Dandeli:

Not only Indian nature and adventure-lovers but also from abroad take a trip to Dandeli to quench their adventure thirst amidst greenery. The biodiversity in the forests present here is the main attraction for tourists. This travel boom in Dandeli has given rise to many hotels and resorts where one can stay according to their budget. Ecotourism has been promoted by the government and wild animals breed here in a planned and healthy manner. Dandeli’s natural beauty draws travellers from around the world too and people from all corners of the country come here too. The place now has gained a reputation for adventure sports, especially white-water rafting.

Anyone who is up for a fantastic concoction of natural beauty, adventure sports and wildlife should think of a Dandeli trip. If you are wondering what you can do in Dandeli, you can go for treks in the forests, admire the blue water of the Kali river, have a great camping experience and of course go for the famous Dandeli river rafting. 

Where can you stay in Dandeli?

As Dandeli tourism is becoming as popular as Goa, there is no dearth of accommodations in Dandeli. What makes it favourable for nature and adventure-seekers is that the town is well connected. 

Karnataka’s Dandeli is like a sanctuary for the wild animals in southern India. Animals like panthers, elephants and tigers are found here.  If you want to put up at a luxurious resort amidst the woods on your visit, there are a few which would offer you a rejuvenating stay. Some of these resorts are Starling resort, Century resort, Parampara resort and Wilderness resort. 

For any nature lover, Dandeli is a perfect place. The Dandeli wildlife sanctuary located at Uttara Kannada district would make their Dandeli trip unforgettable. The presence of adventure activities and wildlife is making this town one of the top tourism places of Karnataka. There are a few homestays which have the perfect ambience which any tourists would love. Fly Catcher, Dandeli Wild Stay, Jungle Bell Retreat, Rangers Camp, Vimal Jungle Homestay and Nature Homestay are some of these resorts.

Adventure sports enthusiasts who are looking forward to their ideal holidays and looking for a farm house for an authentic jungle-cum village life experience need not be disappointed. River Wood Residency, Dandeli Wild Stay, Dandeli Dreams and Dandeli Jungle Inn are a few of the farm houses which would make your stay soul-nourishing. 

Apart from adventure-seekers, who should come here?

Families – If you have been thinking of going for a day trip to somewhere fun along with your whole family, Dandeli should be your destination. You can reach the town early in the morning, see the places worth visiting throughout the day and leave late evening.

Students – Educational tours should be enjoyable too and students should be taken here for excursions. They would love it.

Office teams –  Dandeli is a great spot for team building exercises for any organisation. You can arrange for a wonderful team outing if you head any corporate house. The employees will feel appreciated. 

Adventure activities that Dandeli tourism boasts of:

Zorbing – A zorb is a transparent ball made with plastic. Zorbing involves rolling down a gentle slope while being inside this ball. It is an emerging recreational adventure activity. Apart from rolling downhill, zorbing can also be done on flat surfaces too, giving the rider more control over the movement. Where there are no hills, organisations offering this service set up ramps which are inflatable or made up of wood or metal. If you want to be absolutely stress free and want to rejuvenate yourself, water zorbing will help you relax. 

Zip Lining across the river – Can’t wait to get a proper adrenaline rush? You should be ready to zipline then. It is a proper action packed activity which will get you zip zap zooming through the air! Dandeli’s canyons and creeks will not look more pristine at any other place other than where and when you will be ziplining. Enjoy the panorama as you get enlightened about the wildlife and plants forming the local ecosystem.

Kayaking – Out of all the exciting water sports, the one which you will enjoy the most in Dandeli is Kayaking. This town has a large man-made reservoir called the Supa reservoir and it is here that the Kayaking is conducted. The area around here is still not much inhabited, which also makes it a great place for camping. Use a kayak to move across the water and have a safe kayaking experience.

River Jacuzzi – This natural jacuzzi might look a bit scary to you but we would suggest you to  not miss this jacuzzi bath as there will be experienced guides who will keep providing you with instructions. You will find clean water flowing over rocks. The speed of the water is neither too high nor too slow, making it just perfect for a bathing experience which also falls under adventure activities. 

Dandeli river rafting – This is the one adventure sport which Dandeli is known the most for. The rafting trail is almost around twelve kilometers long! For an exhilarating experience, you must go for this exciting water sports.  An experienced rafter will enjoy rafting here as much as an inexperienced one because the rapids here are of grade 2 and 3. 

Apart from these activities, there are also others which you can try like boating on the river, going on a jungle safari, rappelling, coracle ride and riding on a jet ski, and also swimming on the river. 

Gokarna:

Virgin beaches are loved by travellers who prefer beaches over visiting hills and mountains. Gokarna is one such small town which is located on the western coast of India. Once not so known, this town with virgin beaches has steadily gained popularity for the opportunity it provides for beach trekking. The word ‘Gokarna’ means ‘Cow’s ear’ and the town has been named so because according to legend, Lord Shiva had emerged from a cow’s ear in this area. 

If you plan to visit Dandeli, then you might be having the Gokarna trek on your mind too, as it is nearby. Located along the Arabian Sea, this temple-cumpbeach town is going to entertain you well. Out of all the beaches, the main beaches are Belekan beach, Paradise beach, Half-moon beach, Om beach, Kudle Beach and the Gokarna Main Beach. The Gokarna trek can be started on either the main beach or Belekan beach and generally consists of visiting four to five consecutive beaches, wherever you start from. We will start from Belekan beach and do an easy four kilometer hike. 

Mirjan Fort – A 16th century marvel:

We will also be visiting the Mirjan Fort after enjoying our lunch at Om Beach. This will give us a chance to know more about the history and architecture of Gokarna. Mirjana Fort is situated in the Mirjan village which is close to Gokarna. It is located by a tributary of the river Sharavathi, which is known as the Aghanashini river. The fort is spread across an area of about ten acres. There are many wide steps which will help you enter the Fort. Laterite stones have been used to build this double-walled fort. A moat surrounds the fort and there are four entrances. 

The 16th century architecture displays the cultural glory of the time when the fort was built and is going to delight any history buff. It is largely believed that Queen Chennabhairadevi who reigned for 54 years and was an eminent historical figure during the 16th century had built the fort. As it is situated on the coastal belt in the middle of nature, Mirjan Fort serves as a good weekend destination. As it is conveniently located on National Highway 66 , tourists can easily reach the location by taking a bus or cab. One can visit the fort any day between 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening.

The Gokarna camping experience is one which you will remember your whole life, whether you go on a solo trip or with your family. 

Beach trekking –  know the beaches:

1. Belekan Beach – Though it is one of the main beaches, people somehow don’t visit it as much as the other beaches. We will start our five-beach trek from this beach only. As this beach remains less populated, it is a good one for viewing the sunrise. 
2. Paradise Beach – After a 30 mins trek, one can reach here from Belekan Beach. You will find the waves here to be strong and not apt for a swim. The beach is mostly rocky with some sand patches and faces the south.
3. Half-moon Beach – This beach can be reached again after 30 mins of trekking. As the beach looks like a half-moon because of its shape, it has been named after it. One can reach this beach after trekking through forested areas. Overlapping trails lead to this unpopulated and secluded beach.
4. Om Beach – From the main town, one can drive down to reach this popular beach through the hills. To reach this beach which is shaped like the ‘Om’ symbol, you will have to climb down a good number of paved steps. If you feel tired, you can rest under the trees lined up by the beaches. People also throng the many lively cafes along the beaches offering great seafood.
5. Kudle Beach – This west facing beach is most visited by hippies and foreigners and it is a great place for seeing the sunset. One can see the hills and palm trees and coconut trees from this beach. There are huts available on rent for staying here and also shacks selling tasty food. The calm waves here are good for swimming too. You can sit and relax, meditate or play games or sports on this large beach.
6. Gokarna Main Beach – This west-facing beach is the longest of all the beaches and is well connected. One can reach here by taking an auto or a two-wheeler. This beach being closer to temples is also popular with pilgrims. You can learn how to surf on the waves here if you are interested. 

Staying at Gokarna:

Are you excited at the prospect of Gokarna beach camping? Then you should be seriously considering a Gokarna tent stay. There are some nice campsites where two or three people can stay on a sharing basis. These tents are comfortable enough for freshening up and relaxing after checking-in. Staying on the campsite will give you a great view of sunrise, sunset and of the surrounding areas without having to go anywhere. You can wake up in your tent, have breakfast in the campsite and leave for Gokarna trek. 

Vibhooti Falls:

Vibhooti Falls is located at a distance of 42 to 51 kms from the east of Gokarna. One can reach here from the main town after driving for thirty minutes. This waterfall is hidden deep in the forests of the Western Ghats and still is one which is not often visited by tourists. Forests and rocks with limestone deposits surround the Vibhuti Falls. The water falls down with great force.

The Yana caves are very near to Vibhuti waterfalls and there is a legend that connects both. It is based on how the waterfall got its name. It is believed that the water that flows out of Yana is ‘vibhuti’ or ‘holy ash’ and it forms the waterfall which is named as Vibhuti. There is also another legend which says that the ashes of Bhamasura, the mythological demon was washed away with this waterfall and thus the waterfall had been named as Vibhuti Falls. 

If you are young, you can safely go for a bath in this waterfall. There is a small entry fee that you will have to pay for entering. From the entry point, after walking for half a kilometer, you will need to hike for about twenty minutes on rocky terrain through thick forests. You might feel a bit tired when you reach the falls and taking a bath will wash away that tiredness instantly. There is a natural pool formed from the water of the falls and it is safe for taking a dip as there will be a lifeguard who is posted there to keep an eye on people. 

Murudeshwar Temple:

Murudeshwar is a small town which is located in the Bhatkal Taluk of North Karnataka district. Other than the usual tourists, the town is a hotspot for religious people because of the presence of the Murudeshwar temple. The statue of Lord Shiva is the second largest one you can find anywhere and that is why it draws Hindu pilgrims in a large number. If you are a Shiv-bhakt, you would definitely love your visit here, and even if you are not, you will have a good time looking at the different monuments found here. 

Built on a protruded island, the 20-storeyed Murudeshwar temple has been built next to the statue of Lord Shiva. The gopuram, specifically, has twenty storeys and two elephants on the sides. This 250 feet tall gopura is one of the top landmarks of Murudeshwar. There is also an elevator inside the temple which can take visitors to the top of the temple. From the top you will be able to see the gigantic idol of Lord Shiva towering over the whole town. The sight of the idol with the Arabian Sea surrounding it is something which will stay in your mind forever. Lord Shiva is seen meditating and the idol is 123 meters tall! 

We must tell you about the interesting legend based on this town. The demon king Ravana had brought the Shiva Linga or Atma Linga from the Kailasha mountains. Lord Ganesh tricked him while Ravana was headed towards the Lanka island. Becoming puzzled, he kept down the Linga here. Once he realised he had been fooled, he became enraged and tried to uproot the linga. Needless to say, he was unsuccessful in his attempt. Around March, when generally Shiv Ratri falls, the town becomes filled with followers of Lord Shiva. The festival is celebrated here with a lot of fervour. 

Murudeshwar Temple is one of the top attractions of Honnavar, or atleast near it. So another thing which you can go for when you decide to visit Murudeshwar is to go for the Sharavathi Kandla Mangrove Boardwalk. The boardwalk is Honnavar’s top attraction which sees a lot of travellers. Visitors have to pay a minimal entry charge. Then they would be able to enjoy the unique experience of walking on a paved way. The path will run through the middle of a mangrove forest and lead to the Sharavathi river. The Mangrove Boardwalk is almost opposite to the famous eco-beach of Honnavar and you can easily spend one hour there. From Honnavar city center. It is at an approximate distance of 3 kms. There is almost a kilometer long boardwalk, where you will walk on a brown wooden bridge and it will lead you to a circular island. The whole experience will be wonderful!