|
 Leisure tourism in the Uttara Kannada district is bound to be a most relaxing experience. There are a number of places situated here, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, forts, places of historical interest and many more, which provide a most pleasurable and delightful experience to those looking for some leisure tourism in the Uttara Kannada district. The various places of leisure tourism in the Uttara Kannada district are discussed below.
Among the various places of leisure tourism found here, beaches top the list. Among the many beaches found here, the Tagore beach at Karwar is one of the most popular. The Kali River joins and forms 'sangam' at the end of the beach. This crescent shaped beach also has a recreational park, colourful music fountain, Toy train, Planetarium and an aquarium to add to its attraction. The Belekeri beach is surrounded by picturesque mountains. To reach here, one has to cross a vast expanse of grass which suddenly drops to the beach, providing a wonderful view of the sea. The Om Beach, so named because of its shape, is mostly frequented by foreigners visiting the state due to the seclusion and privacy it offers. The Alvekodi Beach is pristine and unspoilt, with white sand dazzling in the sun. Nearby is the Brahma devara gudda, with dilapidated old lighthouse. The hillock is a great picnic spot offering memorable sunset view.
Apart from the beaches, there are also islands found in the Uttara Kannada district that offer leisure tourism to the tourists. The Island of Basavaraja Durga, located about a km from the mainland off Honnavar, can be reached through boats and small coasters. At the point of landing is a ruined fort with eight mounted guns. The fort was built by Great Shivappa Naik of Bednur (1648-1670). The island is mostly level and has plenty of fresh water. The Higund Island is a beautiful island situated on the Sharavati River just before it joins the Arabian Sea. The view of the sunset from this island is simply breathtaking.
There are many places of antiquity found at the Uttara Kannada district which are of significance from the archaeological point of view. Situated on bank of river Sharavati is the old town of Gerusoppa also called Nagar Bastikeri. It is rich with historical monuments, the Chaturmukha basti being the most prominent one. It is a beautiful structure built in Vijayanagar style with Chaturasara plan. It has four entrances from four directions leading to garbhagrihas. There are four images of Tirthankaras, Vrishabha, Ajita, Sambhava and Abhinandan, seated in padmasana. The engravings in this basti of dwarapalas and other mural designs are very well executed and of refined artistry. The Haliyal is and ancient fort said to have been built by Chatrapati Shivaji. It is a remarkable construction which gives us a glimpse of the warring techniques employed in ancient times. Banavasi, located 24 Kms from Sirsi, is a historical village. Found here are the Madhukeswar Temple and Madhumathi (Parvati) Temple, exemplifying the summit of Kadamba art. The tall Nandis of the temple are famous. The honey coloured Madhukeswar linga shines even in darkness. Another attraction is a stone cot carved from a single stone and many statues of sculptural beauty. There is also a small museum. The Varada River flowing in front of the temple adds to the beauty of the ambience. 20 Kms from Sirsi towards yellapur is Sonda village which was the capital of Sondhe Kings. During the reign of Arasappa Nayaka II, many maths were established here. Among them Vadiraj math, Akalank math, Swarnavalli math are famous. Swarnavalli math is a seat of learning Vedic scriptures.
Also featuring high among the various places of leisure tourism in the Uttara Kannada district are sanctuaries- the Attiveri bird sanctuary and the Anashi Wild Life Sanctuary. 19 Kms from Mundgod one has to take a diversion on Mundgod - Hublic road to reach Attiveri. Migratory birds from Central Asia, Northern Africa and European countries find serene Attiveri a congenial place to breed from October to March. Painted Storks are a special attraction. Anashi pass is in the Sahyadri Range (Western Ghats mountain range) 40 Kms north east of Karwar. From Kadra to Anashi is a 10 Kms of steep ghat section, through thick forest. Motoring through the ghat is an experience in itself with thick jungles and a number of big and small waterfalls which are a feast to the eyes. Wildlife abounds in the area. In the early mornings, one might come across vixen, wild foul, flocks of peacocks and sometimes even a panther. There is a nature camp at the sanctuary that is run by the Forest Department. Tourists can avail of food and lodging here. The Bison River resort on the banks of River Kali near Ganeshgudi is another place of sojourn for the tourists. The resort offers facilities to carry the tourists to see wildlife at Phanasoli, Kavala caves etc. It also offers river rafting facilities at Dandeli.
Thus mentioned are the various places of leisure tourism in the Uttara Kannada district, where tourists can look forward to a bit of relaxation, comfort as well as some adventure.
|
