Dandeli Day-1

It was during the December holidays. Since Aarush had his periodic tests, we couldn’t plan a long vacation. To break the monotony, I decided to take a short trip with Aarush and a few colleagues, somewhere nearby within the state.

Usually, whenever people hear about my travel plans, they ask me to inform them so they can join. But when I discussed the idea of visiting Dandeli with some colleagues, most of them backed out after hearing it would be a two-night stay — except for one colleague who was interested. So, the two of us decided to stick to the plan. I had never been to Dandeli before, so I was quite excited.

My colleague offered to take care of the planning as she had a connection with a travel agent. However, we mostly wanted to get an idea of what Dandeli had to offer so we could plan our activities independently rather than rely completely on an agent. We even found a place to stay by checking Facebook and listed out the activities to make the most of our trip.

Meanwhile, I casually mentioned the plan to one of my school-time friends, and she showed interest too. We quickly roped her in. She volunteered to arrange the cab for our travel, and after speaking to two or three cab providers, we finalized one.

On the day of departure, Aarush and I took an auto to Gurguntapalya, where I was supposed to meet my two friends, as the cab would be coming from their side of the city. Once they arrived, we began our journey.

Barely an hour into the trip, we got stuck near Chitradurga on the highway for almost an hour because a military vehicle had broken down, and the area was cordoned off. Despite the delay, we reached Utsav Rock Garden by afternoon.

Utsav Rock Garden is a Contemporary Sculpture Museum located near Hubballi, about 37 km towards Bangalore on NH4 at Gotagodi Village. It’s a wonderful place showcasing the forgotten rural life of Karnataka and is well-known as an educational and cultural tourist spot, with both indoor and outdoor sculptures. After exploring the garden, we had a late lunch and hit the road again. It was already dark by the time we reached our Woodpecker exotic retreat and spa, which was fairly new. We checked in, had our dinner (included in the package) and retired for the night.

Day-II

Adventure-Packed Day in Dandeli

We woke up early, eager to start our day. It was already planned to go for a morning walk with a guide. He led us through a quiet trail in the forest, eventually bringing us to a serene riverbank. Tucked away in lush evergreen woods, surrounded by dense deciduous trees, and alive with vibrant flora and fauna, it felt like a peaceful secret spot near Supa Dam, with stunning views of synthetic rock formations.

After soaking in the calm beauty of nature, we returned to the resort, had a hearty breakfast, and got ready for the adventurous day ahead. Driving our own car, we headed to the nearby water sports area, buzzing with tourists who had come for zip lining, rafting, kayaking, bamboo boating, and coracle rides.

We had booked our activities in advance, but we still had to wait for a while as the place was crowded. The weather was perfect, and the sun was shining brightly. We took this opportunity to explore the area and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The river was flowing gently, and the sound of water splashing against the rocks created a soothing ambiance.

Upon arrival, we purchased tickets for the activities we were interested in. We noticed the queue for zip lining was still short, so we started there. Very soon, however, a crowd gathered behind us. The zip line stretched across the river, and after zipping to the other side, we splashed back through the water — an exhilarating and unforgettable experience!

Next up was river rafting. The session typically lasts about 1.5 hours, covering 12 kilometers. Before setting off, our rafting guide conducted a short training session, teaching us the commands and letting us practice. He made sure everyone was confident and safe before we ventured out onto the river. Once we began, the adrenaline rush was unbelievable — truly a highlight of the trip!

Even after all that excitement, we weren’t done with the water just yet. Kayaking was next. Although it was my first time, I teamed up with my colleague. As soon as I stepped into the kayak, it toppled over, sending both of us splashing into the water! My colleague jokingly shouted***, “Aapne mujhe paani mein gira diya!” — ***it was absolutely hilarious! We somehow got going, but after just a few meters, we got stuck on an underwater root. After much laughing and struggling, we finally freed ourselves, while my son and friend were gliding smoothly across the water without any drama.

We paddled around for a bit and then decided to head back to the riverbank. My son, full of energy, stayed back to swim a few laps before we finally wrapped up. Before leaving, we collected our GoPro photos clicked by our rafting guide — capturing all our wild moments perfectly. Soaked and happy, we returned to the resort for a much-needed hot shower in the chilly weather.

Since it was Christmas Eve, the resort had organized games and live music for the evening. We danced our hearts out, participated in all the games, and to top it off — each of us won a prize! It was the perfect way to end an action-packed, joy-filled day.

Day-III

A Morning of Missed Shoes and Change of Plans

We had initially planned to squeeze in a short jungle safari before heading back. But as the morning began, I suddenly realized I had left one of my pairs of shoes at the water sports center we visited the day before.

I had actually carried two pairs with me — one was kept safely in the locker along with our other belongings, while the second pair stayed with me. Although we had collected everything after finishing our activities, during the chaos of gathering our GoPro photos, I must have dropped one shoe and completely forgot about it.

Determined to retrieve them, my friend and I woke up our driver and rushed back to the water sports center. After spending almost two hours searching, it became clear that someone had already picked them up. A bit disappointed, we returned to the resort and sat down for breakfast.

With hardly any time left for the safari and a long drive ahead, we decided it was better to pack up and start our journey back to Bangalore right after breakfast. It felt like a wise choice — reaching home at a good time rather than getting stuck on the road late at night.

Sometimes, plans shift unexpectedly, but they always add their own little stories to the trip!

Pictures Dandeli 2022