Honnemaradu (a place of golden sand) is a tourist place situated on the back waters of River Sharavathi. It is popular among watersports enthusiasts as a site for kayaking, windsurfing and other similar sports.

It is located in Shimoga district, Karnataka about 25 km away from Sagara, on the way to Jog falls. Visitors can stay overnight, with facilities for food, shelter and equipment rentals nearby.

Honnemardu is full of adventurer’s delight and offers a wide range of activities for everyone from the school children to the young at heart 60 year olds. Honnemardu is a small village perched on the hills that overlook the Linganamakki Reservoir. The reservoir is also known as Honnemardu after the village. In the middle of this huge water body there is a small island that attracts the campers. In addition to the various adventure activities, Honnemardu is also a birdwatchers paradise and one can spend endless hours watching and trying to identify the large variety of birds and butterflies.

Honnemaradu, a haven for water sports, is tucked away in the lush greenery of the Western Ghats along the Sharavati backwaters near Sagar. Encompassing an area of 50 km by 80 km, this reservoir stretches as far as the eye can see. One of the few places that cater exclusively to water sports, Honnemaradu or “Golden Lake” has some of the most spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset.

Deep in a forest, without the slightest trace of civilisation, Honnemaradu is a haven for die-hard outdoors fanatics as well as those who want a complete break from the City.

Some of the water sports activities here include coracling, canoeing, kayaking and wind rafting.

Kayaking in Honnemaradu

If someone is fond of kayaking then he can plan for next vacation in the hill stations of Karnataka. Kayaking in Honnemaradu is a unique experience. Tourists come from India and abroad to experience the thrill of Kayaking in Honnemaradu.

The grace the Western Ghats of India adds to the charm of Kayaking in Honnemaradu. Honnemaradu is located in the Shimoga district, is about 25 kilometers from Sagara towards Jog Falls. It is also situated on the back waters of the Sharavathi River. It is home to many water sports including windsurfing, coracling, canoeing, kayaking and scuba diving.

Other Attractions

Jog Falls: Jog Falls is created by the Sharavathi River. The river water plummets down from a great height of 829 ft, the highest in India. It’s located in Shimoga district.

Dabbe Falls: Located 30 km from Jog Falls, Dabbe is another enchanting waterfall in Shimoga. This waterfall is hidden in the mountains near Hosagadde.

How to Reach

Bangalore → Shimoga → Talagoppa → Honnemaradu.

From Bangalore, you can catch the overnight Shimoga Express. Reaching Shimoga, you need to board an early morning train, which takes around 3 hours to reach Talguppa. Or, you can also catch a local bus to reach Talguppa. Reaching Talguppa, you can either trek or hire a jeep to reach Honnemardu.

Photo Gallery:

Photos: Gautham Pai

Photo Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/buzypi/380728965/
Information Courtesy: Wikipedia