Magic and charm of the offbeat Dandeli Anshi Tiger Reserve

We are looking at the time of the year when we move closer towards our favourite national parks closing their doors for the season. Not all national parks in India are shut now but, by the end of June, most of them will.

Since we can’t just sit back and not do anything, we looked into wildlife parks that we can actually visit throughout the year, and the one that is offbeat in nature. We are here with the Dandeli Anshi Tiger Reserve.


Dandeli Anshi Tiger Reserve is located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The tiger reserve gets its name from the town of Dandeli in the Western Ghats region. The reserve is known for its rich biodiversity and wildlife, including the endangered Bengal tiger. Yet it is one of the least explored wildlife reserves in India.


Dandeli Anshi Reserve is generally open throughout the year for visitors. The fact that it is home to more than 40 tigers, is giving us a lot of good vibes, sighting-wise. Apart from tigers, you can also find leopards, elephants, deer, wild dogs, sloth bears to name some.



Tigers aside, the reserve is known as a great birding destination. The reserve is home to over 200 species of birds, including the Malabar pied hornbill, great hornbill, several species of woodpeckers and kingfishers. Visitors can engage in activities like jungle safaris to enjoy the wildlife bounty.

Also read: Inside the enchanting Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar

If you find time from your wildlife adventures, you can explore Dandeli town. One of the main attractions of Dandeli is river rafting in the Kali river. The Kali river offers opportunities for water-based activities like boating, river rafting, and the traditional coracle rides.