If you’ve ever wanted to start your day nestled in a cabin next to a natural stream, trek a hill in the morning, take a tranquil boat ride in the afternoon and watch the sunset in the evening, then you will like Honavar. Situated on the malabar coast of India, Honavar or Honnavar is a port town in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India. The town is the headquarters of Honnavar Taluk.
It is a 4-hour drive from Goa in the north or Mangalore in the south. The town is where the Sharavati river flows into the Arabian Sea. There is a beach at one end and pristine, reserved forests at the other, with a wide river flowing between them.
The town has history going back to the 14th century. It was a port town during the british period, selling black pepper.
The Konkan Railway line passes through Honnavar, and its longest bridge is 2.065 km in length and is in Honnavar, over the Sharavati River.
The town enjoys a quiet, balmy climate with a regular tropical monsoon from June to September. The reserve forests climb the hills that overlook the town. The forests are home to boar, foxes and peacocks among other protected species. Fresh water springs flow down the hills, one of which is famous for being part of the Hindu Epic Ramayana. Shri Ram was said to have passed the town on the way to Lanka. To quech his thrist, it is said he shot arrows into the ground where 3 spings of water gushed forth. The springs can be seen today flowing into the sacred pool of the Ramthirtha temple.
The cuisine is a blend of all the surrounding cultures. The staple rice is usually accompanied by vegetables, fish and meat.
The national highway passes through the center of the town. Nearby tourists spots are Jog Falls (72 Kms), Murdeshwar (26 kms), Karwar (91 Kms), Gokarna (51 Kms) among others.
If you’re passing down the malabar coast, stop by Honavar to be pleasantly surprised!