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The 10 Best Things to Do in Sirsi, India
Discover the best top things to do in Sirsi, India including Banavasi Temple, Unchalli Falls, Marikamba Temple, Sahasralinga, Topical Rainforest Ecological Camp, Shri Kshetra Manjuguni, Sahasralinga, Gudavi Bird Sanctuary, Swarnavalli Mutt, Benne Hole Falls.
1. Banavasi Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Reviewed By Rajesh K
Banavansi the oldest town of Karnataka, capital of Kadamba dynasty from 345 AD. Kadamba's ruled here for almost 2 centuries.
The main highlight of the land today is Madhukeshwara temple built in the 9th century. Banavasi is located in Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka State. Nearest city Sirsi is located 23 kms from here.
The front portion of the temple "Sankalpa Mantapa" added by Chalukyas.
One of the very intriguing thins here is about the Nandi(the bull). Nandi in this temple is very unique. Its head it slightly at an angle instead of being straight looking at Shiva. One eye of the Nandi is looking at the main deity (Shiva) and another eye is looking at Parvathi. The temple for Parvathi is adjacent to the Shiva temple. One of the important finds here is this five-headed Naga dating back to the 2nd century!
Travel by road, your own transportation is preferred. When coming from Sagar, the direction is not adequate although google maps were accurate. Road conditions were not very good. However from Sirsi roads are just fine. The nearest railway connection is Haveri.
One of the very intriguing thins here is about the Nandi(the bull). Nandi in this temple is very unique. Its head it slightly at an angle instead of being straight looking at Shiva. One eye of the Nandi is looking at the main deity (Shiva) and another eye is looking at Parvathi. The temple for Parvathi is adjacent to the Shiva temple. Check the picture I posted, its taken from Parvathi temple and you can see the Nandi's one eye clearly visible to the Parvathi deity (where I shot this pic from).
Also, note there is a lunch arrangement from the temple which we took and its very basic temple food. But considering there are no hotels nearby this is the best option.
Nearest attractions: Jog falls, Ikkeri and Keladi
2. Unchalli Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By akshayhejjaji - Bengaluru, India
Amazing tall waterfall formed by the Aghanashini river flowing towards the Arabian Sea. It is also called "Keppa Joga" in Kannada, because of the deafening sound it makes.The viewpoint is accessible by a small hike of around 1Km from the parking place. Maintain silence and do not litter. Be careful with the stray monkey and do not feed them.
3. Marikamba Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By hemanth s - Bengaluru, India
We had a night journey due to which the temple was closed. However, we reached the temple by 2.30AM,. Still we found the temple more holy place feeling. Took blessing from outside and luckily we had a window to pop up and view the goddess. Took blessings and finished our vacation successfully.
4. Sahasralinga
Overall Ratings
4 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By BlancheLT - Margao, India
We went here in the first week of May and because of the fierce summer I'm assuming the river had dried up and we could walk around looking for the various lingas. Some of them have been worn out by the river and are hardly noticeable.Though i must say the place is litter free and clean and well looked after.
5. Topical Rainforest Ecological Camp
Overall Ratings
5 based on 19 reviews
Drongo Nature Camp situated around forest in Western Ghats in Sirsi. This Camp was named after a bird Drongo. It is an ethical nature camp which strongly believes in enjoying the nature, not enjoy in the nature. Camp is like a Wikipedia for Birders, Researchers & Nature photographers, families who have interest towards nature, or if you want to just relax & rejuvenate. The cottages here are built using naturally sustainable materials and well maintained. Activities in Camp: Bird watching: Walk with expert who can explain the specifications of a bird from fern to feather. Forest walk: Walk in the dense forest, listen to birds chirping & identify the species or watch for some act by micro creatures. Night harping: Spend time with some interesting nocturnal creature, specially reptiles and amphibians. River activity. Guidelines: Plastic free zone-respect nature. *No Camp fire-respect wood. *No loud music-respect nature’s rhythm. *Only Vegetarian food-respect local culture.
Reviewed By Mahima M
Very very beautiful place. Totally untouched by human habitation. Felt totally like being a part of nature exploring the tiniest of the insect to the beautiful birds
Very neat and well kept place. The food is the feather in the cap. Totally delicious sumptuous and absolutely healthy
6. Shri Kshetra Manjuguni
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Jayanth K
One of the temples and places I love to go back again and again a million times.. Such is the beauty of the place where you will feel the positive vibrations along with some solace.. Very neatly maintained temple on the beds of the deep evergreen Forests of Sirsi Taluk..
7. Sahasralinga
Overall Ratings
4 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By Radhakrishna K - Mysore, India
Sahasralinga is about 15 kms away Sirsi town . I thought there might be thousands of Lingam in the middle of water.But here there were tens of Lingam carved out from the rocks which are submerged in the river Shalmali. Place is located amidst pristine forest and the area is calm and quite.Very beautiful location . A bit away from the Sahasralinga there is also a hanging bridge over the river.Here one can have a panoramic view of the place.There is no public transportation to the place. One has to hire a taxi or an auto.A small canteen near the place satisfies our basic needs. A must see place for the nature lovers.
8. Gudavi Bird Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Profvns - Bengaluru, India
Gudavi is a small village in Soraba taluk in Shimoga district, famous for one of the Bird sanctuaries in Karnataka.
I visited the lake surrounded by big and tall trees and well decorated by colourful birds as if the trees are ornamented by jewelry imported from other parts of the globe. If the birds had simply sitting without moment I would have confirmed my imagination but for my surprise when some bird waved their wings and started flying, then I thought they were not flowers but birds from other countries. Out of curiosity I asked some local visitor who seems to have had first hand information about the birds he gave an inexhaustible list of bird found there every year.
I saw some boys pelting stones or something or waving their hands at the sitting birds that got scared and flew away from one tree to another. Some others were advising the youth not to do so.
These god-painted winged visitors are migrated from far off countries gather here on adjoining trees surrounding the lake during June and November every year, which is breeding season for them and by November end fly away with young ones. They will be ten to fifteen thousands in number. Though the lake is comparatively small in size the surrounding woody area is large enough to accommodate the annual guests in about 70 hectares area in this village. There are several bird sanctuaries and I have visited majority of them if not all of them. This may not be compared to other big sanctuaries like Ranganathittu bird sanctuary near Srirangapatna, but still it is classified as one of the best five bird sanctuaries of Karnataka.
This location, looks suitable for filming, as it is beautiful surrounded by rich greenery and trees. There is fine walking track and toilets for bird watchers provided with five bird watching towers and a platform into the lake.
The official record reveals that more than 100 species of birds visit this lake in large number. Majority of them is White Ibis alone that may go up to or even more than 10,000, and the next one is Egrets that are in few thousands visiting every year. The other visitors familiar with the names of birds were pointing out them as open billed storks, kingfishers, pond herons, grey herons, snake birds etc. The other regular visitors are Asian spoon bills and others. They don’t have a host here as guests may have because nature itself will provide all that they need for their purpose and helps them to achieve their objects of getting their offspring’s and go away waving coloured wings. They are specially gifted by nature prevailing in this area as god given gift to the dumb creatures.
But for us, the viewers being human beings; we need food, water and shelter. Unfortunately nature doesn’t provide them free of cost. We have to struggle, earn and have as much as we can depending upon our earning capacity. Many times though we have enough money we don’t get even the bare necessary food and water. Here there is no such amenity apart from a small canteen.
There are no facilities to stay at the bird sanctuary. Nearest places for food and accommodation are Sagara and Shivamogga. Better visit during June and November. Sanctuary is open from 6AM to 6PM.
Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is accessible by road from Sagara, Soraba, Shimoga and Bangalore. Gudavi is at 60km from Sagara but 14kms from Soraba on Banavasi Road. The nearest railway stations are Shimoga and Mangalore. Nearest airport to Shimoga is Hubli (165Km), Mangalore (200Km) and Bangalore (274Kms).
9. Swarnavalli Mutt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Profvns - Bengaluru, India
Sirsi is situated in the heart of Western Ghats surrounded with picturesque thick forest, housing number of Waterfalls and famous temples. It is taluk headquarters in Uttara Kannada District. Sirsi is a hill station encircled with thick green forest added with several Waterfalls.
The name ‘Sirasi’ is combination of two terms Sira+arasi, indicating the queen on the head. Sira is head of Lord Shiva; ’arasi’ refers to Goddess Ganga who is an ornament on Shiva’s head. Thus Sirasi refers to Goddess Ganga on Shiva’s head.
Sonda, a village near Sirsi, is well known pilgrimage center as there are three prominent religious Mutts called Swarnavalli Mutt, Vadiraja Mutt and Jain Basadi. These religious institutions have been attracting hundreds of pilgrims all through the year. The pleasant environment amidst the green lush surroundings that are characteristic features of Malnad area of Sonda and Sirsi and serenity of these places are of religious and sentimental importance.
The word Malnad or Malenadu, as called in Kannada is coined by the combination of duel terms male+nadu, which means hill+land=Male(a) nadu uttered in short form as Malnad. This is a Hilly area possessing the beautiful Sahyadri forest range in Karnataka. The adjoining non-forest area is called ‘Bayalu seeme’ to means plain land.
Swarnavalli Mutt is situated amidst evergreen Forests near Shalmala River in Sonda village of Sirsi Taluk. Its history starts from the days of Adisankaracharya, who professed Advaita (Non-Dualism) philosophy. The Mutt authorities claim that the first head of the Mutt was blessed by AdiShankaracharya.
Sonda is a fit place to refresh and relax after a busy weekday. On landing here I was amazed at the natures’ fabulous designs, colorful landscapes, amusing characters and musical rhythm in the cool breeze that makes our sweat body cool to make us feel as if in A/C chamber and enable us to spend our time pleasantly and carry the sweatless sweet memories of our visit to Malnad region.
With all these poetic or tasty literature about the place you will have to face many disadvantages (like other side of the same coin)about your food and shelter. Carry water and food pocket, because you can’t be sure of getting food in of these Mutts other than in their serving time. We were too late for the mid day meal by the time we reached this place as such it is our experience.
Hubli Airport (130km) is the nearest airport. There are frequent taxis from Hubli. Nearest railway station is at Kumta. Taxis and Auto rickshaws are available from Kumta Railway Station.
Many KSRTC buses ply from Sirsi to Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli and other parts of the State as well Maharashtra. There are buses and private shared Cabs running between Sirsi and Sonda. Better stay at Sirsi or Kumta for food and accommodation.
10. Benne Hole Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Profvns - Bengaluru, India
I had to remember the thrilling experience I had while watching Dhudgnga falls in Himalayas as well as similar enjoyment while viewing another Dhudhsagar falls in Western Ghats in Goa while I stood watching Bennehole falls like a mute witness.
River Doodhganga, near Kedarnath, flows crashing on its way over the rocks making milky white foam, thereby creating the impression as Doodhganga. Doodh means milk. It is familiar as Milky River in Kedarnath in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It flows down in western hill and empties into Mandakini River.
Similarly Dhudhsagar Falls is four-tiered waterfall found on Mandovi River along Western Ghats in the state of Goa at 60km from Panaji on Madgaon-Belgaum train route. It is one of the tallest Waterfalls. It is surrounded by Forests with rich bio diversity. The falls are alive even during the dry season but of spectacular in monsoon season, though fed by rains.
There is heavy concentration of tourists’ dots in Sirsi that is why it is known for its various attractions. We can see, for that matter I have visited, many religious shrines, Mutts and several Waterfalls including the most beautiful Butterfalls. One may raise one’s eye-brow on hearing Butterfalls. It is correct, there flows a river named ‘Benne Hole’, where ‘Benne’ means butter and ‘hole’ means river; the Waterfalls created by it is known as Benne Waterfalls. It is one of the most favoured spot for trekkers. Having studied its importance Karnataka tourism department has developed this area for trekking. The nature lovers, adventurists and curious tourists would find and enjoy its appealing environment.
Benne Hole falls has majestic appearance like any other attractive Waterfalls. It is formed from the tributary of river “Aghanashini”, which flows in the ‘Devimane Ghats’ region of the Western Ghats from the height of more than 200’ jumps into a pool around large and small rocks. But you cannot swim in this pool as it is risky and not advisable venture in suicidal attempt. It is one of the most beautiful Waterfalls in Uttara Kannada district. It is aptly so because there is perfect description of the churning, creamy Waterfalls looking creamy white magnetising the viewer’s attention providing feast to their eyes.
This location has another plus point for Bird-watchers as they can see birds such as plum headed parakeet, grey jungle fowl, common kestrel, woolly necked stork, jungle owlet, copper smith barbet, orange minivet, black headed oriole and many more.
We have to reach these falls via small village called Kasage at 21km after Sirsi on the way to Kumta. From Kasage the waterfall is around 6km. If you are on Jeep or four-wheeler follow the jeep track towards the last house in Hosur village and then walk about 2km to reach Waterfalls. Better visit during September to February.
Sirsi is well connected by road network to other cities. Nearest airport to Sirsi is Hubli, nearest rail head is Kumta. Sirsi is about 21km to these Waterfalls.
There is no facility for food and accommodation near these falls. There are good number of lodges and restaurants in Sirsi and Kumta, where you will get these facilities to match your budget. While undertaking the adventurous journey to any Waterfalls or tourist dot in this area carry food pocket and water and required medical requirements according to your health condition and things necessary for trekking. Always go in group and don’t go single. Enquire about local guides and prefer to take one such guide to make your trip advantageous and convenient. Good Luck.
