Places to Visit around Sirsi

1. Unchalli Falls: 30km (decent small curvy road via Siddapur or Kumta road) , (also known as Lushington falls or Keppa Joga, referring to the other more famous waterfall nearby, Jog falls) is situated about 30 km from Sirsi, and is one of the biggest tourist attractions near Sirsi. The waterfall is a 116 meter drop and offers spectacular views at all times of the year.

2. Bennehole Falls 40km (very difficult trek needed in the thick forest via kumta road): This marvelous place is one among the numerous waterfalls in North Kanara. A tributary of the river "Aghanashini" by name Benne Hole(Hole is big stream in Kannada) flowing through the dense forests of the Devimane Ghats region of the Western Ghats falling from a height of about 200feet forms a spectacular visual treat(of course mental too). On the way to Kumta from Sirsi after 21kms you get a small place called "Kasage". From here the waterfall is around 6kms away. Take the path which goes towards "Hosur" and up to Hosur it is a jeep track till the last house in Hosur. From here it is 2kms walk to the waterfall.

3. Yaana (50km around 4km trek needed in rainy season via Hegadekatte): Yana is an enchanting place that can be reached by trekking about 10 km through lush forest. Yana is famous for its tall jagged rock formations and waterfalls. There is also a shrine of Bhairaveshvara here.There are two ways you can get there, Route 1) Take a bus from Sirsi which goes to Mattighatta,Devanalli via Hegadekatta. Get down at a stop called "Vaddi cross" and walk 6+kms from there. Route 2). Take a bus either from Sirsi or Kumta get down at a place called Anegundi near Kathagaal. This place is after the Devimane ghats if you are coming from Sirsi. From here it is around 16kms walk.

Jeep is the best mode of transportation anywhere in North Kanara. You can hire a jeep either in Sirsi or anywhere your base camp is and take convenient drives

4. Sahasra Linga (10km from Sirsi via Yellapur road): (Sanskrit for a thousand Shiva (deity) Linga's) is another place of significance, where sculptures carved from stone are installed in the middle of a flowing river. The river is surrounded by lush green forest; the place is about 10 km away from the town center. The place is quite secluded, except during "Maha Shivaratri" celebrations when it receives a sizeable number of pilgrims from the surrounding areas.

5. Magod Falls (70km from Sirsi via yellapur) and sunset point

6. Saatodi Falls (90km via yellapur)

7. Shivaganga falls (40km via hulekal - vanalli)

8. Gudavi bird Sanctury (50km via banavasi )

9. Burude Falls is about 20 km from Siddapur

10. There are many dams in this district namely Supa Dam,Kodahalli Dam and some temple towns.

11. Banavasi , the capital of an ancient kingdom in Karnataka (state) ruled by the "Kadamba" dynasty is 24 km away from the Sirsi town center. Banavasi is considered as the "first" capital of Karnataka state, with the current capital being Bangalore. Although most of the ancient grandeur of the dynasty in Banavasi has been lost, an ancient temple for Madhukeshwara (Lord Shiva) is still largely intact, and has been declared a monument of historical importance by the Archaeological survey of India.

12. Watehalla falls: How to get there:Take a bus from Sirsi which goes to HaggaraNi, get down at a place by name Nilakunda. From here it is 3kms walk to the valley, where one has to climb down to reach the Watehalla falls.