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Uttara Kannada district

Uttara Kannada district is spread over an area of 10,291 sq. km. and is dominantly rural. The district headquarters is located at Karwar. It is an ideal tourist destination and some of the major tourist destinations are the Devbagh Beach, Dandeli Wild life Sanctuary, Kurumgad Island, Unchalli Falls and Magod Falls.

Dandeli Wild life Sanctuary

Quite a handful of National parks are found in the western region of India. Dandeli Wild life Sanctuary is one such significant Sanctuary, which draws attention of tourists from all over the country. It is located on the fringes of Western Ghats, contributing the entire park to wear a rugged outlook. In the Dandeli Wild life Sanctuary the mountain range flanks the western coast of India. It is also known for its exuberant biodiversity. The sanctuary constitutes an area of 843.16 sq km in Karnataka. Also it is a part of an almost contiguous forest, across northwest Karnataka, southwest Maharashtra and eastern Goa. Together with the Anshi National Park, the forests of Bhimgad and Radhanagri, and Goa`s Cotigao and Netravali sanctuaries, this region forms a vital passage for tigers and other wildlife.

LeopardTourism industry is developing in leaps and bounds. Hundreds of tourists visit the place every year. The concerned authorities are also providing facilities for them so that they can take a glance of the sanctuary at ease. A ride in a small and angular boat made of bamboo and also covered with hide, is an enjoyable way to travel around the park. The Dandeli Wild life Sanctuary is home for a variety of wild flora and fauna. Multitudes of animals, namely the Kaneri and the Nagajhari are seen taking a stroll on the banks of mighty Kali rivers and its various tributaries. Special animal specie, known as the Gaur are thought to belong to the bison family. However they actually belong to the kin of the Indian ox. Other mammalian species include Asian Elephant, Tiger, Gaur (Indian Bison), Leopard, Wild Dog (Dhole), Slotli Bear, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer and Common Palm Civet.

The Asian Elephant too are found in large herds, especially on the riverbanks. Turtles and crocodiles are shy and reclusive, usually run away carefully with the arrival of even a small boat. Cormorants and Darters are special types of aquatic birds reside in the tree trunks of the riverside. Any one can see them near water with their elongated wings sparkling in the sunlight.

Dandeli Wild life SanctuaryThe presence of beautiful birds of woodlands also fills the premises of the whole of Dandeli Wild life Sanctuary with some enchanting tunes. These include Grey jungle fowl, Indian Peafowl, Red Spurfowl, Great Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Spangled Drongo, Green Imperial Pigeon, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Chestnut-headed Bee-eater. Malabar Trogon, Hill Myna, Asian Fairy Bluebird, White-bellied. Plenty of birds are found in the dense forests. Woodpecker, White-cheeked Barbet (below), Drongo Cuckoo, Malabar Parakeet, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Little Spiderhunter, Loten`s Sunbird are some of them.

The Dandeli wild life Sanctuary has another reason to attract attention. Near about large numbers of tribes, mainly the Gowlis and the Siddis are the local habitants. Naturally Anthropologists throng the place to explore the lifestyles of these natives, who have got very rich cultural heritage.

Several sites in and around the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary are worth a visit. The ancient limestone caves at Kavala and the monolithic granite formation of Syntheri Rock by the Kaneri River make for interesting trips. The translucent spring waters at Mandurli and Kulagi, both within the sanctuary, are main water bodies. In Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary even one can enjoy trekking to Siroh, the highest point in the Uttar Kannada district,. Another out of this worldview in sanctuary is that of the untamed and wild Kali Valley from Sykes Point.