 3 pm to 6 pm. From 1st July to 30th September is the best time to visit since the Safaris are open to all in this time. The park is open in October to June.

Since the river Kali surrounds Dandeli, you can always go for River Rafting. There are treks and bird watching tours organised by local tour guides which are available. The Anshi Wildlife Sanctuary is a neighbour to the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary; it can be your next trip destination. The Kavala Caves are around 25 kms away from Dandeli; it is a beautiful destination where you'll get to know more about the caves and the history of India. The Syntheri Rock resides in the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary; it is a 300 ft tall rock which stands as a great tourist destination in the Sanctuary.