23 Best Tourist Places in Uttara Kannada

Uttara Kannada, which is a district of Karnataka positioned in its northernmost part, is also known as North Canara, and major parts of the district come under Western Ghats shyhadri ranges. Uttara Kannada is a coastal district full of natural bliss, and it is home to numerous hidden gems, like flora and fauna, wildlife, hill stations, rivers, and beautiful hidden waterfalls. Karwar, which is one of the oldest and largest ports of India, is the headquarter of this beautiful district, and this district is home to a wide range of temples and beaches because it is positioned on the coastal side of the Arabian Sea. Uttara Kannada district is one of the few districts of Karnataka that houses numerous hidden waterfalls that are literally untouched by humans, and this district is also known for its western ghat wildlife. River Kaali, which is the major river of the district, gives life to a variety of flora and fauna, and it flows through the entire district. Anshi National Park and Tiger Reserve, positioned near Dhandeli, is one of Karnataka's largest and most dense wildlife sanctuaries. Some of the major projects of Uttara Kannada include the Dandeli paper factory, Kaiga power plant, and Supa dam near Ganeshgudi. Other must-visit tourist attractions of the district include Dandeli, Yallapura, Karwar, Sirsi, Murudeshwar, Gokarna, and Yana Rocks (unusual large monolithic rock formations). This article talks about all the tourist attractions of the district that allures tourists from all over India and is popular among visitors who want to spend their vacation exploring some hidden gems of the city.

(1) Unchalli Falls

Unchalli Falls, which is positioned near Sirsi in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka, India, is a waterfall created by a 116-metre (381 ft) drop in the Aghanashini river, and it is also known as Lushington Falls. The falls were discovered by J D Lushington, who worked as a District Collector here under British Government, in 1945, and that's why these falls are named after him. Heggarne, which is positioned only 33 Kms from Sirsi, is a hamlet in Uttar Kannada district, and one can choose to trek 5 Kilometers (approximately 3 miles) from here to reach the Unchalli Falls through the thick forest. Here the river leaps into a steep valley to form a picturesque, spectacular waterfall view, and it also makes a cavalcade of the waterfall. Because of the deafening sound produced by the falls, these falls are sometimes called Keppa Joga by the native people of the city.

(2) Tattihallia Dam

Tattihallia Dam, which is positioned near Dandeli in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka, India, is a small reservoir, and it is also known as Tattihalla Dam. This dam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, and it is beautifully positioned between the forest and mountains. This dam is a source of livelihood for the surrounding rural people, and it is positioned only 3 KM from Bhagawati (haliyal taluk). This is a very nice dam & great fishing spot, and one can reach this dam by bike, car or any other four-wheeler. There is also a tar road which is connecting the dam with the main route, but this road needs to improve more, and overall, this dam is a great spot to enjoy and spend some time with family and friends.

(3) Supa Dam

Supa Dam, positioned near the town of Ganeshgudi (near Dandeli) in Uttara Kannada, is built across the Kali River, and there is a powerhouse at the foot of this dam. There are two electricity generators of 50 MW each are built inside this powerhouse, and the reservoir and dam are the biggest reason for the survival of wildlife around the area. The gigantic dam is a must-visit place in the Uttara Kannada, and the view around the dam is totally amazing. The blue water flowing in the river and the greenery all around is a perfect sight to enjoy with family and friends.

(4) Shivapura Hanging Bridge

Shivapura Hanging Bridge, which is positioned just 5 KMs away from the popular tourist spot Sathodi falls, is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of the district, and it is located near Yellapur in Uttara Kannada district. This bridge is built on the backwaters of Kodasalli Reservoir, a reservoir which is formed by the Kali River, and it is pure bliss for all visitors to ride on this bridge. Getting to this is an adventure ride in itself, and it is a perfect place for nature lovers and bird watchers. The bridge is one of the must-visit places for photographers and nature lovers because the bridge is surrounded by green hills with clouds flying, which makes a stunning view around the bridge.

(5) Shivaganga Falls

Shivaganga Waterfalls, which is positioned near Sirsi in Uttara Kannada, falls from a height of 242 feet from the top, and it is one of the lesser-known and explored waterfalls of the state. Hidden in thick forestland, which is located very closely to Sirsi, Ankola and Yellapur Taluks of Uttara Kannada, Shivaganga Waterfall is a part of the Western Ghats of the state, and Shalmala River is the source river of this waterfall. To reach the waterfall, one has to trek down 3 Kilometers through the forest, and that's why this waterfall has become a must-visit tourist destination for all trek enthusiasts.

(6) Shirley Falls

Positioned near Yellapur, in Uttara Kannada, Shirley Falls is also known as Shirale Falls, and it is a very scenic waterfall that allures tourists from all over India. Many travellers or visitors, who visit the city, remain unaware of Shirley Falls because this fall is hidden inside the Arabail Ghat, and to reach this fall, one has to drive 15 minutes from small town Yellapur, which is followed by a trek on a muddy road of 2 km (30-minute scenic trekking). This 30-minute trek is known as very scenic because visitors during the trek walk through the jungle and speak with nature under the private areca palms, and this fall is positioned approximately 13 Km from Yellapur.

(7) Sathodi Falls

Sathodi Falls, which is positioned near Yellapur, in Uttara Kannada district, falls from a height of 50 feet, and it is also one of the lesser-known and explored waterfalls of the state. Being a beautiful hidden waterfall in the Western Ghats, Sathodi Waterfalls gives mesmerizing views to visitors, and it is formed by a number of unnamed streams. The streams, which form the Sathodi Waterfall, flow into the backwaters of the Kodasalli Dam, which is positioned on the Kali River after the streams fall from the height. The 5 KM range road near the waterfall is in very good condition; otherwise, the road to the waterfall is not in good condition, and despite the condition of the road, the road to the falls is never dangerous for visitors or anyone. The falls become heaven for nature lovers during the monsoon time, and there is a 1 KM long concrete walk path starting from the parking area to the foot of the falls. Visitors can also take a dip in the clean and crystal water during the months of December to March, and it is also known to be the best time for visiting this fall. Shivapura hanging bridge, which is a hanging bridge, positioned 5 KMs from the falls during the way, gives mesmerizing views of the surrounding hills and backwaters, and it was constructed on the backwaters of the Kodasalli dam across the hills.

(8) Sadashivgad Fort

Sadashivgad Fort, which is now a popular tourist destination located by the Kali river bridge, is a very picturesque and significant place for the native people as well as for visitors, and it is positioned in Karwar, Uttara Kannada district. Counted among one of the best forts of the northern region of the state, Sadashivgad Fort has been built at the confluence of the Arabian Sea and the Kali River.

(9) Om Beach

Om Beach, which is positioned in Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, is one of the fantastic and beautiful beaches of the state, and it derives its name from its shape. The shape of this beach is in the form of the classic Sanskrit word Om in Hindi, and that's why it became popular with Om Beach's name only. There are steps leading down to the beach, and tourists can choose to watch amazing sunrise and sunset views and do trekking from there. Om Beach, located approximately 5 km from Gokarn temple, also offers many water adventures and sports for the visitors, such as Kayaking, Banana Boat, and many others. Thousands of visitors come to Gokarna every year from all over India to soak themselves on this beautiful beach and for pilgrims as well.

(10) Murudeshwara Beach

Murudeshwara Beach, which is positioned only 12km from Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada, is known for its beautiful beach, the tallest statue of lord Shiva, and ancient temple, and it is a major pilgrimage and beach destination of the state. Murudeshwara Beach is a perfect picnic spot for visitors to spend quality time with family or friends, and it is positioned overlooking the monumental statue of Lord Shiva, and this statue of Lord Shiva, which is located on the lap of the Arabian sea in Murudeshwara, is the second biggest statue of Lord Shiva in the whole world after the biggest one positioned in Nepal. The statue is built on Kanduka Hill, a typical Uttara Kannada hill which is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides, and the view of the temple built on the beach is magnificent.

(11) Murudeshwar

Murudeshwar, which is known for its beach, tallest statue of Lord Shiva, and ancient temple, is positioned approximately 12 KMs from Bhatkal in the Uttara Kannada district, and it is a major pilgrimage and beach destination for all visitors. Tourists can here enjoy boat rides around the magnificent Murudeshwar Temple, and this is also a perfect picnic spot for families and loved ones. Murudeshwar is popular for having the tallest statue of Lord Shiva all in the world after the statue of Lord Shiva is present in Nepal, and it is positioned overlooking this monumental statue. Both the statue and temple are present on the beach in Murudeshwara, and the statue is positioned on the lap of the Arabian Sea. Tourists can witness the breathtaking and magnificent view of the statue of Lord Shiva from the top of the Gopura, which is the temple's main entrance, and it stands at the height of 123 feet. All these attractions and alluring features of the Murudeshwar make it one of the best and most beautiful tourist destinations of Uttara Kannada, and tourists can visit this spot throughout the year.

(12) Mirjan Fort

The Mirjan Fort, which was the location of several battles in the past, is known for its elegant architecture, and it is positioned on the west coast of the Uttar Kannada district. This fort is a very popular Hindu pilgrimage centre on the west coast of India, and it is only half a kilometer from the NH (National Highway) 66 and 11 KMs from Gokarna. Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gersoppa, a place which was under the Vijayanagara Empire, was initially credited for the construction of this fort in the early 16th century, according to the earlier historical versions. During the reign of the queen, the port of Mirjan was used for shipping betel nut, saltpeter, and pepper to Surat, Gujarat, and she lived in the fort during her entire ruling period of 54 years. Queen of Gersoppa, a district which was famous for the export of pepper, was given the epithet "Rainha de Pimenta" (which translates to "Rani, the Pepper queen") by the Portuguese because of pepper export only.

(13) Magod Falls

Magod Falls, which is positioned only 17 km from the town of Yellapur, in the district of Uttara Kannada, is a group of waterfalls in the state, and in this fall, the source River Bedti falls from a height of around 200m in two steps. It is one of the best tourist destinations of Uttara Kannada, which most tourists love to visit during their trip to the city, and these falls are easily accessible from several lakes and towns.

(14) Lalguli Falls

Lalguli Falls, which was created by River Kali, is positioned near Lalguli village in Uttara Kannada district, and it is an exotic waterfall present only 15 KMs from Yellapur. This waterfall attracts visitors from all over India throughout the year because it provides a peaceful and serene environment, and it is also a perfect spot for photographers and nature enthusiasts because of its natural scenic beauty. When the River Kali rolls down the rocky steps from a height of around 250 feet, it creates this famous Lalguli Falls and the best time to visit this waterfall is from October to December because, in the summer season, it gets dry. Many tourists are not able to locate the falls as it's inside the dense forest, and therefore, they have to take help from local people to reach the falls.

(15) Kuli Magod Waterfall

There are many tourist attractions present around the Magod Waterfall, and only Kuli Magod Waterfall among all of them stands out as the most popular and beautiful one. The Kuli Magod Waterfall, in which 'Kuli' means 'Pond' in Kannada, is formed by a tiny tributary of River Bedti, and it stands out because of its accessibility and sheer beauty. The relatively easy accessibility of this tourist attraction made it a not-to-be-missed tourist destination for visitors who are nature lovers and traveling to Magod Travels. Usually, in the Uttara Kannada district, it requires a great amount of trekking from the visitors to reach the foot of any waterfall in the city, but this is not the with the Kuli Magod Waterfall, which makes is one of the most famous waterfalls in the state. Tourists can get under the misty showers of this waterfall falling from a height of around 50 feet with very little effort and a few minutes of trekking and traveling from the Magod Falls.

(16) Kudle Beach

Gokarna, which has many beaches and temples, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole state, and Kudle Beach is one of the beaches in this beautiful destination. Among all the beaches present in Gokarna, Kudle Beach is the most popular and most visited beach by visitors, and it is positioned near Gokarn Om Beach at approximately one and a half kilometers. This beach is surrounded by rocks and hillocks from three sides, and it is one of the most famous beaches in the state because of its unmatched beauty. To enjoy more the pristine scenery of the hills surrounding the beach on three sides, many tourists opt to walk for a long unobstructed distance, and during their walk, they also get amazing views of the sea stretching to the horizon. This is why this beach is very popular among trekking lovers and nature enthusiasts, and for photographers, this beach is a picturesque landscape.

(17) Kodasalli Dam

Kodasalli Dam, which was built by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited, is positioned at the Yellapura taluk of Uttara Kannada district, and it is built across the Kali River (Kalindi). Kodasalli Dam, which is a major electric power generating station for the district, is positioned 97 km from Yellapur and 72km from Karwar, and it is classified as a hydroelectric power station. Because of its unique built style and size of the power station, this dam is counted as one of the tourist destinations visitors love to visit during their trip to the Uttara Kannada.

(18) Karwar Beach

Karwar Beach, positioned on the shores of the Arabian sea in Uttara Kannada district, is present in the beautiful Karwar city and is also known as Rabindranath Tagore Beach popularly. The serenity and peace around the beach and on the beach are mind-calming, and it is a silent and clean beach, which makes it a very popular tourist attraction in the whole district. Tourists can visit a fish museum and the war museum, both of them are located near the beach, and they can always spot children playing around the beach. This beach is positioned approximately 60 kms from Gokarn and 70 Kms from Goa, and one can also enjoy plenty of adventure sports always available at the beach. Karwar city, where Karwar Beach is present, is a harbor city surrounded by the Arabian Sea from one side and the Western Ghats from the other city and this city is also covered with ever-green geography. The beauty of the city, this Karwar Beach, and the mighty Kali River that flows through the city make this city an alluring and popular tourist attraction for all visitors.

(19) Kadra Dam

Built across the Kali River, Kadra Dam is also present near Karwar city, and this is a power generation and irrigation dam in the city with 150 MW capacity. It is well connected with the Yellapur city of Uttara Kannada and is also counted as one of the famous tourist spots in Karwar. A beautiful park around this dam is one of the major attractions of this area, and this park has colorful trees and plants, caves, cascades, fountains, and many other attractions. Mahamayi Temple, which attracts pilgrims and devotees from nearby villages, is a popular and ancient temple positioned near the dam, and this dam is present only 20 Kms from the Anshi National Park and 42 KMs from the Karwar.

(20) Half Moon Beach

Half Moon Beach, which is present in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, is positioned 2 KM southeast of Scarborough Castle on the north coast of Livingston Island, and it is a small crescent-shaped beautiful and magnificent beach. It is a very attractive beach that allures visitors from all over India to this city, and because of its beauty and picturesque landscape view, it is counted as one of the best places to visit during the trip to Uttara Kannada. Robert Fildes, who had salers working in this place from 1820 to 1822, recorded this descriptive name of the beach, and this beach lies at the western extreme of the Porlier Bay. The San Telmo, which was the Wreckage of the Spanish Ship that sank off the island in 1819, was subsequently found on the beach in later years.

(21) Gokarna

Gokarna, which is known for its numerous surrounding beaches and historic Mahabaleshwar Temple, attracts many visitors from all over India throughout the year, and it is counted as one of the major tourist destinations of Uttara Kannada district. Many tourists and devotees from all over India are attracted to this famous Mahabaleshwar Temple because the history and legends associated with it make a visit to this temple even more special, and one more reason for alluring the tourists is that it is also mentioned in the Hindu epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. There are many beaches, such as Kudle beach, Full Moon Beach, Half Moon Beach, Om Beach, and many other popular beaches, present in this city and these are counted among the famous beaches of the state. Most of the beaches in the city have got their name because of their shape, and all of these beaches are very less crowded and very clean. Tourists can get an amazing view of the sunset and sunrise by spending some time on these beaches during their trip, and they can also enjoy some trekking to reach these beaches.

(22) Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a part of the Anshi Dandeli Tiger Reserve and adjacent to Anshi National Park, is a popular tourist destination of Uttara Kannada, and it is positioned near the town of Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district. This wildlife sanctuary is known as a paradise for birdwatchers because currently, it houses nearly 200 species of birds, and the mugger crocodile and the King Cobra are the prime reptilians in this wildlife sanctuary. Other than this, visitors can also get to enjoy the sighting of the Indian peafowl, Indian Elephant, Indian Sloth Bear, the giant Malabar squirrel, the Indian pangolin, and the Black Panther, which are very common in this wildlife sanctuary, and Nature viewpoints and small hidden waterfalls of the Dandeli present near this wildlife sanctuary also appease visitors from all India to visit this wildlife sanctuary at least once in their life.

Not just for animal or nature lovers, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is also a perfect weekend gateway or tourist destination for all adventure lovers who want to escape from their normal boring life and have some adventure activities. Tourists, who want to have some adventure activities during their visit, come to this wildlife sanctuary for trekking to spot rare species of birds as well as tigers, mountain biking in the hilly terrains, and white-water rafting in Kali river, and this wildlife sanctuary is positioned only 72 KMs from Hubli.

(23) Anshi National Park

Anshi National Park, which is positioned near Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, is a tiger reserve and protected area, and it is also known as Kali Tiger Reserve popularly. The name of the national park is on the name of Kali River because it is the lifeline of the national park's ecosystem and flows through the tiger reserve, and this national park is a habitat of Indian elephants, Black Panthers, and Bengal Tigers, amongst other distinctive and rare fauna species. Anshi National Park, which is positioned only 54 KMs from Karwar and 52 KMs from Dandeli, is a best know tourist attraction for Bird watching, Trekking, and Jungle Safari, and this tiger reserve is spread over an area of 1300 square kilometers.