Dandeli is a hidden gem in Karnataka enfolding the pristine nature and wildlife to behold. I stayed in Dandeli Jungle camp - an essence of raw jungle sojourn. Mr Dharmesh, owner of Dandeli Jungle camp had already arranged a car for my local travel. The scorching sun calmed down by 3 pm when I began my journey towards Syntheri rock Dandeli. A 35kms drive through the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary from DJC through the rustling woods. This stretch of Dandeli is home for wild cats. The driver Vijay told me that he had sighted black panthers and leopards on his previous drives here. Yes, Dandeli is declared as the tiger reserve and conserving the wildlife is the utmost preference here. Throughout this reserve forest, I constantly kept my eye focussed to sight any wild animals. Alas! Maybe the wild cats were deep inside the forest and I wasn't lucky that day to sight them. Brief on Syntheri rock A monolithic single granite boulder with a height of 300ft with the river Kaneri flowing at
Travel stories by Smitha Nandish