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 arwar is one of the countless gems on Indias Western
coastline. With salubrious climate all through the year, verdant greenery, virgin unspoiled beaches and away from package tour movements
Karwar has the capacity to linger on a travelers mind for a long
time.
The place, devoid of any man-made wonders cannot be much described in words. Karwars unassuming beauty is certainly its biggest attraction. Tired of going through scheduled sightseeings, formal dining, museums in tightly packed tours, the easy going atmosphere of Karwar is a welcome alternative.
The small port town Karwar at the mouth of River Kali is itself not worth seeing much though it can be interesting to watch brisk activity of bringing the daily catch of fish and sorting them out at nearby Devbagh village. Around the town, however, the slopes of Western Ghats almost touch the coastline forming several picturesque headlands. In- between are tranquil beaches perfect to spend days in complete bliss. A short distance covered by boat is the island of
Devbagh in peaceful setting full of casuarinas. With its own exclusive beaches and limited accommodation in attractive loghuts on stilts, the resort on this island is for idyllic seaside holidays. Besides the sun, sea and sand, the resort also offers adventurous visit
to nearby uninhabited
Sanyasi Island, tranquil overnight stay in trawlers, cruise through backwaters of Devbagh lagoon and
Dolphins at the mouth of River Kali. Still, there remains ample time to indulge in poetry (as Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore did here many years ago), beach volleyball and playing with the sand.
There are several untouched beaches around Karwar, notably Binaga, Arga and Belekeri. Another notable beach resort Gokarna is not far away. A short distance away is the small town of Ankola having ruined 15th century fort and Sri Venkatraman temple worth seeing.
To see the amazing biodiversity of the evergreen rain forests of Western Ghats, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (also situated along river Kali) is in reachable distance from here. The 834 Sq.kms Park has dense vegetation of
hardwood trees and impressive wildlife such as Indian Bisons and
Elephants. Besides this, the stay here at the nature camp also enables adventurous visits to jungle interiors like
Kavla caves and gigantic Syntheri Rock. The mighty Kali River that flows through the Park is also ideal for bird watching while sailing through traditional coracles; its rapids makes white water rafting very much a pleasure. It is also possible to camp inside the park that gives endless opportunities of trekking, fishing and
watching wild animals and birds. There are many inhabitant tribes such as
Siddi (descendants of Negroid slaves that Portuguese brought into India with them),
Lambani and Gowli.
Adventure or no adventure, leisure or no leisure but this stretch of land blessed by nature at coastal Karnataka is fit
for a visit even for both and even without any of the two. This destination is
something different.
| QUICK FACTS |
| Getting there |
Karwar is an hour's drive away from Goa which is both a major airport and Railway Station of the region. |
| Further connections |
Goa, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Hampi, badami, Jog Falls and Gokarna beach. |
| Best time to visit |
Pleasant, subtropical all through the year. Rains heavily from June through October. |
| Important Festivals |
Annual carnivals of Goa. |
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