Introduction to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Kali Adventure Camp
Though just 100 km from Goa, Dandeli is mostly absent from the travel itineraries of Indian and foreign tourists. Whenever I ask my foreign friends about their India tour, they mention Varanasi, Hampi, Goa, Dharamshala, Amritsar, Jaipur, Spiti Valley, Kerala, but never do they speak about Dandeli wildlife sanctuary. Even most of the Indian travelers visiting South India don’t have Dandeli in their list of places to visit in Karnataka.
What is to be seen in Dandeli? What is Kali Adventure Camp?
Dandeli is a city in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India.
I have spoken in detail about the Dandeli town in my article on Dandeli Jungle Camp where I stayed deep inside the Dandeli forest. But to give you an idea, Dandeli city is located in the Western Ghats, and the entire surrounding area of Dandeli is a forest.
This 1200 square km forest is known as Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary or Dandeli National park, which is also known to be the second-largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. Kali Tiger Reserve, that was previously known as Anshi National Park or Anshi Tiger Reserve, is part of the Dandeli Sanctuary. The sanctuary is now under the protection of the Karnataka government.
As Dandeli lies in the Western Ghats, you can expect the forest to be dense and hilly. From a high viewpoint in the Dandeli wildlife safari that I took later, I saw how thick the forest was.
The sunlight never reaches some parts of the forest, our guides from the Kali Adventure resort told us. I didn’t doubt them for I saw cauliflower-florets-like trees standing neck to neck fighting for space and air on all the rolling hills of Dandeli sanctuary. From that far, I didn’t see even an inch of empty ground.
I couldn’t even spot the Kali river though I knew it was nearby. After all, I had just come to the jungle after crossing Kali.
Kali River, Dandeli (Also known as Kali Nadi in Hindi)
The Kali river or Kali nadi flows through the Uttara or North Karnataka for about 184 km before falling off into the mighty Arabian sea. The origin of river Kali is said to be Diggi, a small village in North Karnataka.
But why the name Kali? The river has been named Kali, a Hindi and Kannada word that means black, for its dark color that is attributed to the manganese-rich river bed.
[ I wonder how the other rivers have lost their black color for during the formation of the earth all the water bodies had rich iron deposits as those were the first places where the organisms made oxygen and iron started depositing. Do watch the BBC documentary on the making of the earth.]
Over the years, river Kali has been one of the main life resources for the people of Karnataka, much like many other life-giving rivers around the world.
On my Dandeli trip, when I was idyllically cruising through the Kali river in the lap of a bamboo coracle, I saw a group of local women washing their clothes and utensils in the river water. As expected, a familiar chatter seemed to envelop the group even from far.
Though I have heard that the paper mills and wood industries have been throwing their toxic waste in Kali for decades, the women didn’t seem to worry about the cleanliness of the water.
I have a picture of those women busy in their domestic activities but I wouldn’t post that photo here. Instead of earning some brownie points from my readers, I would rather choose to keep the relaxed demeanors of the locals a secret.
But instead of complaining about water quality, I am happy that people of Dandeli have free-flowing water. When I visited Pushkar last year, the villagers told me that they get water for about forty-five minutes once every two days. In another contrast, hidden places like the Belligundi falls of Sharavathi valley are overflowing with water throughout the year.
Soon, even other parts of the world would suffer from water scarcity like Rajasthan does for water is depleting throughout the world.
What contrasts!
Kali looked overflowing with water from the comfort of that coracle and even from my hammock in the Kali Adventure camp. But I am told that the river has to cross many dams before passing through Dandeli.
One of the many important dams is the Supa dam at Ganeshgudi. It is this dam whose gates have to be opened before people can go white river rafting in Dandeli.
As we are on the topic, let me tell you that only the Kali adventure camp is authorized to do rafting at Dandeli. You might book your rafting experience from any one of the Dandeli resorts or hotels in Dandeli, they will eventually bring you to Kali resort to take you for rafting.
River rafting is one of the popular things to do in Dandeli, and, somehow, I didn’t get a chance to raft.
I hadn’t booked Dandeli river rafting before; I didn’t find enough courage at the last minute for the rafting videos I watched assured me that I would definitely fall into the mouths of Kali. But I would raft the next time I go to Dandeli for what is life without a little risk and adventure.
Also, life jackets aren’t a hoax. And no matter how much I try to convince you, don’t believe that you can drown while wearing a life jacket.
There are about six Kali river rapids near Dandeli that thrill the adventure seekers. But everybody gets their adrenaline by different activities, and I was high on something else.
And that would be the nature that the Kali resort was packed with.
Suggested Read: Another nature-filled waterbody to hang out around – The gorgeous Lake Inle in Burma
More about Kali Adventure Camp, Dandeli – One of the best jungle resorts at Dandeli
Kali adventure camp comes up on the internet under various names. So if you read Kali resort or Kali river resort or Kali jungle resort or Kali Wilderness Camp or Kali camp resort, Dandeli — please assume that the same place — Kali Adventure Camp — is talked about.
Kali adventure camp is one such property where I enjoyed nature and the forest of Dandeli as if I was at home while being in the jungle.
Crocodiles, hornbills, birds, Malabar squirrels (thankfully no big cats) were right in my backyard, and I could relax in the hammock or sit in the porch outside my hut to see life go by.
Kali River Resort, owned and run by the Karnataka government in collaboration with Dandeli Karnataka Tourism, is different from the Dandeli Jungle Camp which is private property. While the jungle camp is a rustic stay, Kali Jungle resort is a comparatively luxurious stay right at the banks of Kali nadi.
The Kali resort’s huts are part concrete wherein tents are affixed on the top to form comfortable camps. A hammock right in front of my hut completed the green setting.
Kali camps are best suited for families, couples, or solo travelers who are looking for adventure in a comfortable way. Almost everything would be arranged for you while you can soak in the wild Karnataka.
[You must have heard of Jungle Lodges – a project of the government of Karnataka. As part of this initiative, the government has made lodges throughout Karnataka within the deep forest. Kali adventure camp is the Jungle Lodge of Dandeli.]
As soon as you arrive at the camp, you get a kokum drink that is more than enough to freshen up your spirits if they weren’t already high after the windy journey up to the camp.
Don’t be shy to gulp it down for soon you would be escorted into your hut for the day.
To be frank, I felt a bit royal at the Kali camp resort for I never stay in luxurious accommodations. Not that I can’t afford them, but even when I was in big companies such as Goldman Sachs and Oracle, I never booked an expensive hotel.
Why? I have always liked staying with the locals in simple homestays. Supporting local-community driven tourism, you know. If I can’t find any family-run stays, then I go to hotels. My minimum condition to book a hotel is an open view and a clean bathroom, and these two things don’t cost much.
But Kali resort was to change all these habits forever. Even though this government property houses many adventure seekers and families alike, I loved the place for its local staff and the abundant nature of the Kali jungle thriving around us.
All the guides, guards, and restaurant staff at the adventure camps are from the Dandeli area, and they know the place and its history well.
A nature walk in Kali Resort Dandeli
I was trying to settle down in the hammock outside my hut when the guard strolling around the tent came by to say that a crocodile was basking in the sun just a minute away from us. Off we went to see the big reptile, and there they were.
Not one, but two crocodiles.
She joined later, his wife. The guide laughed.
While completely intimidated by the long teeth of the female crocodile, I didn’t notice when the guide started taking us on a voluntary bird walk in the middle of the day.
The guide knew all about the sindoor plant. Fishtail and Charcoal, sal or sakhua tree that the disposable organic plates are made out of, cotton, golden palm, teak, Arjun, and Ashok — these were only some of the varieties of the trees present around the camp. He knew their names by heart, and I wondered if they were friends.
From plants, he shifted his attention to the birds that frequent the Kali Wilderness Camp. You would soon know all about the Asian pied hornbill that flies to the golden palm tree in front of your cottage in the afternoon. Leafbird, the little green bee-eater, spotted dove, grey pond heron, myna are only some of his companions during the long day that he spends in the jungle waiting to show people around or take them on a coracle ride.
I never miss a Malabar squirrel irrespective of what I am doing, and even during the much-interesting conversation, I spotted the fluffy squirrel scuttling on the sal tree shadowing us.
Even though I stubbed my foot against a thick tree root, I jumped around to click her pictures from various angles. Don’t worry about losing her out of your sight for the Kali resort is dense with these little naughty squirrels that have surprisingly sharp nails.
Keep your eyes open while walking around the camp for sometimes we even found them sleeping or soaking in the sun laying flat on their stomach on the bark of some stout tree.
Without even going for a Dandeli jungle safari, I had already seen much of the wildlife that Dandeli is popular for.
Coracle Ride in the river Kali, Karnataka
From the jungle walk, we went on for a coracle ride in the Kali nadi.
Kali adventure camps have many coracles. The guides just take a minute to push one in the muddy river, and off you go.
In that half-hour coracle ride, a baby crocodile decided to swim near our coracle and give us company. While you are in the coracle ride, make sure you keep an eye on little islands for many egrets use those pieces of land as chilling joints.
Also, the monkeys jumping around the bank would alert if there are any crocodiles nearby. So don’t worry.
I didn’t see anyone kayaking in Dandeli, and I didn’t even enquire anyone about kayaking. I think you can Kayak in Kali, but you would have to be in a hotel where they have the Kayaks.
Jungle Safari in Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli – One of the must things to do in Dandeli.
Kali adventure camp has fixed times for jungle safaris. We were resting after a large buffet lunch of vegetarian delicacies and fish when another guide came to call us. As soon as the clock struck 3:30, we left for the jungle safari in a jeep with a guide and a driver.
Dressed in khaki uniform typical to the forest rangers, Mr. Pramod didn’t have the usual air about him that is typical to forest officers. He is a guide with the government of Karnataka and has been showing Dandeli to people for twelve years.
He told us that we can find tigers, leopards, black panthers, elephants, gaur, deer, antelopes, bears, other reptiles, and hundreds of varieties of birds in the Dandeli forest.
I was quick to ask the numbers of these animals, and Pramod seemed to have them on his fingertips. About two hundred crocodiles, fifteen tigers, twenty-three panthers, and twenty-seven leopards fill the 1200 square km Dandeli jungle.
On our way from the Kali camps to the safari area inside the Dandeli Tiger Reserve, I asked the guide about the previous jungle stories they must proudly carry.
How many times have you seen tigers and leopards here? I asked.
A tiger just roared at us a few days ago. I could smell his bad breath and feel his roar tremble the hair on my arms. Pramod said.
What did you do then?
We stayed still. What more could we do?
Some foreign tourists had come from Goa, and he had taken them on a jungle safari in Dandeli. Pramod’s leg was half stuck outside the jeep for the guide from Goa was sitting between the driver and him in the front.
After telling everyone who was the real king of the jungle, the tiger had disappeared, and they drove on. But Pramod worries if the guide from Goa would ever come back to Dandeli again.
Once an elephant had run behind their jeep because he didn’t like the shutter sound of the camera when a tourist had boisterously clicked the animal.
Black panthers and leopards slink away when they see people or approaching vehicles. But both the guide and the driver had seen ample of those dangerous cats, too.
Our safari lasted for about three hours. Cruising through the dense forest that seemed fresh with the recent rains, we watched both sides of the road to see if any wild animals were watching us. But as we drove on, we could only spot peacocks and peahens, spotted deer, and some birds.
When the sun was almost about to set, the guide took us to the viewpoint so that we could see Dandeli from the top.
Dandeli tiger reserve was one of the densest forests I have seen, and I can claim this after having traveled to the Amazons in South America, too.
Though I couldn’t see what was happening inside the forest for it was too thick, I started imagining Mowgli-like stories that must have filled the forest. I was sure that the jungle’s ecosystem was running efficiently with the occasional disturbance from the humans when they went inside to install cameras for tracking wildlife. Later on, in a wildlife movie shown in the Kali Adventure Camp, I would see videos from such hidden cameras that would make me laugh and shudder with fear.
A leopard and a black panther crossing the camera at the same time, giving each other an angered look that only the best of enemies can afford.
A flock of hornbills taking a mud bath but diverted by the presence of the camera. One rubs her back in the mud. The other itches her wings with her beak while seated on the soft and warm dust. Soon they notice the camera. They approach. One pokes at the box holding the camera. The other jumps and comes closer. How can she miss the action! Then after staring at the box for about 30 seconds with a noticeable curiosity, the duo knocks down the camera box with their beaks.
Of course, that is the end of that video.
The Dandeli forest must be full of such stories. Leopards and tigers and panthers marking their territory as soon as the sun set. Hornbills bathing in the mud and calling out to each other. Elephants roaming freely. Pythons resting away to digest their kill.
As the sun started setting down, the sun rays seemed even more ethereal. Golden light beamed directly at us. The horizon melted into an orange and yellow paint that spread further up. And then there were the green thickets from left to right.
[Dandeli Jungle Safari cost is included as part of the package that you might book with the Kali adventure camp.]
Evenings in Kali River Resort, Dandeli
After the safari, we cozied around the bonfire with some pakoras and chai. The staff at the Kali resort would call you as soon as the food gets ready. But don’t worry if you have just eaten, for you can eat in the definite lunch and dinner intervals without hurrying to the restaurant as soon as the food is ready.
After dinner, you wouldn’t be able to do much, for the buffets there are heavy. So get into those cozy blankets and sleep.
The morning would bring you to an early adventure into the woods.
Bird Watching, Timber Depot, Dandeli, Karnataka
At about 7 the next morning, we went to the Timber depot to spot birds. Timber Depot is the area where the fallen trees are stored to be auctioned. Earlier those trees used to be sold off-records, but with the new government regulations, every tree has to be auctioned, and all these records are on papers.
The entire area was stuffed with logs waiting to be sold. As the Timber Depot has a lot of tall trees, a plethora of birds nest there and also come to eat.
We saw a range of birds eating berries, ficus (a fruit similar to anjeer/figs), golden palm, and other wild fruits.
Hill myna, Spotted dove, little green bee-eater, flowerpecker, Drango or the fishtail bird, leaf bird, Indian ringneck parrots, and many more whose names I was too lazy to note down were only some of the species we captured. But you get the idea.
We were also very lucky to spot a Great Pied Hornbill, also known as Great Hornbill, that was perched at the top of a tree and grooming herself. Do you see her?
After about two hours, we left the Timber Depot noting down the name of the place in our minds so that we can go back there later. Maybe for research on the Dandeli birds?
After the early morning walk, we were free.
We had a few hours on our hand before taking a return bus to Bangalore. Irrespective of how location-independent I want to stay, I frequently return to Bangalore, and even stay there for some continuous periods for my partner is based out of the tech city.
Tribes of Dandeli
I didn’t know that in 1930 Dandeli had only about 500 people working in the forest department and the sawmill. These 500 people were a mix of Konkanis, Devali, Marathas, Kuruba, Lambani, Negro, and Muslim communities. No wonder you can hear many Dandeli people speak Konkani, Hindi, and Marathi fluently in addition to the local Karnataka tongue Kannada.
Most of the early settlers used to live on the banks of the river Kali.
Now close to 50,000 people live in the city, most of whom are migrants from all over India and have come to Dandeli to work in the paper mills, one of the main industries that provide jobs to the local people. Also, flourishing Dandeli tourism has created a lot of jobs in Dandeli.
Locals told us that we can also visit the Ulavi temple, the SupaHydraulic Dam, and many other historical places, but my heart was already filled with the nature of Dandeli. The only thing I further wanted to see was how the local life of Dandeli has evolved, and so I went to visit some tribes of Dandeli.
Mr. Pramod, our guide from the Kali adventure camp, took us to the houses of the Gowli tribe, local to the Dandeli area. As we arrived at their mud and cow dung houses, I felt I had come closer to my parents’ home.
I am not sure how many people know that I am from a small town in North India. My parents, themselves business people, live in a mixed neighborhood of farmers, lawyers, policemen, and private workers. I have seen homes made of mud and frequently pasted with cow dung to keep the house fresh, especially the area where families keep their mud chulhas.
Those scenes from my hometown that I carry in memories suddenly sprang up to life again.
Buffaloes roamed around the houses freely, and each house had a private little garden. Bananas, vegetables, rose, hibiscus, and papayas grew in these gardens. The courtyards were filled with chickens and their tiny chicks who sprinted behind their mothers for no apparent reason. Children played around with buffaloes, and some shied away when they saw us.
Lord’s Krishnas followers, these tribes have been provided land and houses outside the jungle so that they can live a safe life, work, and study.
Most of them sell milk to earn some money. Do you know that these tribes ( and I am sure many others) still choose to walk through the jungles to sell milk or buy their groceries instead of going via road?
The young boys and girls from the families told us that leopards might visit them at night but they won’t trouble the people for they only come to hunt young calves who are easy targets.
Hence all the young buffaloes and cows, of which there were surprisingly many, were kept in sheds inside the house. A little pajama party, if you can say, is an everyday thing for these little animals.
In a friendly banter, Pramod heartily compared the city people, who are always complaining about their busy lives and are all trying to make their identity, with the tribes, who only come out of the forest to buy the utmost important items only to return to the quiet jungle.
And while looking at the people around me who were busy in their daily life set amidst a forest, I wonder who has made a better choice. There I was, a camera in hand, and a reminder on my phone that I had to board a bus back to Bangalore in a few hours. And there they were, eliminating all the needs and staying minimal to just survive.
Some things could be attributed to the circumstances, but definitely some of it is choice.
At least my travel and write and live lifestyle has brought me to a juncture where I can balance both city and village life while enjoying the simple pleasures of life without running after too many materialistic things.
Dandeli to Bangalore
Soon it was time for us to go back to Dharwad to catch our night bus.
The next day when I saw the sunset in Bangalore, I missed Dandeli.
The guides who had shown us around, the slow pace of life, the children peeping at us from behind the buffaloes, the fresh wind that had blown in our faces at the back of the jeep, the delicious food on our plates, and the company of the simple people of Dandeli.
This time it was more about the people than the things we saw.
Rafting in Dandeli
Kali river rafting tops the list of the many adventures in Dandeli.
What is the Dandeli river rafting price?
INR 1300 per person.
What is the Dandeli river rafting season?
Though rafting at Dandeli can be done almost throughout the year, monsoon might be a bit difficult to raft for Kali is overflowing with water in rains.
November to May would be the perfect season to do white water river rafting at Dandeli.
Where can you book the river rafting?
Ask at your hotel or resort. They would be able to book for you. Or you can ask the people at Dandeli.com to book the rafting for you. If you are at Kali adventure camp, booking rafting would be as easy as walking over to the reception and asking them to take you for rafting.
As I have said above, I didn’t do rafting in Dandeli as I hadn’t booked before, and at the end moment, I wasn’t brave enough to go for it. But next time I would go. Maybe I go on another Dandeli trip just for Dandeli rafting?
What is the best time to visit Dandeli?
The best time to go to Dandeli would be from October to March. During these months, Dandeli is dry and has a moderately cold climate.
December, February, and March are good months for bird watching, hiking, whitewater rafting, and other water sports, too.
Remember to carry warm jackets and shawls during this time as the nights can get chilly.
April, May, and June are the best months to spot wildlife in Dandeli as the vegetation is sparse. The climate is dry during these months with slightly higher temperatures, and animals come out to find water.
These months are also perfect for water sports such as rafting, natural jacuzzi, kayaking, zorbing et cetera as the water level in the river Kali is moderate.
As the nights can still get cold, pack your warm clothes along.
July, August, and September are the monsoon months in Dandeli. I personally love forests in rain for the entire jungle becomes much lush. But you would be restricted in your activities during this time. You cannot hike freely, spotting wildlife would be difficult, and all the water sports won’t be available.
But it would be a good time to sit in the porch and read a book with a cup of filter coffee in hand while nature puts up a show around you (linked are 27 photos from 2022 demonstrate the same).
October, November, and December are good months for wildlife and bird sighting and also for all adventure activities in Dandeli. I visited Dandeli in November, and the weather was pleasant. There was no rainfall. Many birds had migrated to the Dandeli forest, and we could spot them easily. The river was at a perfect level to do river rafting.
Though we didn’t spot any wildlife, the guides told us it was a good time to spot some wild cats, too.
How to reach Dandeli? What is the best way to go from Bangalore to Dandeli?
I have written about reaching Dandeli in detail in my other guide on Dandeli. Please read this Bangalore to Dandeli Jungle Camp guide for detailed instructions on arriving at Dandeli from anywhere.
How to reach Kali Adventure Camp, Kali River, Karnataka?
On our first night at Dandeli, we stayed at the Dandeli Jungle Camp.
The next day we went from the Dandeli Jungle camp to Kali Adventure camp with our guide from the jungle camp.
To arrive at Dandeli Jungle camp we had booked a taxi from the bus stand to the Dandeli camp. The taxi cost us 700 rupees one-way per person. If you are staying at the Kali resort, you can ask them to arrange a pick up for you from wherever you are arriving. I think the taxi charges would be similar for the Kali adventure camp, too.
Another option is to take a local bus from the Dharwar or Hubli bus stand to Dandeli. The local buses are frequent, but the wait time and travel time could still be longer.
Do read my Dandeli Jungle Camp guide linked above to know some of the other places to visit and activities to do in Dandeli.
How many days do you need in Dandeli?
You would need about two-three days in Dandeli. If you are driving from Bangalore or from some other destination, make sure you keep some extra time for the road journey.
What are some of the places to visit near Dandeli?
Hospet to Dandeli is about a six-hour journey. If you are traveling within Karnataka, remember that Hospet could be your main junction to travel to many places. Hampi is only about half an hour of journey. There are amazing things to see in Hampi, and my comprehensive Hampi travel guide would give you a good idea about the place.
Dandeli to Dudhsagar falls is about ninety kilometers. I have heard that there is a train that connects Dharwar to Dudhsagar directly. You should check with the locals if you want to do this journey. But if you want to go back to Dandeli after visiting the falls, you have to catch the same train or a bus back to Dharwar. The journey is through a jungle, and you cannot do the travel on foot, especially at night.
Some of the other places around Dandeli are Goa, Gokarna, Udupi amongst many others.
How to travel in Dandeli?
Most of the accommodations and hotels in Dandeli are located in Dandeli town or in the countryside. People in the surrounding area have converted their homes into homestays. These homes are located around the Dandeli wildlife reserve. So whichever place you book, you will have to manage transport around. If you are traveling to Dandeli by car, bike, or a bicycle, you can manage on your own with the transport. But if you are going to Dandeli by bus or train, please ask your hotel or Dandeli homestay to arrange a commute for you.
If you book Dandeli Jungle Camp or Kali adventure camp, you will get an entire package that includes accommodation, food, activities, jungle safari, and the transport for each activity as well. For officially reserving these two, please visit Dandeli.com.
What to carry on your Dandeli trip?
- A travel towel – Carry a light travel towel like this one for it will save you a lot of space.
- A first-aid kit – Always carry one while traveling.
- Lifestraw water bottle – Comes with an inbuilt filter, and you can fill it anywhere. No need for plastic bottles anymore.
- Memory foam travel pillow for a good sleep while traveling
- A good camera – Nikon D3400 has become my favorite. I use Nikon for all my photography now. This camera comes with two lenses, and the one with the higher resolution is perfect for bird photography.
- Good hiking shoes for women and good hiking shoes for men – A must-have in Karnataka forests.
- Reliable flip flops.
- A rain jacket – If you are traveling to Dandeli in the monsoon.
- Warm jackets for men and for women – Some warm clothes as Dandeli gets cold in the evening.
- Swimwear for women and swimwear for men – A must if you would want to do some water sports in Dandeli.
- Yoga pants for women and for men – suitable for the long bus journey and for trekking in Dandeli.
- full-sleeves shirt for hiking and staying safe from mosquitoes
- Your toiletries and sunscreen and a hat for the sun.
- A headlamp or torch for the evenings.
- Bring a mosquito repellent.
- Bring binoculars.
The sustainable growth of tourism in Dandeli
Now Dandeli has hundreds of homestays and resorts but about ten years ago Dandeli wasn’t so prepared to accommodate tourists. Mr. Ramnath and Rajesh who own and run Dandeli.com, the only official and approved resort booking agency in Dandeli, told me that they bought the website when Dandeli wasn’t known to many tourists. As locals, both of them wanted to promote Dandeli around the world and show people how beautiful the Dandeli forest is.
Soon after they got the website and registered some Dandeli hotels on it, they started getting bookings within an hour. People were looking for ways to get to Dandeli, and this was the first online booking portal for Dandeli that allowed them to browse through and reserve a place to stay.
Concomitantly, tourists started pouring in Dandeli from both outside and inside India.
But has tourism in Dandeli grown on a sustainable and eco-friendly pace?
When I walked around the Kali resort and the Dandeli jungle camp, the properties and their surroundings seemed pretty clean.
I saw plastic and other garbage strewn around the Kali river at places, but not in large quantities. In most of the guesthouses in Dandeli, you are not supposed to buy plastic bottles. You can easily just fill up your bottle from the filtered water there.
Sustainable and eco-friendly tourism has been supported by the locals. Wild animals are not to be disturbed or fed. Initiatives like honeybee farm, organic farming are promoted to help Dandeli develop its own sustainable ecosystem. Locals are even trained in hospitality by the present tourism organizations so that they can find work in nearby places such as Goa and Hampi.
The surroundings of the Kali river can be cleaner. But overall the tourism has had positive growth in Dandeli. I hope it continues to do so.
Dandeli.com promotes and run an eco-tourism drive in Dandeli and have written much about it on their website – One of the main reasons I chose them to be my tour partner for Dandeli.
That’s all, folks.
Did you like this guide to Dandeli and the Kali Adventure Camp? Do you now know what to do in Dandeli?
I hope you have a perfect jungle stay in Dandeli. Feel free to ask your questions in the comments.
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Please note: My trip to Dandeli was arranged by Dandeli.com. The ideas and opinions in this article are mine, as you can tell.
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Hi Priyanka your website is very nice an informative I am Ketan Mehta From Mumbai I am a wildlife and nature photographer by hobby I would like to visit this place in February i need some more details my no is 9820044584 can we get in touch i would like to plan my trip if you can help me in this this is my first trip
Hi ketan,
Welcome to my blog!
I’ve provided the relevant information above in the blog. You can stay at Dandeli Jungle Lodges or at Kali adventure Camp.
Hope this helps. Have a fun trip.
Regards
Priyanka
Your pictures are really nice. I visited Dandeli quite long back, and I found it absolutely stunning! It’s one of my favorite nature, wildlife escapes. Would love to revisit sometime and explore it more deeply.
Did you go back to Dandeli, Renuka? I am missing the dense forest and want to visit again.