Adventures in Dandeli

We had a long weekend because of the Ugadi (7th April 2008)’s holiday on Monday. So, me and my friends decided to go on a small adventures trip and finally agreed to go Dandeli on a tour. It was a superb trip, however a bit expensive but really adventures.

Since our program was so instant that we don’t have option of train journey. So we booked a Tavera and it took us around 16 hours to reach there. In Dandeli, we stayed in a resort called Horn Bill which is located near the bank of “Kali” river inside a thick forest. It is a really a very good resort (completely raw, looks like a natural jungle). Very less artificial things were there but they are charging heavily to provide all these natural things. We stayed on a tree house just above the Kali River’s bank (the tree roots were there in the bank but it branches were above the river and our tree house was there on the top of tree branches). Amazing experience!!

The first activity we opted was to go for a bath in Natural Jacuzzi. Natural Jacuzzis are nothing but big rocks and rapids in the path of Kali River. To reach there we ourselves sailed our boat to an island, obviously with the help of a guide. It was a small but very beautiful island having thick jungle cool rapids of Kali’s river. The pressure of water was so high in these rapids that we were barely able to stand. Somehow we fixed and locked o9urselves inside the small rocks. But even with the support of the rocks, it was difficult to stay there in a stable posture, one slip of step can ends in major disaster. So we moved to a safer site where water pressure was little low. And once we settled in those natural Jacuzzis, no one is ready to come out. The cold and fresh water of Kali River refreshed everybody. We totally forgot about our hectic and tiresome journey. Full recreation, ready to do any task now!!

The real fun of trip started while coming back from the island when we all met with an accident. Yes, you heard it correct, it was an accident. Thankfully it was not tragic but it could be. Actually we were returning after taking bath from the Natural Jacuzzi in the rapids from an island. We were again rowing our boat and very excited with all the thrills going around. The bath from natural Jacuzzi refreshed us so much that we started doing rafting without any professional guidance :-) Result: Dhadaam!! our boat toppled and then for one minute everything was silent on the surface of the water but inside the river we all were striking with the rocks, struggling to come up on the surface. Thank god we all had life jackets tied with us and at least it saved my life because I don’t know swimming. Finally we came out from the river safely but what is this? Oh my god, where is my Camera? What happened to my mobile? Somebody saw my glasses? Did you see my shoes?? Everybody lost something ranging from glasses to shoes to mobile to camera and yes this is not enough, later we recognized that our legs and arm also got injured because we stroked with rocks inside the water. Whatever it was but in the beginning of trip itself, we got a hot spice of adventure :-).

I settled down very fast after the accident and was ready to do the next activities in schedule but the other folks were still in the shock and they lost enthusiasm for the next activities. Since most of the activities were related to group, we canceled them for that night. We ordered some beer and vodka to forget the accident incident but we were so tired by that time that when the drinks came, we all already reached in the world of dreams:-).

Next day morning was beautiful, however my arms and legs were paining because of injury which I got last day but I was all set for rest of the activities. But it was really difficult to convince other people, they were not ready to go. Hence, morning schedule was also cancelled. One of the reason because of which people lost enthu is, after coming such a nice place we don’t have a camera and worst, two guys lost their specs, so their eyes were unable to appreciate the jungle beautyL. So we quickly decide the plan and went Dandeli (city) to get their glasses. We purchased a role camera too, the Kodak KB10, it comes only in Rs.500/- :-). Yahoo! now we all were set, everybody was good to go. So without wasting anytime we went for the White Water Rafting, the coolest attraction of Dandeli. Seriously, rafting was an amazing experience, really thrilling. Today we had professionals with us, so we were not worried about to fall in river again. In fact our facilitator asked us to jump in the river even if you don’t know the swimming because life jacket will save you anyway and by making a correct posture even non swimmer can float on the water.

In the night, we went for the night tracking in the jungle. It was really a very different experience. We tracked jungle paths in a very dim light and sometime without any light. We were totally depended on our guide and guessing the direction by his sound only. Every animal in the jungle is having radium in the eyes and you don’t know the pair of eyes looking at you, are actually a cat, dog or a panther? Really a scary experience and at the same time it was thrilling too.

On the third and last day of our tour, our morning started with jungle safari. Jungle was good, weather was good, our jeep was good, bumpy roads in the jungle was also very good but by chance our luck was not so good. We did not even find a rabbit there; I had a strong doubt that any animal is actually resides in that jungle. Anyway even without watching any animals there, the jungle ride was joyful. Since we did not find anything there, we came back early. After coming to resort, I went for fishing to pass the time. But this job requires hell lot patience. The fishes were so clever that whenever I dropped my fishing rod with food, they ate the whole food cleverly from the side of hooks. I was able to see what they were doing because the water of river was very clean. After half an hour of struggle, finally we (me and the person who was teaching me how to get the fish) were able to get two fishes. I was very excited when I caught the fish in my rod but this excitement lasted just for a moment because somehow I did not like fishing when I saw fish hanging in the hook was struggling for its life. I released the fish immediately and put it in the water again. But I don’t think that I will ever try my hand again on fishing :-|.

Last activity was rappelling. Overall it was an easy activity, difficult only in the starting steps. On a whole, it was a good fun. I was hesitating in my first step in rappelling because I looked down from the rock and thrilled with the height of the rock but after chanting Hanuman Chalisa in my mind; finally I decided to go. First step really needs courage (especially when you are doing it first time). Once you cross you first few step, it is so damn easy that you won’t realize that when you come down from the rock.

Check out time guys, tour ends! After gulping few glasses of beer and “Appy & Lassi”, we were back on our Tavera on the way to Hyderabad. You can guess who was the “Appy & Lassi” man among us :-)

It was a memorable tour not only because of that accident where we almost had an interview with death but also because the whole trip was a great fun. And the beauty of place added cherry on the cake :-)


Some Additional information for the charges of resort and activities available in Dandeli:

Dandeli is very near to Bangalore. It’s 35 KM from Launda. We did not do camping there but tents were available in Rs. 500/- per day basis (this is the peak season tariff and prices might differ from resort to resort). We chose Horn Bill resort, because of its raw jungle beauty. Other resorts are also in the middle of jungle but most of them are like a concrete jungle inside the forest and obviously you can’t enjoy the fun while staying in the cemented house inside a forest. However Horn Bill is little expensive but it’s worth staying there.

One can reach to the place via train also; in fact it is the most convenient option in my opinion. If you inform resort people in advance, they can pick you from the Launda railway/bus station.

Rafting will have standard charges, same for all resorts. It is run by trained professionals (approved by government), and they are not associated with any resort. The charges were Rs. 1200/- per head I guess.

All other activities like night safari, natural Jacuzzi, fishing etc were included in resort’s package (in your room charges). Rappelling is only possible if there is a group of sufficient people is ready for the activity. They generally don’t arrange it for 2-3 people only. Since the folks with me were not interested in this activity, they denied me too but I somehow convinced them to arrange a session for me (by offering some extra money obviously). They charged me Rs.400/- for rappelling as I was alone. They actually arranged it with the people of some other resorts. I think if you have good number of people in your group, for this actively they might charge somewhat around Rs. 100/- to Rs. 150/- only. It’s advisable to go for rappelling in the morning because as the day grows, it becomes hotter and hotter.

Jungle safari (in the wild life sanctuary) also required some extra charges. It’s better to start very early in the morning or somewhere around in the evening because that’s the time when wild animals come out to have their supper. Our bad luck, even though we started very early in the morning, we could not see anything You can’t predict animal’s mood. Charges for jungle safari was Rs.600/- I think (not very sure).

Charge for the tree house was more. They charged Rs. 2200/- per day per person (I know it is too much!). One tree house is actually allowed for 2 people but somehow we convince the resort owner/manager and got two extra beds in the same tree house. He charge Rs.1800/- per head for 2 extra bed. Totally it was Rs. 2000/- per head per day on an average (this was the most expensive part of whole trip after our Tavera bill). The normal huts in the resort will cost you a bit less and tent will cost only Rs. 500/- only. But tree house is having its own adventure.

The staff of resort is very good. Owner of resort is also a very warm and cooperative person and help you in all ways by respecting your time limitation. They don’t have any hidden charges too. Great thing about them is that if you contact them in advance, they are flexible about check in and checkout time also. One can plan accordingly and can save one day’s charge.

Coming to the food part, the standard food options i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner and normal water was included in the resort charges. Food was delicious. Frankly speaking, being a vegetarian, I was not expecting a very good food because of my past experience on such places. But thankfully food was satisfactory. I heard that nonveg stuff were awesome. Every day at the dinner time they serves something from bar-be-q.

Free food option somewhat justify their high charges. But if you have a tight schedule of activities then it will be difficult for you to present there at the time of breakfast, lunch or dinner in the resort. In my trip, our schedule was a bit busy and we were able mostly our dinner only there at the resort. So schedule your activities in such a way that you can take your meals in the resort and can save food expanses at least.

One more thing, the normal water available there is very sweet and at least we all liked it. But if you don’t want to go for normal water than carry some big mineral water bottles with you because the bottled water available in resort is a bit costly. Same things applied for the liquor also, they will not stop you to get the liquor from yourself. But if you ask those people to bring even the cigarettes, it will cost you much more than market price. No need to remind that snacks for the liquor will have the separate charges.

In my opinion resort is not that expensive, if you manage your schedule in such a way that you don’t miss the free facilities of resort.