Dandeli: A Summer Adventure

“Dad where are we going for summer holidays?” I asked.

“Dandeli”, my father replied without looking up from his laptop. (My father hardly ever looks up from his laptop). Upon hearing the plans, I became extremely excited because it promised to be an adventurous trip.

In case you’re not aware, Dandeli is located near Hubli in Karnataka. The place is renowned for its abundance of hornbills. Dandeli’s beauty lies in its dense forests teeming with diverse wildlife and a myriad of birds, while several rivers crisscross the region. Among them, the Kali River stands out as the largest. It derives its name from the black rocks scattered across its bed. The Kali River is home to numerous crocodiles and is famous across India for its exhilarating river rafting experiences. I felt a pang of disappointment knowing that I wouldn’t be able to partake in river rafting since it’s only permitted for children aged 12 and older.

The day finally arrived, and we reached Mumbai airport. There was still time for boarding, so we went to a lounge and had some food. Later, we boarded the shuttle bus which took us to the airplane. The flight was 1:30 hours long so I decided to read a book. There were a few scary moments when the plane experienced turbulence, but thankfully, we landed safely. We spent the night at a hotel and departed for Dandeli after breakfast. The three-hour drive was delightful, and we finally arrived at our destination.

We checked in at Kali Adventure Camp, a property of Jungle Lodges & Resorts. As soon as I stepped inside, I noticed a notice board displaying the list of animals sighted and another board outlining the planned activities for guests, such as white water rafting, kayaking, jungle safari, an excursion to Syntheri rocks, bird watching, and nature walks. The resort boasted tall green trees with their names written on them. It had swings, a playground, and even a table tennis board. Our accommodation was a river-facing tent, and nearby, a watchtower offered a view of the river. In the evening, the resort organised a bonfire followed by a documentary about the Kali River. My family and I had an adventurous and memorable stay.

The next morning marked my first adventure! While bird watching, we unintentionally lost our way in the forest. Luckily, we didn’t go that far and recognised some familiar landmarks that guided us back. We spotted various birds, including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, White Throated Kingfisher, Slaty Headed Parakeet, Oriental Magpie Robin, and many other species. My mom found a beautiful hornbill feather and picked it up. After returning, we had breakfast and then embarked on a coracle ride. A coracle is a small, round boat. With a guide, we navigated the coracle and spotted some sunbathing crocodiles.

After lunch, it was time for my highly anticipated second adventure! We went on a jungle safari in the Kali Tiger Reserve. During the game drive, we observed Hanuman langurs, barking deer, peacocks, and numerous Indian wild gaurs. Our forest guide shared two interesting facts with us. Firstly, a sambar deer is simply referred to as a sambar, without the additional “deer” designation. Secondly, Indian wild gaurs are actually bison and not native to India. As we continued, a passing jeep alerted us to a spotted leopard. Excitedly, we rushed to the spot and saw it perched on a low tree branch, observing us. After a while, it ran away. Later, we witnessed a peacock performing a dance to impress a peahen. A pair of Malabar giant squirrels dashed in front of us and swiftly climbed a tree. These squirrels are the largest found in India. During the safari, our forest guide halted the vehicles, and we climbed a few stairs to reach a sunset viewpoint. The view from the top was breathtaking. Suddenly, I spotted a swallow’s nest. Despite my father’s belief that it was abandoned, I insisted there were still swallows in it. Our argument ended when a mother swallow briefly poked her head out. This marked the end of our jeep safari, and we returned to the resort, having had a truly fantastic experience.

In conclusion, my time in Dandeli was incredibly memorable. It is a remarkably beautiful place, and I highly recommend it to all my friends. As I departed Dandeli, I carried with me two precious things—a lifetime of memories and a hornbill feather!