Anshi National Park Dandeli

Located at the eco-sensitive part of Western Ghats (altitude ranging from 200 meters to 900 meters) in Uttara Kannada district is Anshi National Park, an evergreen tropical rainforest. Anshi National Park is a part of the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and covers about 500 square kilometers of the natural reserve.

It is a famous Tiger Reserve and is now called the Kali Tiger Reserve. With high biodiversity that is most specific to the Western Ghats of India, the attraction is a favourite amongst nature and animal lovers. The park is home to hundreds of species of wild animals, endemic birds, herbs, shrubs, and reptiles. Overlooking the Kali river which flows through it, the remarkable topography of the park includes beautiful deep valleys, dense forests and narrow hills slopes.

 

How To Reach Anshi National Park, Dandeli

By Road: The park is well connected with all the major cities of Karnataka through an excellent network of inter-linked roads. Private and Government-owned vehicles operate at regular intervals to and from the park.

By Rail: There are three railway stations near the park. The nearest is the Kanwar railway station at a distance of 60 km from the park. The next option is the Londa railway station which is 100 km away from the park. The third one is the Dharwad railway station, located approximately 106 km from the park. Buses and cabs are available in plenty from the railway stations to reach the park.

By Air: The park is well connected to two nearby airports. Dharwad airport is located at a distance of 106 km from the park. The Belgaum airport is 150 km away from the Anshi National Park. You can avail buses or cabs from the airport to reach the park.

 

Best Time To Visit Anshi National Park, Dandeli

The best time to visit Anshi National Park is between November and May when the weather is pleasant and comfortable. The temperature varies within the range of 16 deg centigrade and 35 deg centigrade. It is easy to spot the rare Black Panther at this time of the year. The unique feature of the park is to watch the Black Panther roaming around in its natural habitat. You can also visit the park in other months too but it is advisable to avoid the hot sun to restrain yourself from being tired and scorched by the heat.

 

Activities To Do in Anshi National Park, Dandeli

There are many small natural springs, brooks, and cascades in the vicinity of the park. The steep roads located inside the park will take you to the villages of Nethurga, Shivapura, Sulageri, all of them situated in the deep desolate woodland. Other tourist attractions worth checking out are the Ulavi Channabasaveshwara Temple located in the southern part of the park, Kadra Valley viewpoint, which is located 12 km away from the park and Karwar beach, located 55 km away from the park. You can also indulge in white water rafting (up to grade 3 level) at the gushing Kali river.

Enjoy The Flora And Fauna: Significant flora cover (mainly the deciduous forests) inside the park is deemed endangered by WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature). So whatever you see in the park is either a rare or vulnerable species. That being said, the park is surely rich in biodiversity. Some trees and plants that you will come across are Calophyllum Wightianum, Knema Attlenuata, Malabar tamarind, silver oak, bamboo, eucalyptus and many more. Fauna inside Anshi National Park is a treat for the eyes and are also great photography objects. The park is widely known for black panthers, tigers, and elephants. Other large animals that can be spotted here are sloth bear, bonnet macaque, slender grey loris, barking deer, Indian wild boar, mouse deer, Indian bison, sambar deer, and more.

Trekking: A pleasant stroll in Anshi National Park is the perfect way to spend a winter evening. The cool breeze brushes past your skin while spectacular sceneries surround you. Anshi Nature Camp is a trekking facility located 3 kilometres from the park. There are a total of 4 trekking routes, all of which commence from the nature camp.

 

History of Anshi National Park, Dandeli

On 10th May 1956, the forest cover in the area was declared to be known as Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. Following that, the state government proposed that a section of the forest reserve should be carved out, resulting in what we know today as Anshi National Park. The proposal was agreed upon but not implemented until 2 September 1987. Initially, it was agreed that an area of a 250km square would be spared for the park. Eventually, the final notification included an extension by 90 sq km more, making it a total of 340 km square. In December 2015, the park was renamed to Kali Tiger Reserve due to the prominence of tigers and river Kali in the area and also because the area was part of Project Tiger - an initiative to restore the number of tigers all over the world. In the past, this forest cover was mined for manganese. This had a devastating effect on wildlife and animals started migrating to other areas like villages and small towns. Fortunately, this stopped, and the wildlife is turning back to normal.