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Things to Do in Honnavar

Backwaters, mangroves, waterfalls, beaches and temples — a local's list.

Beyond the boat

A Local's List

Honnavar is more than a stop on NH-66 — it's where the Sharavathi meets the sea, with backwaters, mangrove forests, waterfalls and quiet beaches packed into a few kilometres. Here's what we send guests at our homestay in Honnavar to see, roughly in the order we'd plan a day or two around.

Drone view of backwater boating on the Sharavathi River in Honnavar

1. Sharavathi Backwater Boating

The experience Honnavar is known for: a private boat through mirror-calm water, the Kerala Spot coconut channels, the mangrove tunnel and the golden sunset stretch. Rides run at government-approved rates — ₹1,500 per boat for 1 hour — from sunrise to sunset.

See packages & prices →

Mangrove boardwalk through the Kandla forest near Honnavar

2. Sharavathi Kandla Mangrove Boardwalk

A wooden walkway winding through dense mangrove forest to the river's edge — shaded, photogenic and easy for all ages. Pair it with a boat ride: the boardwalk shows you the mangroves from above, the boat from within.

Sunset on the Honnavar coast near Apsarakonda

3. Apsarakonda Falls & Beach

A short drive south of town: a small waterfall beside a hilltop park, steps leading down to a quiet beach, and a viewpoint over the Arabian Sea. Best right after the monsoon when the falls are full.

4. Eco Beach, Kasarkod

A long, clean stretch of Blue Flag-certified sand south of the Sharavathi mouth — walkable for kilometres, with casuarina groves behind and very few crowds on weekdays.

5. Idagunji Ganapati Temple

One of coastal Karnataka's most visited Ganesha temples, about 15 minutes from Honnavar — an easy morning stop before an afternoon on the water.

Evening sky over the Honnavar coast toward Basavaraj Durga Island

6. Basavaraj Durga Island

A laterite fort island sitting offshore in the Arabian Sea, visible from the Kasarkod coast — dramatic at sunset from the beach, and a striking landmark on clear days.

Honnavar bridge silhouetted at sunset over the Sharavathi River

7. Honnavar Bridge at Sunset

The long bridge across the Sharavathi is a local evening ritual — walkers on the deck, fishing boats below, and the sun dropping straight into the river mouth.

The Shiva statue at Murudeshwar, an hour from Honnavar

8. Day Trips: Gokarna & Murudeshwar

Honnavar sits between the two: Gokarna's beaches 50 km north, Murudeshwar's giant Shiva statue 28 km south — both an easy drive on NH-66 and easy to combine with a boat ride.

Gokarna guide →Murudeshwar guide →

Turning this list into a trip

Our homestay has a 2-day Honnavar itinerary built from this list, distances to every place from Honnavar, and an honest guide to where to stay in Honnavar.

Planning your visit? See the best time to visit — or message us and we'll help plan the whole day around your boat slot.

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