Located at a distance of about 25 km from the main town of Dandeli, the Kavala Caves are essentially several ancient limestone caves that make their way through a winding tunnel. The caves can be reached by climbing a flight of 375 steps that lead to these limestone caves that have naturally formed a Shiva Lingam. Tourists who visit this place from far off places often make the effort of crawling a length of 40 ft through these winding caves just to catch a glimpse of this famous and revered Shiva Lingam. It is believed that these caves have existed since prehistoric times and thus make for one of the star tourist attractions in Dandeli. Currently, the Kavala Caves are inhabited by numerous snakes and bats. These caves were formed by volcanic activity ages back, and are home to a lot of stalagmite formations. Dimensionally very small, these caves offer a view of the River Kali entering the valley below. These limestone caves with their winding tunnels and 375 entrance steps were formed by volcanic activities. They are home to snakes and bats. The huge stalagmite here is a major attraction for Shiva devotees.
Syntheri Rocks is one of the most scenic tourist attractions in Delhi and offer a wonderful time for the visitors with its beautiful landscape. Located in the centre of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Syntheri Rocks boasts of spectacular natural beauty that is made up of volcanic rocks with the River Kaneri passing by its side.
Named after the English lady Ms Cinthera who discovered these caves, Syntheri Rocks are today known for its marvellous topography. It is an idyllic spot for those who like to capture the best scenes in their cameras and those who are looking to retreat in places abound by nature. It is one of the top tourist places to visit in Dandeli for getting a taste of adventure in the most splendid nature. Syntheri Rocks is situated right inside the Kali Tiger Reserve (earlier known as Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary). It's a huge rock with Kaneri river flowing beneath.
Description
One of the most popular places to visit in Dandeli, Kavala Caves makes for an interesting visit. Believed to be as old as prehistoric times and made of volcanic origins, these caves can be found in the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.
The caves can be reached only after climbing down 375 steps and entering the stalagmite formations that abound in Kavala Caves. These are limestone caves and are known for making the visit a thrilling getaway with narrow climbs and trekking through the picturesque setting.
Kavala Caves offer a wonderful adventure as it is totally dark inside with the presence of snakes and bats. There is also a temple at the entrance of the caves and the most intriguing facet of Kavala Caves is the naturally formed Shivalinga which attracts a number of devotees.
The structure of the Shivalinga which is in the form of raw nuts that are named Kavala in the local language gives the name of this popular tourist spot in Dandeli.
Important Information about Kavala Caves, Dandeli
Location: Kavala Caves, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
Best Time to visit: The best months to visit Kavala Caves is from October to March
Entry fee: No cost
Timings: The timings to visit Kavala caves if from 6:00 am 6:00 pm
Distance from Dandeli Bus Stand: It takes approximately 24 kilometres to reach Kavala caves from the Dandeli Bus stand.
Important Information About Syntheri Rocks, Dandeli
Location: Syntheri Rocks, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
Best Time to visit: October to March is the most pleasant time for the tourists to go to Syntheri Rocks
Entry fee: After getting permission from the Forest Department to reach here, tourists need to pay an entry fee of INR 20/ USD 0.30 per person
Timings: It is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 for the tourists
Distance from Dandeli Bus Stand: Syntheri Rocks at about 32 km from Dandeli Bus Stand.
Travel Tips Before Visiting Syntheri Rocks
- Wear shoes that will allow you to walk comfortably and that have a good grip for walking along the banks of the river.
- Do not flout the rules by getting into the water or attempting to splash around in it. They don’t put up those signs there for anything.
- There’s no food there so if you’re the type that gets antsy within a couple of hours of eating then carry a snack. But remember to clean up after yourself.