Dandeli
Encyclopedia
Dandeli [ Kannada:ದಾಂಡೇಲಿ ] is a town in Uttara Kannada
district of Karnataka
in North Karnataka
, India
in the Western Ghats
, near Goa
. It is best known for its wildlife sanctuary, tourism, industry and as an educational hub.
A significant part of Dandeli's population consists of economic migrants from all over India. The migrants are from North Indian states like Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and many other districts of the Karnataka state. Although the official and predominant language of communication is Kannada, there are significant minorities speaking Hindi
, Konkani
and Marathi
. The diversity of its population is reflected in its culture, and the Dussera, Ramleela, Ganesh Chaturthi
and Diwali
festivals are all celebrated.
Dandeli is like a backbone for Karnataka (see the map), and is a tourist spot for nature-lovers. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is a heady mix of nature, adventure and wildlife
. This city in the Uttar Kannada district of South India is growing in stature as a leading tourist destination. The KPCL has two major hydro-electric power stations in and around Dandeli: one is at Ambikanagar, called Nagjhari Power Station, and the other is Supa Power station at Ganeshgudi. This is the Kali Hydel project; both the power stations have a combined capacity of generating 1225 MW power.
The Kali River is the lifeline for the people of Dandeli and nearby villages. It is believed that the river's name comes from the dark black rocks present beneath the flowing water.
Dandeli offers more than sundry outings and picnics. The region offers the best of adventure
sports, eco-tourism and pilgrimage. Nature-lovers come here for unforgettable moments.
The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
is generally undulating with steep slopes above picturesque deep river valleys and rich hilly forest terrain. The breathtaking valleys, regal-looking, meandering rivers and the splendid scenic beauty of the Syntheri rocks make it an inspiring experience. The forest in Dandeli is a typical moist deciduous and semi-evergreen type, with pockets of evergreen.
The main wildlife
species include elephant, tiger, leopard, gaur, flying squirrel, mouse deer, Slender loris
etc., and the main bird species include magpie robin, golden-backed woodpecker, crested serpent-eagle and a large variety of other birds.
The undulating streams, swaying bamboo, abundance of wildlife
, sylvan surroundings and trekking tracts make Dandeli Sanctuary a unique holiday destination. The River Kali and its tributaries, the Kaneri and Nagajhari, meander through the forest.
Sighting animals is difficult and always involves an element of luck. The sanctuary is home to the barking, spotted and mouse deer, sloth bear, panther, tiger
, gaur, elephant, wild dog, civet cat, bison, jackal, langur and giant flying squirrel, besides a variety of colourful birds and reptiles. The reptilian and amphibian fauna of the region include a variety of ruffles and frogs.
The Black Panther
, one of the rarest animals in the wild, is the most common form of melanistic leopards, which are selectively bred for captivity in zoos; the number of black panthers found in the world is limited. Official records say that there are few of them existing in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. Sighting the animal is very rare and mostly depends on a tourist’s luck, but there are people indeed who have actually seen the mysterious black big cat glide through the forest. The dark coloration of the panthers gives them a huge hunting advantage.
. The sanctuary provides rafting opportunities at the Virnoli Rapids connected to the Kali River. Tourists can also undertake nature walks, boating, bird watching, crocodile spotting and angling
trips offered by the sanctuary. Moulangi is one of the places where one can think of having a bonfire and enjoy partying on the banks of the Kali.
Nearby tourist spots-
, Dandeli had a population of 53,287. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Dandeli has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 65%: male literacy is 81% and, female literacy is 68%. In Dandeli, 11% of the population is under six years of age. Kannada is the major language spoken followed by Marathi, Hindi and Konkani.
Dandeli as a place is highly neglected as it falls on the corner and has no flowing population.It was once a city with higher population and lack of employment has forced people to migrate to different places.
Few government officials, business men, teachers and employees of the paper mills are the earning population.Lack of employment has forced many younger generation to take up traditional business without new customers.
Dandeli is known for Paper production or Paper Mills (The West Coast Paper Mills): many residents of Dandeli are employed at the mill. Most of the land area in Dandeli is West Coast Paper Mill territory and the mill has its own quarters, shopping complex, theatre, restaurant, playground and a clubhouse which are meant for the employees. The Company is promoted by Shree Digvijay Cement Company Limited, Sikka, Gujarat State in 1955. The Company has an impressive track record of productivity for which various awards have been conferred on it by the National Productivity Council [Government of India] and other organizations. An amazing record growth has helped them expand the mill which is fully computerized.The workers are mostly on daily wages and through some contracts which helps the management to save a lot of money.
Few organizations have tried to uplift the industries but political powers does not favour the development as it can be divided in two constituency.
If you want to shop in Dandeli here are a few establishments
Some of them you need to adjust are
Dandeli is known for education: some of the educational centers in Dandeli are as follows:
Samyukta karnataka paper is also available....
Many good picnic spots are near Dandeli: Sangam, Back Waters, Donawala Falls near Joida, Syntheri rocks etc.
You can plan your stay at these locations
All of them need to be booked well in advance.
Karnataka power corporation is also situiated in ambikanagar (18 km from Dandeli) Where electricity is generated through Hydro power. Nagajhari power house is also there. Naveen S Kini is also from Ambikanagar.
, 72 km from Hubli and around 115 km from Belgaum. Buses are run by the KSRTC
SRS and VRL to Dandeli daily from Bangalore. The nearest airports are at Hubli, Belgaum, and Goa. Its British
-built railway was the first in North Kanara district, but it is no longer operational for the public. The nearest passenger rail stations are at Alnavar
, Londa, Dharwad and Hubli.
Uttara Kannada
Uttara Kannada also known as North Canara or North Kanara, is a district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is bordered by the state of Goa and Belgaum District to the north, Dharwad District and Haveri District to the east, Shimoga District and Udupi District to the south and the...
district of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
in North Karnataka
North Karnataka
North Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, near Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. It is best known for its wildlife sanctuary, tourism, industry and as an educational hub.
A significant part of Dandeli's population consists of economic migrants from all over India. The migrants are from North Indian states like Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and many other districts of the Karnataka state. Although the official and predominant language of communication is Kannada, there are significant minorities speaking Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Konkani
Konkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
. The diversity of its population is reflected in its culture, and the Dussera, Ramleela, Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival...
and Diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
festivals are all celebrated.
Dandeli is like a backbone for Karnataka (see the map), and is a tourist spot for nature-lovers. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is a heady mix of nature, adventure and wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
. This city in the Uttar Kannada district of South India is growing in stature as a leading tourist destination. The KPCL has two major hydro-electric power stations in and around Dandeli: one is at Ambikanagar, called Nagjhari Power Station, and the other is Supa Power station at Ganeshgudi. This is the Kali Hydel project; both the power stations have a combined capacity of generating 1225 MW power.
The Kali River is the lifeline for the people of Dandeli and nearby villages. It is believed that the river's name comes from the dark black rocks present beneath the flowing water.
Dandeli offers more than sundry outings and picnics. The region offers the best of adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
sports, eco-tourism and pilgrimage. Nature-lovers come here for unforgettable moments.
The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
is generally undulating with steep slopes above picturesque deep river valleys and rich hilly forest terrain. The breathtaking valleys, regal-looking, meandering rivers and the splendid scenic beauty of the Syntheri rocks make it an inspiring experience. The forest in Dandeli is a typical moist deciduous and semi-evergreen type, with pockets of evergreen.
The main wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
species include elephant, tiger, leopard, gaur, flying squirrel, mouse deer, Slender loris
Slender loris
The slender lorises are two species of loris native to India and Sri Lanka, the only members of the genus Loris:* the red slender loris, Loris tardigradus* the gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus...
etc., and the main bird species include magpie robin, golden-backed woodpecker, crested serpent-eagle and a large variety of other birds.
Name
The origin of the name of the city is unknown. However, local legend states that the city is named after Dandelappa, a local deity, a servant of the Mirashi landlords who lost his life because of his loyalty. An alternative legend states that a king named Dandakanayaka passed through the forests and named them after himself, and the city is believed to stand on the place where Dandakaranya stood.Geography
Dandeli is located at co-ordinates: [15.247719, 74.629678]. It has an average elevation of 473 metres (1551 ft) and receives good rainfall.Wildlife sanctuary
Dandeli is a natural habitat for wildlife, including tigers, leopards, black panthers, elephants, gaur, deer, antelopes, and bears. It is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka and has been designated as a tiger reserve in 2007. The jungle is also home to many kinds of reptiles and almost 300 varieties of birds. The rapid expansion of industry has raised fears of ecological damage and local voluntary groups have formed to address the issue.The undulating streams, swaying bamboo, abundance of wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
, sylvan surroundings and trekking tracts make Dandeli Sanctuary a unique holiday destination. The River Kali and its tributaries, the Kaneri and Nagajhari, meander through the forest.
Sighting animals is difficult and always involves an element of luck. The sanctuary is home to the barking, spotted and mouse deer, sloth bear, panther, tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
, gaur, elephant, wild dog, civet cat, bison, jackal, langur and giant flying squirrel, besides a variety of colourful birds and reptiles. The reptilian and amphibian fauna of the region include a variety of ruffles and frogs.
The Black Panther
Black panther
A black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
, one of the rarest animals in the wild, is the most common form of melanistic leopards, which are selectively bred for captivity in zoos; the number of black panthers found in the world is limited. Official records say that there are few of them existing in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. Sighting the animal is very rare and mostly depends on a tourist’s luck, but there are people indeed who have actually seen the mysterious black big cat glide through the forest. The dark coloration of the panthers gives them a huge hunting advantage.
Other Attractions
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary offers a wide range of activities that tourists can undertake for their entertainment and knowledge. The sanctuary offers the chance to enjoy the thrilling experience of white-water raftingRafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
. The sanctuary provides rafting opportunities at the Virnoli Rapids connected to the Kali River. Tourists can also undertake nature walks, boating, bird watching, crocodile spotting and angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
trips offered by the sanctuary. Moulangi is one of the places where one can think of having a bonfire and enjoy partying on the banks of the Kali.
Nearby tourist spots-
- UlaviUlaviUlavi is a town about 75 km from Karwar in Karnataka state, India.Ulavi is an important center of pilgrimage for people of the Lingayat faith. The Samadhi of Channabasavanna, one of the most revered saints of the Lingayat faith lies here. In the 12th century, Channabasavanna traveled from...
- Syntheri Rocks
- Anashi National Park
- Moulangi
Demographics
As of 2001 India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Dandeli had a population of 53,287. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Dandeli has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 65%: male literacy is 81% and, female literacy is 68%. In Dandeli, 11% of the population is under six years of age. Kannada is the major language spoken followed by Marathi, Hindi and Konkani.
Dandeli as a place is highly neglected as it falls on the corner and has no flowing population.It was once a city with higher population and lack of employment has forced people to migrate to different places.
Few government officials, business men, teachers and employees of the paper mills are the earning population.Lack of employment has forced many younger generation to take up traditional business without new customers.
Dandeli is known for Paper production or Paper Mills (The West Coast Paper Mills): many residents of Dandeli are employed at the mill. Most of the land area in Dandeli is West Coast Paper Mill territory and the mill has its own quarters, shopping complex, theatre, restaurant, playground and a clubhouse which are meant for the employees. The Company is promoted by Shree Digvijay Cement Company Limited, Sikka, Gujarat State in 1955. The Company has an impressive track record of productivity for which various awards have been conferred on it by the National Productivity Council [Government of India] and other organizations. An amazing record growth has helped them expand the mill which is fully computerized.The workers are mostly on daily wages and through some contracts which helps the management to save a lot of money.
Few organizations have tried to uplift the industries but political powers does not favour the development as it can be divided in two constituency.
If you want to shop in Dandeli here are a few establishments
Hotels
You may not find your kind of hotel in Dandeli as its limited due to no flowing population.Some of them you need to adjust are
- Shetty Lunch Home - Veg/Non Veg
- Hotel Santosh - Veg
- Hotel Akshay - Veg/ Nonveg
- Irappa Khanavali - Traditional North Karnataka food
Mobile Stores
- Impressions
- Sunil Time center
- Airtel Store
- SV Mobiles
- mukashi mobile store
- adi mobiles
Dandeli is known for education: some of the educational centers in Dandeli are as follows:
Schools in Dandeli
- DFA School
- St Michaels Convent School
- Janata Vidyalaya
- Government School
- Kanya Vidyalaya
- Tauheed Education Society
- Dandeli Education Society Hindi School
- BLDE Education Society
Pre-University Colleges
- DES Bangaur Nagar Junior College
- Janata Vidyalaya
- Tauheed Education Society
- Government College Old Dandeli
Other Institutions
- DES Bangaur Nagar College - Applied science in Pulp and Paper Technology (M tech)
- GT&TC. Govt Tool room and Training Centre
- Govt Industrial Training Institute college for women
- KLE Nursing College
- UCB Polytechnic College
- BLDE Rudset
News and Media
Deccan Herald,Prajavani and Kali News along with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka are the major local newspapers in the region.Samyukta karnataka paper is also available....
Tourism
The natural beauty of the area attracts tourists from other parts of India and abroad. It is also an adventure sports destination, and one of the best white-water rafting destinations in South India. It is one of the few locations where rafting is possible even in peak summer months of March to June.Many good picnic spots are near Dandeli: Sangam, Back Waters, Donawala Falls near Joida, Syntheri rocks etc.
You can plan your stay at these locations
- State Lodge, opposite to Main Bus stand
- Tourist Lodge, Opp to Main Bus stand
- Jungle Lodges, Kogilban Dandeli,
- Dandeli Jungle Inn Homestay at Dandeli
- Milind's homestay
- Dandeli Jungle Camp resort
- Bison Resorts Dandeli
- Hornbill Resorts Dandeli
- Stanley Farm stay
- Amara Homestay Dandeli
All of them need to be booked well in advance.
Landmarks
Dandeli is surrounded by natural, historic, and religious landmarks: the River Kali, the caves of Kavla, the Syntheri rocks, and other landmarks including the Ulavi temple, Sykes point and the Supa hydroelectric dam.Karnataka power corporation is also situiated in ambikanagar (18 km from Dandeli) Where electricity is generated through Hydro power. Nagajhari power house is also there. Naveen S Kini is also from Ambikanagar.
Transport links
Dandeli is well connected by road to nearby cities. It lies 55 km from DharwadDharwad
Dharwad, also known as Dharwar, is a city and a DISTRICT PLACE in India's Karnataka state.Dharwad is the administrative seat of the Dharwad District. The municipality of Hubli-Dharwad covers an area of 200.23 km²...
, 72 km from Hubli and around 115 km from Belgaum. Buses are run by the KSRTC
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation or KSRTC is the state owned road transportation company in Karnataka.-About:KSRTC was set up in the year 1961 under the provisions of Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950. It is wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka. The Government of India is also...
SRS and VRL to Dandeli daily from Bangalore. The nearest airports are at Hubli, Belgaum, and Goa. Its British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-built railway was the first in North Kanara district, but it is no longer operational for the public. The nearest passenger rail stations are at Alnavar
Alnavar
Alnavar is a panchayat town in Dharwad district in the state of Karnataka, India.The place is famous for raw mangoes produced,used for making pickles.The raw mangoes are plucked when they are tender ,which give distinct taste to pickles as compared to others.The raw mangoes produced here are known...
, Londa, Dharwad and Hubli.