What to expect
Highlights
- White-water rafting on the Kali river.
- Hornbill and endemic birding.
- Jeep safaris in the Kali Tiger Reserve forests.
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, on the Kali river in the northern Western Ghats, is part of the Kali Tiger Reserve — a vast tract of moist deciduous and evergreen forest.
Practical guide
Plan Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Who's going?Tailor Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseDandeli
DistrictUttara Kannada
Best timeOctober to May for wildlife and safaris
Time neededA full day, or an overnight stay for…
EntrySafari/rafting/entry (book ahead)
Places to visit4→It is best known for white-water rafting on the Kali, for birding (hornbills, and many endemics) and for wildlife including elephants, gaur, deer and the elusive black panther; jeep safaris, coracle rides and nature camps are all run from Dandeli.
Getting there
How to visit
- Dandeli town is ~75 km inland from Karwar and ~55 km from Hubballi; reach it by road, and book rafting, safaris and stays with operators or the forest department in advance.
- Activities are seasonal and permit-based — rafting depends on the river release; follow the guides’ safety rules and forest regulations.
Distance by road
- Panaji (Goa)100 km
- Hubballi165 km
- Udupi175 km
- Mangaluru270 km
- Bengaluru500 km
Road km to Uttara Kannada; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to May for wildlife and safaris; rafting depends on water release (often post-monsoon into winter).
Weather in Dandeli Wildlife SanctuarySeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Sunrise6:19 am
Sunset6:43 pm
Golden hour best light5:43 pm–6:43 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:43 pm–7:08 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 58%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Karnataka. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- A tiger-reserve forest with river activities — go with licensed operators, wear the rafting life jacket, and follow all forest-department rules.
Photos
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
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Top experiences around Dandeli
3 more places around Dandeli, each worth a day of its own.
templeUlavi Channabasaveshwara Temple
30.0 km · ~50 min by cab
The forest shrine at Ulavi (Joida taluk) around the samadhi of Channabasavanna — one of the largest Lingayat pilgrimage centres in Karnataka, with the Akka Nagalambike cave nearby.
damSupa Dam
10.6 km · ~18 min by cab
A large hydro dam on the Kali river at Joida, backing up a scenic reservoir in the Kali Tiger Reserve forests.
viewpointSyntheri Rocks
21.5 km · ~36 min by cab
A towering monolithic granite cliff on the Kaneri river inside the Kali Tiger Reserve near Dandeli, home to rock bees and pigeons.
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Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary — at a glance
TimingsSafari and activity slots; book in advance
Best timeOctober to May for safaris; rafting depends on the river release
Entry: Safari/rafting/entry (book ahead)
Getting here
How to reach Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Dandeli town, ~75 km from Karwar, ~55 km from Hubballi; by road
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- KSRTC — the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries. Online booking.
- Indian Railways — live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
On the map
Where Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is
Good to know
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary?
October to May for wildlife and safaris; rafting depends on water release (often post-monsoon into winter).
What are the entry fee and timings at Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary?
Entry: Safari/rafting/entry (book ahead). Timings: Safari and activity slots; book in advance.
How do I reach Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary?
Dandeli town is ~75 km inland from Karwar and ~55 km from Hubballi; reach it by road, and book rafting, safaris and stays with operators or the forest department in advance. Activities are seasonal and permit-based — rafting depends on the river release; follow the guides’ safety rules and forest regulations.
How much time do I need for Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary?
A full day, or an overnight stay for safaris and rafting.
What else is near Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary?
Nearby you can pair Supa Dam (10.6 km), Lalguli Falls (19.7 km), Syntheri Rocks (21.5 km), Ulavi Channabasaveshwara Temple (30.0 km).
Read before you go
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary itself yet. These cover Dandeli, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
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Image credits
Photographs: PiolAtif, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), PJeganathan (CC BY 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.