Nature

The Sharavathi River

Honavar exists because of this river. It rises in the hills of Shivamogga district, drops 253 metres at Jog Falls and meets the Arabian Sea at Honavar.

Source to sea

The Sharavathi River rises at Ambutirtha in Thirthahalli taluk and flows north-west through the Western Ghats. Dammed at Linganamakki, it then plunges over the cliffs at Jog Falls, often described as India's second-highest plunge waterfall.

Below Jog the river cuts a deep forested gorge, the Sharavathi River valley, before it slows past Gerusoppa and widens into the backwaters around Honavar. It reaches the sea at the northern tip of the Tonka sand spit.

Along the river

Upstream from Honavar you pass Haigunda Island, a village on a river island, the Samshi hanging bridge, Gerusoppa Dam and the Chaturmukha Basadi at Gerusoppa. Higher up the road, the valley viewpoint looks down into the gorge.

Near the sea, the river spreads into mangrove-lined backwaters. Walk the Kandla mangrove boardwalk, take a backwater boat ride past Mavinakurve island or watch a train cross the 2,065 m Konkan Railway bridge at dusk.

A river of pepper and trade

For centuries boats carried pepper, areca and rice down the Sharavathi River to the ships waiting at Honavar. In the 16th century the river was ruled from Gerusoppa by Rani Chennabhairadevi, the Pepper Queen.

Best time to see it

For roaring water, come from June to October, when Jog Falls and the smaller waterfalls are at their fullest. For calm backwaters, boating and birds, come from October to February.