Uttara Kannada is the largest district in Karnataka and has some of the best places to visit in the Coastal Karnataka. It is blessed by numerous destinations that will be liked by travelers of all kinds. Pristine beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, river basins, waterfalls, beautiful landscapes of Western Ghats, and so on. The list is endless. Many of these places are less explored but you can connect well with nature. The details of some of the places I have visited have their own respective pages. There are few other places which are worth visiting, and I hope to get there when possible.

Places to visit in Coastal Karnataka

If you are in the Coastal Karnataka region, your main attractions are going to be beaches. However, this district has a lot of other places too that can pleasantly surprise you. Here are few places that you can plan to visit during your tour.

Murudeshwar

Murudeshwar is a small town right on the beach. It became popular after a 120+ foot tall statue of Lord Shiva was constructed. The whole town is built around this statue. Apart from this statue, you can also find a temple right next to it. Murudeshwar is also popular for its water sports from boating, kayaking, jet ski ride. You can also go for Scuba Diving at Nethrani Island. If you are from Bangalore, this is a perfect weekend destination for you.

Honnavara

Honnavar is a town in Karnataka that is located between Murudeshwar and Gokarna. You can call this place as a hidden gem as many just drive through this place without visiting. If you are in the region, I would suggest that you must visit this place (and thank me later ;-)). You can walk through the Sharavathi Mangroves, go for Kayaking, talk to the fishermen and understand their daily lives if you are interested. You can also visit Apsarakonda Falls, a falls that is so close to the beach, that you can follow the trails and walk to a deserted Apsarakonda Beach. A little further, you can also visit Kasarkod Beach, which is a designated Blue Flag in Karnataka. Do you need more reasons to visit Honnavara?

Gokarna

Gokarna is another beautiful coastal town, and a perfect weekend destination. This town also has few temples that are popular, but also has few places for the adventurists. The most popular activity here is a beach trek. You can either start the beach trek from Om Beach or Gokarna Main Beach and can climb over the cliffs to reach Belekan Beach. Trekking the entire stretch will easily take 4-5 hours depending on how many stops you take at each of the hidden beaches. In addition, you can also visit Mirjan Fort that is just a few kilometers away. Know about this fascinating fort, and the history behind it.

Karwar

This is the last/first Coastal town of Karnataka, right at the Karnataka – Goa border. Often ignored by visitors in the region, but this place has its own vibes. A perfect destination if you want a crowd free place to yourself. Check the list of Places to visit in Karwar, and you can decide if this place is for you!

Yana Caves

Are you interested in exploring caves? Then Yana Caves is the place for you. Know about the story behind these caves, and why do you find these caves in the middle of a think forest. Yana Caves can be visited by a short trek (about 20-40 minutes depending on the route you take).

Dandeli

If you want to experience wildlife, and enjoy the water sports together in the same trip, then Dandeli and Syntheri Rocks is a good weekend choice. The river rafting here, especially in October/November season, will be at its best. You can also go for jungle safari at the Anshi or Dandeli National Park. There have been occasional instance of sighting a Black Panther in this region, sometimes even on the main roads!

Sahasralinga

Not often known or visited, as it is a little far from rest of the place mentioned. However, Sahasralinga is one place that you should not miss. There is a story behind why there are about 1000 Shiva Lingas right on the river. If you are in the region, especially during the non-monsoon season, you must visit this place.

Waterfalls of Coastal Karnataka

There is no dearth of waterfalls in the region. Jog Falls is the most popular of all the falls. While the water here is dam controlled, and there will be less water throughout the season, this falls should be visited in monsoon to see its real beauty. In addition to Jog, there are Unchalli Falls, Bennehole Falls, Sathodi Falls, Magod Falls, Vibhoothi Falls, Apsarakonda Falls and a few hidden falls in the region. If you are a waterfall lover, Uttara Kannada will not fail to impress you.

Other beautiful places:

• Shivagange Falls / Ganesh Falls (near Sirsi)
• Waate HaLLa Falls
• Burude Falls
• Vibhooti Falls
• Dabbe Falls
• Kanoor Kote
• Mattighatta Falls (also called Hase Halla Falls)
• Bheemanavare Gudda
• Don Holyar Falls
• Tibetan Monastery, Mundgod (also known as Gaden Jangtse Monastery)
• Kanchikallu Gudda
• Kushavali (birth place of River Kali)
• Kavala Caves (Sidda Caves)
• Dudhsagar Falls

If you are aware of any other place that can get into the list, please leave a note.