You’ll find everything you need to know to plan a trip to Sirsi and Yellapur in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka in this blog post. This guide contains details on what to see in Sirsi and Yellapur and where to stay, where to eat, getting around in the region and so much more! We’ve also added some recommendations on where to head after spending a few days in Sirsi.

Our experience of visiting Sirsi and Yellapur in NW Karnataka

Sirsi is a small town in Uttara Kannada (UK) district of north western Karnataka! Yellapur is another popular town in the vicinity. Being in the western ghats, both these places have access to beautiful forests, wildlife, waterfalls and rivers. And what better time to explore a place like this than in the monsoon? Thats what we did – a roadtrip in July, from our home city of Bangalore. We spent a couple of days in the region before heading down to the coast. But those two days are still etched in our memory because of the sheer natural beauty!

We also enjoyed the simple food in town. Street food was safe to consume and that made our experience wholesome too! Above all, we found it to be very cheap to travel in and explore. Therefore, we’ve put together this little easy-to-use guide to the best places to see in Sirsi and Yellapur, Karnataka. Check it out!

Pray at the Shri Marikamba Temple in Sirsi, Karnataka

The Shri Marikamba Temple was built in 1689 AD. Sirsi was a small village then, but belonged to the Vijayanagar empire. Story goes that a statue of goddess Sri Devi was found in the nearby lake. With the support of the then king, Immadi Sadashivaraya, the status was consecrated in the village centre. Similar to Kalika Devi temple in Bengal and Amba Bhavani Temple in Maharashtra, the Goddess here is famous for fulfiling earnest prayers of the devotees. This draws a large number of devotees from all over the region.

The temple is very beautiful and best to visit in the evening. The temple has a white and red theme, beautiful domes and colourful art installations at the gateway. True to the western Karnataka style, the templs has red tiled roofing. In addition, the sunset colours make the experience even more memorable!

Tip: Parking is available near the temple. There is also a shoe stand and luggage rack for visitors. There’s no entry fee and the Shri Marikamba Temple timings are 6 am to 9 pm. On certain auspicous days, the temple may also be open later.

Read more about the Shri Marikamba Temple here

Sonda Mutt (Sonda Vadiraja Matha) and Muttinakere Basadi

Sonda village is just a few kilometres north west of Sirsi. It is also known as Sodha, Sode and Swadi. The Sonda Matha or monastery was set up by Sri Madhvacharya in the 13th century AD. The lake of Hayagriva Samudra is located in front of the monastery. Annually, a car festival is celebrated in the village during Holi (March month). Rama Thrivikrama temple is the first monument. Behind it you will see the Rajangana and the matha offices – enter the monastery through this building.

There is a small pond called Muttinakere near the Sonda Mutt. The Venkataramana Tempole and the Digambara Jain Temple are located on the bank. The temple is about 400 years old and was built in the Vijayanagara style of architecture. However, the Jain temple is newer. We visited the Venkataramana temple after seeing pictures on the internet showing its hermit location and pleasant surroundings! Surrounded by lush green foliage, the stone temple looks like it is lost in meditation. So beautiful!

Admire the grand Magod Falls near Yellapur, Karnataka

Magod Falls is formed by river Bedthi which falls from a height of nearly 200 metres in two steps. The falls are located about 60 kilometres from Sirsi, but only 17 kms from the town of Yellapur. Both these places are located in the district of Uttara Kannada (north Canara as called before). The Magod Waterfalls are hidden in a thickly wooded countryside. But you can hear the roar of gushing water even before you see it! We absolutely loved the sheer beauty of the ravine and the forest. There is a well built walkway with handrails from the parking area till Magod Falls viewpoint.

Tip: Magod Falls is a perfect spot for spending a slow afternoon. There’s ample seating space on the trail and at the viewpoints, but make sure to bring water and snacks (in eco-friendly packaging) as there are no shops around.

Besides Magod Waterfalls, there are many other similar waterfalls in the vicinity. It is best to visit the waterfalls in the monsoon months (June to October) as there is more water thundering down. You cannot get down to the base of Magod Falls and also cannot play in the water. There is a cheap dorm and room facility at the entry gates (run by the local government). Expect to pay INR 250 per person, per dorm. There are some other home stays in the vicinity as well.

Be amazed at the Sahasralinga riverbank near Sirsi, Karnataka

The wonder of Sahasralinga (meaning a thousand Linga idols in Sanskrit) is only 15 kms from Sirsi town. Over a span of a few kilometres on the Shalmala river, there are hundreds of visible stone lingas. Many more become visible only when the river runs dry and low (in February). Daily worship is offered in the emple by the river and there is also a hanging bridge over the river. There’s no fee other than for car parking (INR 20). In addition, there’s a restaurant at the parking lot serving limited food.

The water flows very gently, even in the monsoon, but depth varies – so be careful!

The best Waterfalls near Sirsi and Yellapur

There are a few places in the world that really feel magical, and Shirley Falls is definitely one! Pronounced as “Shi-ra-lay”, this waterfalls is 13 kilometres from Yellapur and 60 kms from Sirsi. The waterfalls are located down a valley, which can only be accessed on foot; the hike took us about 15 minutes and routes through a thick jungle and across streams. If you visit in the monsoon, there are many small pools all around the rocky base of the falls. In addition, it is safe to play in, there are no leaches and the water is shallow. However, we recommend going there as a group as it is cut off from the outside world with no cell service, or shops/shacks. There is limited parking space at the start of the trail, which is itself, a long and windy road through the lush green forest!

If Shirley Falls is not open, you can head to Kulimaagodu Falls, Devkar Waterfalls, Kaiga Waterfalls, Bhusankeri Falls, Muregar Falls and of course, the grand Sathodi Falls which is further up north. Best to visit these falls during the first half of the day to avoid large crowds and the hot sun! In addition, it also works wonders to ask the locals about the best waterfalls – we learnt about Shirley Falls through the owner of a restaurant in a village outside Magod Falls.

Hiking in the forests around Yellapur and Sirs, Karnataka

Yellapur and Sirsi are located at the base of the western ghats. In the monsoon months, the greenery engulfs roads, towns and everything else with stunning beauty. There are many trekking trails and hiking paths all over the region. But since commercial trekking tours are still not very popular here, there are no ‘specific’ routes to try. If you are roadtripping in the region, we highly recommend driving off the highways and find your way using the smaller village or forest roads! They are safe and offbeat. Our favourite trek was down the Shirale village, to the waterfalls.

Tip: Carry mosquito repellant, a hat and sufficient drinking water when you go hiking here.

Sunset hour at Jenukallu Gudda

Jenukallu Gudda literally means ‘Honey Rock Hill’. It is located only a few kilometers from the Magod Waterfalls. The road is not in the best shape most year round due to its remote location and the incessant rains. But we managed to drive through in our small car just fine!

Jenukallu Gudda offers the best views of the Western Ghats in north Karnataka. The river Gangamali flows down the valley and hills towering on both sides seem endless. The best time to visit the view point is in the early evening, before sunset and to stay till the sun goes down! The views and the sky’s hues will not disappoint. 

The thick forests are home to Elephants, Tigers and King Cobras; the forest department controls the entry to Jenukallu Gudda too. No tickets are required, parking is free. There is a bus stop too (although it semed to be unused in a long time). 

Other places to see near Sirsi and Yellapur

Dandeli is the most famous tourist destination in this region. It is located on the banks of river Kali which flows down from the western ghats to the Arabian Sea (at Karwar). Dandeli has many resorts, homestays and jungle lodges. It is very popular for the white water rafting and jungle trekking, besides wildlife spotting and safaris.

Driving west will take you to Karwar and Gokarna which are very popular beachside destinations! Karwar is home to a naval base, a few beaches and lots of street food! It is like a cheaper and older Goa (minus the partying). And Goa is just 10 kms ahead from Karwar and you can enjoy so many popular and offbeat experiences there!

On the other hand, Gokarna is an amazing hippie town which has the perfect beaches, activities and hostels and resorts with the best views. We spent three nights at a hostel on Middle Beach and regularly raided shacks and cafes for under INR 1,700 (USD 23) for three days, per person – all inclusive! Dont miss seeing this Bali-like waterfalls when you are in Gokarna.

Check out our blog on the best Beach town in Karnataka

Stay, food, transport, weather and budget in Sirsi and Yellapur

Sirsi has a few has many small hotels and budget lodges. Yellapur has a few as well. Not all are available via online booking. You can find some of them here though. We stayed at Hotel Madhuvana on the state highway, in the town centre. It was close to many small restaurants and street food joints! We paid INR 1000 for a double bedroom. It had an in-house restaurant (multi cuisine, which was good) and parking space too.

Budget and costs: Food is reasonably priced in the city. Expect to pay INR 30 for a plate of Idlis, INR 40 for a dosa. Expect to pay about INR 100 or more for north Indian dishes. However, there are many small Chaat stalls in and around the major tourist attractions. Street food is generally safe to consume. In addition, fresh coconut water costs about INR 35. On the highways, in the villages, you may find some smaller cafes and shacks. We also ate at Sai Cool drinks at Manchikere – delishious home made Buns!

Must eat: Buns, buns and more buns! 😋

Auto-rickshaws and local buses are available in Sirsi and Yellapur. They are very affordable and easy to find. However, hire an auto for the day if you plan to visit all sights in one day.

Weather is mildly hot and humid – similar to other coastal towns. But its not uncomfortable because of the elevation of the land which keeps nights cool. The best time to visit Sirsi, Yellapur and this region of North Karnataka is between June and December. 

Tip: Dress modestly to respect conservative local traditions. Wear cotton clothing to beat humid weather. Carry an additional layer for evening chills.

How to get to Sirsi, Karnataka

Sirsi is very well connected with most major cities in Karnataka, India. There are daily buses from Bangalore, Mangalore, Udupi, Mumbai and Pune. Sirsi is also close to Hubli, Karwar and Balagavi. These are the other important cities in the region.

Love road tripping? Check this list of weekend getaways from Bangalore

Karnataka is indeed a very beautiful part of India! It is very popular for its greenery and architecture from the yesteryears. In fact, it is our home state and we’ve explored a few other places which you might just find just as appealing to explore! Check it out here.

If you have more questions or want to explore Sirsi with us, please write to us – we’d be very happy to help!

Useful links

Here are some useful resources to plan and book your next trip. These are the same websites and apps that we use for our own bookings! We may earn a small commission if you make your booking using the below link, at no extra cost to you. 🤓