White Water Rafting at Dandeli

Note: Hope i I didn’t run away with the length and i hope you guys like it!!

I am planning to pendown since long time.. so here i am posting this. A 3 day adventures trip with 12 adventurers from GHAC to the land surrounded by Forest and a River. 'Dandeli'. Dandeli is one of the best adventure destination in south India, located at northern part of Karnataka and on the banks of river KALI, middle of western ghats.

The summer had started and the temperatures are already soaring. and Siri (Organizer) had planned this trip in the month of April end. Though it was a good decision, as we are going to the place surrounded by thick forest and a river.. so obviously no worries about the temperature :) and we were excited. There can be no other feeling more wonderful than dipping your feet in cold running water and feeling the spray on your face!!

Day 1

So, the group of eight adventurers (Siri, lakshmi, Archita, Susmitha, Awinash, Chakri, Aditya and Myslef) started from Hyderabad to Hubli and the rest four adventurers started from Banglore to Hubli. As they were working in Banglore, we planned to meetup at Hubli. We are traveling by public transport (KSRTC) till Hubli. And Siri had already booked the cab from Hubli to Dandeli. We suppose to board the bus at 8.30 PM from Hyderabad, but asusual no wonders... the bus has been delayed and we had to wait till 10.00 PM. We some how managed to kill the time and boarded the bus at 10 O'clock. The journey started!! Though the bus was of Karnataka, the driver must be knowing the taste of hyderabadi people, he played Salman khan movie 'Dabang 2' :D In the midst, Awinash took out aalu parathas packed in a silver foil from his back pack. Parathas with Dabang 2.. ahh!! thats completely 'hutke'. Thanks to Awinash for Parathas!!

Day 2

It was half past Seven in the morning next day, we reached Hubli. The other four adventurers Uday, Abhinav, Anusha and Anusha were already there and waiting for us, (Yes! Ironically they two has the same name). And our cab was there on time... So, all the 12 adventurers are here... we had clicked a few kodak moments and without wasting much time we started towards Dandeli... It was somewhere around 1-2 hrs of journey and the whole route was through the forest with curvy routes. It's one of the route that is more attractive and spectacular. I wish i could someday drive on these routes. Finally we reached Dandeli!! and our accommodation was at Stanley's farm a jungle resort  in the mid of the forest. So we freshened up ourselves and post breakfast we started towards the first activity of the day 'Fox Flying'. 10 min. walkable distance into the forest and there is a small lake for Fox flying. though it was not that adventures nor any risk factor involved, it was fun and everyone enjoyed it. Without risk there is no Adventure!! So, we moved to the next activity 'River Crossing'. River crossing is not like simply crossing the river by swimming or rowing a boat but by using a harness and a rope. One needs a good stamina to do this. It is not so Adventures for the experienced, but it's quit challenging for the beginners (Most of them are beginners). We didn't even noticed It was almost half-day past...!! Back to resort for a quick lunch and after that we are all set for the much awaited and the main activity 'White Water Rafting'.

 

White water Rafting

White water rafting in Kali river is of 9 KM stretch. and the activity started with a brief training session by the Instructor (Stanley). We got the peddles and put on the life jackets and all set to GO!! We were divided into two groups of six each, coz only eight persons are allowed in one boat. Every boat has an instructor along. We started rowing, after a while Stanley asked us to jump into the water to get acquainted to the water!! than we realized that all of them were non-swimmers except Awinash and Lakshmi! Than with some courage we took a dive into the water...  and after some fun swimming we were back on the boat and heading towards the first Rapid, and first rapid of everyone's life!! We all felt the force of the water on our body as we slid through the boisterous water... and our other group were beyond us... very soon there was a second rapid. We passed through the rush of the water and noticed that Abhinav (from the second group)was thrown out of the boat! he was in river being washed away, but everyone who saw him pulled him back on the board!! We moved towards the third rapid and than fourth.... totally we passed 9 such rapids. The last rapid was the biggest one!! The water gushing heavily and we had to row in the opposite direction of the flow to go near the rapid!! We completely got drenched... Our instructor Stanley was so good that he made us slid into the last rapid 4-5 times!! All-in-All its a good Rafting experience and everyone enjoyed it!! and finally we are way back to the resort for a quick dinner and a night walk followed by a campfire!!

Water Rafting.

Camp Fire

Night walk was dam good!! We were already cautioned that the forest is famous for leopards and Bears... though we know its not a good sign.. still we went on for a walk. Siri and lakshmi were holding the tourch... as we were in the mid of the forest, there was no sign of lights, huge trees on both sides of the path... couple of them were like having a cold feet. After a furlong distance... the lane divides to the right... with the help of the torch light we noticed that there is a huge Peepal tree over there!! and no one was ready to get into that lane... however with some courage and braveness me and Abhinav started walking towards that tree and others followed back.. for some reason we took a turn and came back to the resort. By then the campfire was ready!! and its time for some fun... and we started dumb shell arts!! Chakri must be awarded as the Masters of dumb shell arts... whatever crap you give him, he'll break through the words and with his dumb movements the team will hit the right answer!! after that we left to steal a nap.

Day3

Woke-up before the Sun rise when the  sky was still dark, it was Four in the morning. It's bit chilly and the dew is definitely in the air. We planned to start the day with rappelling. Rappelling spot was near to the Bison River Resort, It was about 10-15 Km of travel to reach the Bison resort and from there a Kilometer of walk into the forest.. it was like a warm-up session in the morning and there we reached the spot. This place is known as the Birds resting area in the forest. Till the arrangements were made for rappelling, we enjoyed the beautiful sunrise. There was only one line to rappel down, one-on-one we started rappelling down.. Chakri, Susmitha and Anusha K had the hardest time to rappel down.

Sunrise

After we done with the rappelling... we were ready for the Forest Trek. Boarded the vehicle and started towards the starting point of the trek. We started the trek at Six in the morning, the guy from the resort guided us. It was a thick forest and path was muddy and slippery and in between it was steep . The path was full of plants with thorns.. We had to clear the path in the midst to move ahead. Almost after a 4 Km of trek, here we are at the Back Waters..! "Supa dam reservoir". The panoramic view of the reservoir was too good surrounded by mountains on one side and the forest on the other side. The best thing was the flock of birds hunting for the fishes... that was the best scenic view we saw. So after a fun swimming and relaxing we started way back. and finally reached the starting point till than it was somewhere around Nine O'clock. So whats next? obviously it's time for Pet Pooja! Breakfast. After a quick BF we started towards the Bison River Resort for Kayaking. Everyone spent a good time of an hour in Kayaking followed by Crocacle ride.

Supa dam reservoir

The final and the interesting part was "Jacuzzi". Jacuzzi is nothing but sitting in the river water and enjoying the force stream of water around you. It's the place where you get the natural massage from spilling water of river Kali. Nowhere else you find water so playful, so pure and crystal clear waters cascade down the rapids of Kali River gurgling, whispering, laughing & cleansing everything in their way.We spent most of the time in water.. actually we can spend hours there in water! It was half day past we were getting late, we have to get back to the resort and pack and start to Hubli to catch the bus to Hyderabad. At last we reached the resort, had a quick lunch.. packing was done and yeah... there were a final Kodak moments as well. We some how managed to be on time at Hubli and we have finally bid a final adieu to Bangloreites and boarded the bus to Hyderabad.

Day 4
Now get back to work!! This is the Toughest part i say...