A lush green forest, spectacular views of the sunset and a cool and pleasant climate make Agumbe a wonderful place to visit. Situated in the Western Ghats, Agumbe is also a great place for those who love trekking.
Agumbe is a village located on top of a high plateau in the Someshwara Ghats. The village is at a height of 2,710 feet and located in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. The area receives heavy rainfall, and Agumbe is often called the Cherrapunji of South India.
The hill station shot to fame when the TV show, Malgudi Days based on R K Narayan’s books – was filmed here. The nearest town is Sringeri which is 23 km away. Yet another landmark of the village is the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station. It is India’s only permanent rainforest research center.
Things to See and Do at Agumbe
The Sunset Point: Agumbe’s Sunset Point attracts a lot of tourists. A trek to the top will give you a wonderful view of the surrounding hills and the Arabian Sea cast in the glow of the setting sun.
The Waterfalls: Several waterfalls dot the Agumbe landscape. The Kunchikal falls, which is formed by the Varahi river, is one of the largest falls in India. Other picturesque waterfalls in the area are the Barkana Falls, Koodlu Teertha, Onnake Abbi and Jogi Gundi.
The Barkana Falls are deep in the forests of the Western Ghats. You have to trek nearly 7 kilometers away from Agumbe to reach the falls. The view is from the Barkana platform is breathtaking. You can see the valley and the huge waterfall created by the Sita river.
Jogi Gundi is enroute to the Barkana Falls. The pond here is the source of the river Malapahaari. The flow of water has carved out a cave on the hillside which is around 50 feet deep. The water gushes out of the cave in the form of a waterfall.
Trekking: There are some wonderful trails for trekkers in Agumbe. In fact, you can have trekking trips to most of the water falls. The trekking is of easy to moderate intensity and even beginners can have fun on the trekking trails of Agumbe.
Temples: There are several temples that are worth a visit. This includes the Lord Gopalakrishna temple built in the 14th century. The temple has eye-catching sculptures done in Hoysala style.
Best Time to Visit Agumbe
The best time to visit Agumbe is during the winter months. In fact, the tourists normally flow into the village from November to January.
How To Reach Agumbe
Agumbe falls on the NH-13. You can drive down from Bangalore, which is 380 km away. The nearest railway station is at Udipi. You can also fly down to Mangalore airport and then drive down. There are also several buses that ply between Mangalore and Agumbe. The trip would take a little more than 3 hours.
