Apsarakonda means 'pond of the apsaras', the celestial dancers who, in local legend, came here to bathe. The waterfall is small but charming: a short stream tumbles over black rock into a pool where children and adults happily splash about, especially in the months after the monsoon.
Steps lead up from the falls to the Apsarakonda park, a landscaped hilltop with a viewpoint over the coast. It's one of the finest sunset spots around Honavar. Nearby are the small Pandava caves and at the foot of the hill stand the old Ugra Narasimha and Mahaganapati temples.
Combine your visit with Apsarakonda Beach just below and the hidden cove at Mugali.
Photos: Kartik Ramanathan (CC BY-SA 4.0), Isroman.san (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Tips
- The rocks are slippery around the pool, so wear sandals with grip.
- Stay up at the park for sunset and walk down by torchlight.
