Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Uttara Kannada District that covers 866 square kilometers (334 square miles) of deciduous forest with wide bamboo groves and teak plantations along the Kali River. The landscape shifts between dense undergrowth and open stretches near the water where visitors can watch animals drinking.

The area was forested land for centuries before being set aside as a reserve much later. In 2006, it merged with the neighboring Anshi National Park and became a tiger reserve.

The name comes from regional stories that link it to a deity called Dandelappa or an old king named Dandakanayaka. These oral traditions reflect how surrounding communities see the forest and show that natural spaces carry legends passed down through generations.

Visitors explore the reserve through guided tours, walks in the forest, or boat trips on the Kali River, which offer better chances to see wildlife near the shore. The best time to visit is outside the monsoon months when paths and waterways are easier to navigate.

The reserve records more black panther sightings than any other tiger reserve in the country and serves as an important site for leopard research. Scientists observe the behavior of these melanistic big cats in their natural environment here.