Magod: An Offbeat Getaway in North Karnataka

After spending some time in Kumta then Gokarna, I had initially planned to head towards Kali National Park and spend some time in the jungles of Karnataka. While I was researching places to stay in the national park, I came across Magod, a small village nestled in the Yellapur Taluka of Uttara Kannada district. There were several things that drew me to Magod – its rainforests, its population of the Siddi tribe and the fact that there was barely any information online on where I could stay in Magod or how I could reach Magod. And when my plan of Kali National Park did not go through because of budgetary constraints, I took it as a sign to head to Magod instead and see what lay there for me.

Magod has a considerable tourist inflow from nearby towns like Yellapur, Hubli and Sirsi but very few people from beyond these regions make it to this little village. It is a much better alternative to the incredibly popular tourist place of Dandeli. Though there is no rafting in Magod, its many hikes, astounding natural beauty, a plethora of birdwatching opportunities and quietness make up for it.

How to Reach Magod

My hosts over at Gokarna helped me figure out public transport to Magod. From Gokarna, I first took a local bus to Ankola, then changed one to Yellapur and finally from Yellapur, I took the last bus to Magod which leaves at 4:30 pm.

Also read: A Complete Travel Guide to Gokarna.

The nearest town from Magod is Yellapur which is around 20 kilometres. Sirsi is another nearby town to Magod which is about 60 kilometres away. Both towns have good road connectivity to Magod.

The nearest railway station to Magod is Ankola and the nearest airport to Magod is in Hubli which are both about 80 kilometres away.

Where to Stay in Magod

There are only two homestays in Magod, of which I chose to stay in Magod Homestay. From the main village road, a small dirt road goes a few meters east into the forest and there, amidst banana groves, areca palms and paddy plantations, sits Magod Homestay with its bright yellow exterior with Mangalorean tiles. The place is owned by Mr Shivaraj Bhatt and is run by his nephew, Nagaraj who hails from Magod itself and whose keen knowledge about the local species of plants and birds really added to my experience at the homestay. Nagaraj went to Bangalore for education and in search of urban dreams, but realized his heart belonged to Magod and came back to make a living in tourism instead.

From the first day onwards, I was introduced to the traditional food of the Uttara Kannad region that I had never had before. Dosa with jaggery or podi mixed with homemade ghee quickly became my favourite breakfast food at Magod Homestay. I never knew dosa could taste so good without coconut chutney or sambhar! For hot water, the homestay does not use electric geysers but instead use boiler water heaters that use wood to heat and supply water to all rooms. I had first encountered a smaller version of these in the Himalayas, while on the Waichin Valley Trek.

There is absolutely no phone network in the region surrounding Magod village. However, Magod Homestay is equipped with fibernet which makes it a great destination for working from home or for digital nomads like myself. The no-network factor also meant unplugging whenever we went for hikes or strolls in the village. This chance to cut off digitally every few hours every day struck a fantastic balance in my work-play life. Most of my days at Magod were spent exploring this place and that and sundown onwards, I would log in and complete pending work and catch up with friends and family online.

Things To Do in Magod

Birdwatching

The location of Magod Homestay is a sight worth seeing in itself. With areca, banana and paddy plantations on one side and an untamed jungle on the other, the homestay itself was the perfect place to birdwatch. I spotted several racquet-tailed drongos and Giant Malabar Squirrels from the balcony of my room itself! Other birds that I spotted within the premises of Magod Homestay include the Indian Golden Oriole, Southern Hill Myna, Spotted Dove, Malabar Barbet, Chestnut Tailed Starling and Common Iora amongst others. In fact, several mornings during my stay I was woken up to a Racquet-Tailed Drongo pecking at my window until I was awake!

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I had really wanted to spot a Malabar Pied Hornbill while in the region but it wasn’t until the very last day when I woke up at dawn to take a walk before I headed out of Magod, was I able to see them. On the tree right behind the Magod Homestay, were about 12-15 Malabar Pied Hornbills feasting on the fruit the tree bore. This beautiful show went on for a solid hour until the flock decided they had had enough and flew out one after the other in pursuit of their daily activities – whatever they may be! Birdwatching in Magod is definitely one of the most satisfying things to do when here.

Kuli Magod Falls

Kuli Magod Falls is one of the most hidden places in Magod – so much so that the locals themselves discovered this place just over a year ago! “Kulli” means pond and to reach this tiny little paradise, one must hike through a dense rainforest for about half an hour. This waterfall is created by a small tributary of the Bedti River. Since I visited in spring, the flow of the water wasn’t enough to dip in, but photos of Kuli Magod Falls from monsoons suggest that this might just be the perfect place to take a “natural shower”! I spent my time here watching butterflies chase after each other, and spotted several Water Striders – a spider looking insect that swims in the water!

Jenukallu Gudda or Honey Rock Hill

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Named so because of the massive honey bee nests that used to hang from this hill until a few years ago, Jenukallu Gudda is the perfect place to catch a colourful sunset from. The River Bedti can be seen silently flowing, making cuts across the Are-Malenad (Half-Western Ghats) region. It was here that I also first spotted the Malabar Pied Hornbill flying far off in the distance, too far for even my 70-300mm lens to capture! This sunset point in Magod shot to fame when a Kannada TV serial was shot here, and since then a neat staircase and gazebo have been installed for those who would like to watch the sun go down from here.

Kavadikere Temple

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Kavadikere is a beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Durga in Magod village. Legend has it that during the Pandavas exile, Bheema was carrying water from River Ganga in Varanasi in a big pot or “kavade“. Upon entering the forest of present-day Magod, he heard divine musical notes which led him to Goddess Durga. As per her orders, Bheema then created a lake or “kere” and filled it with the Ganga water from his kavade. Since then, this lake takes up an area of 65 acres and is surrounded by beautiful forests on most sides. Throughout the year Water Lilly leaves can be seen floating on the lake and when I visited in February, tiny lilies had just begun sprouting up, dotting most of the lake with a beautiful white! The temple is beautiful and the walk beside the lake in the woods is definitely is one of the most beautiful things to do in Magod.

Magod Falls

Magod falls is perhaps one the most popular things to do in Magod village. Magod falls is yet another waterfall created by the Bedti River, and it falls from a height of 200 meters and forms two pools before flowing off into a stream. The sight is a phenomenal one to watch, with the Malenadu Hills creating mesmerising gorges for the water to go through. What I didn’t like, however, was the fact that visitors are not allowed to hike down to the base of the Magod falls. One can only see the water gushing from a viewpoint creating in the distance.

The closest town to Magod falls is Yellapur and the Yellapur to Magod falls distance is about 20 kilometres. Sirsi to Magod Falls distance is about 60 kilometres. Alternatively, you can also reach Magod Falls from Hubli which is about 90 kilometres away. Even though you cannot actually visit the water, the Magod falls location is spectacular in itself. Information about Magod falls is available in plenty across the world wide web, and through locals as well. The Magod Falls closing time is between 9 am to 6 pm. Visitors need to pay INR 20 for the Magod Falls entry fee. However, villagers and frequent visitors have a rapport at the Magod Falls entrance and they don’t have to pay the Magod Falls charges.

Sathodi Falls and Shivapura Hanging Bridge

The Sathodi Waterfall is a popular place to visit near Yellapur. Though a bit far away from Magod, Nagaraj and I spontaneously made a plan to make the 35 kilometres trip one afternoon, post-lunch. The Magod Falls to Sathodi Falls distance is about 42 kilometres. We set out on a bright sunny day but by the time we crossed Yellapur and reached the Shivapura Hanging Bridge after an intense off-road journey, it started pouring cats and dogs. The blue water of the Kali River below the bridge looked so inviting. If only it wasn’t raining…

Drenched and happy, we made our way to our next stop, Sathodi Falls. After a 1 kilometre hike through a well-paved way, we reached this beautiful cascading waterfall. The water of several streams in the Kallarmane region come together and fall from a height of 15 meters, forming the Sathodi Waterfall. The water then flows into the backwaters of the Kali River formed by the Kodasalli Dam. Clambering our way through slippery, moss-covered rocks, we reached close to the waterfall. The biggest pool was wide enough for a good swim and I was ready with my swimming shorts and tank. If only it wasn’t still raining… Regardless, this visit to Sathodi Falls was probably my most favourite experience of this trip to Magod!

On our way back to Magod Homestay, the rain finally stopped just in time to give way to a glorious, golden sunset.

Magod FAQs

In which district is Magod Falls located?

Magod Falls is located in the Uttara Kannada or North Canara district in the Yellapur taluk of Karnataka in South India.

Magod Falls drains into which river?

The Magod Falls drains into a stream connecting the Bedti River.

Where is Bedti River located?

The Bedti River is also known as the Gangavalli River. It flows on the western part of Karnataka through towns such as Yellapur and Ankola. The Bedti or Gangavalli River then drains into the Arabian Sea close to Gokarna.

• There is no network connectivity in Magod or in the remote villages surrounding Yellapur. However, a solid WiFi connection is available at Magod Homestay.
• Power cuts are common during bad weather. Magod Homestay has power backup for such cases.
• The nearest ATM to Magod is in a village about 4-5 kilometres away.
• Public transport in Magod is available frequently. However, a taxi or personal vehicle is recommended to go around the area.
• The best time to visit Magod would be from monsoons (June/ July) until early spring (February).

We love transparency! This post was sponsored by Magod Homestay but the views expressed are solely my own!

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