Anshi National Park The Anshi National Park is an evergreen tropical rainforest situated in the North Kannada district in Karnataka. The park  covering an area of 340 sq km is considered as India's most endangered wildlife park. Anshi lies on the Karwar- Londa highway and is part of the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary. Anshi  got the designation as National Park in1987. Dandeli is a small town located on the banks of the Kali river in Karnataka. The forests around this town was established as Dandeli wildlife sanctuary in 1975 with an area of around 500 sq kms. The Anshi National Park and the adjoining Dandeli wildlife sanctuary together make up the Dandeli Wildlife Division of the Karnataka Forest Department. 

The topography of the park is such that it has deep valleys, steep hill slopes and dense forests. The altitude of the park varies from 200 m to 927 m and the temperature ranges between 16-37 degree Celsius. The best time to visit the park is between November and  June.  The unique feature of the park is that it is the only place in Asia where black panther is found, naturally.

The forests of Anshi and Dandeli  is rich in rare species of flora and fauna. A wide variety of  trees such as Teak (Tectona grandis), Silver Oaks (Grevillea robusta), Eucalyptus, Weeds (Lantana, Eupatorium, Parthinium), Bauhinia, Diodspyrus, Xylia xyrocarpa, Diospyrous Acacia and Bambusa are found here.

The forest area was known for its manganese in the past, the mining for which resulted in wildlife moving away from the forest. In the recent past, the mining has been stopped and the animals are slowly returning back. So chances of seeing Elephants /bison/panther are very less and limited. Black panther,  spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, common langur, sloth bear, gaur (Indian bison), wild boars, fox, bonnet macaque, slender loris, mongoose, tiger , jungle cat, jackal, pangolin, elephants, Malabar giant squirrel and the porcupine are now seen in the park. Reptiles include King cobra, python, rat snake, viper and the krait.   

Approximately 200 species of birds are found in the park. Some of them are Malabar hornbills, Ashy swallow shirkes, drongos, minivets, iora, brahminy kites, Ceylon frogmouth, yellow footed pigeon, crested serpent eagle, adjutant stork, black crested baza and peafowls.

There is trekking facility from the Anshi nature camp located 3kms off the park. All the 4 trekking routes commence from here. The treks are 1) Anshi NC -Maingani village- Dodpoda nala- Anshi NC (5.0 kms) 2) Anshi NC- Anshi range office- Nesar temba-  Anshi range office- Anshi NC (10kms) 3) Anshi NC-Matgaon- Chandkunga- Vaki Road- Kadra veiw point-Kadra (20 kms) 4) Anshi NC- Matgaon-Devarmane-Vaki Dam site- Anshi NC (20 kms). The third trek is the most difficult. The Nature Camp is well maintained with tented and dormitory accommodation and food arrangement. There are ordinary and deluxe tents and a dorm has 16 beds and the price ranges from 50- 70 for Indians and foreigners respectively. 

There are many small brooks, springs and cascades in the park. There are also small villages within the park area. The steep roads inside the park takes one to the villages of Shivapura, Nethurga and Sulageri in the deep desolate forests. Some of the tourist spots nearby are the Ulvi Channabasaveshwara Temple just outside the southeastern boundary of the Park, Kadra Valley view point (12 kms) and Karwar beach (55 kms). The park is open to tourists from 6.00 in the morning to 6.00 in the evening. The scenic and rustic river Kali flows through Dandeli wild life sanctuary. This is the only river south of Himalayas where white rafting is possible, making this place a unique destination. 

Place: North Kannada district, Karnataka
Nearest town: Dandeli (37.5 kms)
Best time to visit:  November to June
Main attraction: Black panther

History

The forest in the area was declared the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary on 10 May 1956 . The state proposed carving out a section of the sanctuary to form the Anshi national park, and the proposal was implemented on 2 September 1987 . The initial proposal covered 250 square kilometres. When the final notification of the park area was issued in 2002, it was extended by another 90 square kilometres.

Anshi and Dandeli were granted the status of Project Tiger sanctuaries in January 2007 .

Geography

Located in the Western Ghats range, Anshi's altitude varies from 200m to 925m above sea level. The park is situated in the North Western Ghats montane rain forests and North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregions, both of which are deemed endangered by the World Wildlife Fund .

Park management

The management of National parks and sanctuaries in the state is the responsibility of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild life). Anshi National Park and the adjoining Dandeli wildlife sanctuary together form the Dandeli Wildlife Division of the Karnataka Forest Department, headed by a Deputy Conservator of Forests.

Flora

The forests in the area are rich in flora and fauna. Trees and plants that can be found here include Bamboo , Bauhinia , Eucalyptus , Lantana , Silver Oak , Teak and Xylia xylocarpa.

Fauna

A variety of Bonnet Macaque , deer ( barking , mouse and spotted ), Indian bison , Malabar Civet , Malabar giant squirrel , pangolin and sloth bear make their home in the forests of the park. Besides, the black panther, elephants and tigers are rare species found in the park.

Reptiles spotted in the park include the King Cobra , Krait , Python , Rat snake and Viper .

Around 200 species of birds are recorded in the park. These include the Adjutant Stork , Ashy Woodswallow , Black-crested Bulbul , Blue-headed Pitta , Brahminy Kite , Broad-billed Roller , Crested Serpent Eagle , Great Hornbill , Golden-backed Woodpecker , Malabar Pied Hornbill , Sri Lanka Frogmouth and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon .

Distance:-	523 km North West of Bangalore
By Road: -	There are regular buses from Dandeli to Bangalore (523 km), Panaji (150km), Dharwad (106kms), Belgaum (150kms), Karwar(60kms) Pune and Mumbai . From Bangalore it is  580 Kms to Anshi National Park.
By Rail: -	Nearest Railway station is Karwar (60 kms), Londa (100kms) or Dharwad 106 Kms
By Air: -	Nearest airport to the park is Dharwad 106 kms and Belgaum 150 Kms
Route:-	SH17 to Bandipur via Maddur, Mysore, Nanjangud, Begur and Gundlepet.
When to go:-	July to October. Bandipur is closed in March and April for fear of forest fires.
Tourist offices:-	For Reservations contact  Deputy Conservator of Forests Wildlife Division, Uttara Kannada – 581 325 Tel: 0838-331585 Tariff range: Rs. 200/- to Rs. 250/- per tent. The Chief Wildlife Warden Government of Karnataka Bangalore, Karnataka Tel: 08284-30266 For Trekking  Contact Range Forest Officer , Anshi, 581 187, Joida,  Uttara Kannada Conservator of Forests , Dandeli Phone: 08284-2331585, Fax No: 08284-2332981 KSTDC (bookings and info) Badami House, NR Square, Bangalore Tel: 080-2275869, Fax: 2352626 Email: kstdc@vsnl.in
Where to stay :-	Accommodation is not available in the park, except for the nature camp for trekkers. You will need to stay at Dandeli or Dharwad. There are luxury resorts and Government guest houses in Dandeli. Kali Wilderness and Adventure Camp Kogilban, Dandeli, Haliyal Taluk, Uttara Kannada – 581 325 TeleFax: 08284-30266 ( Resort ) Tel: 080-5597021/24/25 (Corporate Office) Fax: 080-5586163 (Corporate Office) Web site: www.junglelodges.com Tariff range: Indians: Rs. 1250/- for resort stay, Rs. 2300/- for stay and white water rafting. Foreign citizens: US $50/- for resort stay, US $62/- for stay and white water rafting, US $38/- for only rafting. Bison River Resort Karwar Belgaum Highway, Ilva Village, Ganeshgudi Post: Joida Taluk, Uttara Kannada – 581 365 Tel: 0838-246548 Fax: 0838-246539 Tariff range: Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 1750/- State Lodge Opposite Central Bus Stand, J N Road, Haliyal Taluk, Dandeli, Uttara Kannada – 571 325 Tel: 0838-331920, 331299, 333606 Tariff range: Rs. 120/- to Rs. 320/- Tented accommodation at Kulgi Nature Camp Dandeli Wildlife Division, Dandeli, Uttara Kannada – 581 325 Tel: 08284-31585 Fax: 08284-31585