Yellapur

A perfect location in the Western Ghats, heart-warming climate and array of cascading waterfalls – everything favours to make Yellapur a tourist hotspot of the Southwest India. This picturesque and quaint town of the Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka has attained fame as a wonderful holiday destination for the nature lovers, honeymooners as well as the adventure travellers. Even the wildlife enthusiasts head towards the town in large numbers to explore a variety of fauna and avifauna. Find useful tourist information to visit the top attractions of Yellapur in a convenient way.

Yellapur is called the ‘main road town’, as it has grown around a single road. Located at an elevation of about 1,774 ft., the town is well-known for the cultivation of areca nuts. Its location on the windward side of the Western Ghats helps the town receive substantial rainfall during monsoons, while the winters here are extremely enjoyable. Thick forests, scenic valleys and many enticing waterfalls add to the pleasure of trekking in the region. Paddy fields and abundance of teakwood trees add to the lush green surroundings.

October to May

Stated below are some of the must visit places at Yellapur:

Yellapur has hotels offering in-house restaurants that serve a variety of cuisines. In addition, there are small restaurants across the town, mainly serving the typical South Indian cuisines like idli, dosa and sambhar. The Banana County and Pai’s Sambhram Lodge are the two good options to enjoy food at. Street food lovers won’t be disappointed as the vendors selling spicy food items can be easily located.

The town is not a shoppers’ paradise, but one can visit the open air market areas to look for interesting antiques. Another good option is to buy the locally harvested honey which is of good quality. One can also shop for mountainous herbs that can be used for beauty and health care. Areca nuts that are grown here in abundance are also recommended.

Yellapur is connected to many well-known towns and cities of the region by road. It is convenient to access the town on a public or private transport vehicle. Those travelling by rail or air must visit Hubli which has the closest railway station (about 71 km.) and airport (about 73 km.). For local sightseeing in Yellapur, one can choose among options like buses, cabs, auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and rented cycles. Trekking can be a fulfilling experience for the adventurers.

Tourists can also climb two other hills called Balekallu Gudda and Kodekallu Gudda to explore many other beautiful places. Bird watching is a wonderful activity and one can come across the species like back backed shrike, orange minivets, Asian brown flycatcher, red whiskered bulbul and others.

Sahasarlinga (about 38 km.): A popular pilgrimage spot where over a thousand Shiva Lingams have been carved out on stone on the bank of River Shalmala. Sodhe (about 40 km.): Famous as a pilgrimage spot and also for the prehistoric rock art. Sirsi (about 52 km.): A prominent city with spectacular scenic beauty and unparalleled greenery all over, Sirsi is popular for a large number of waterfalls, spice plantations, Marikamba Temple, Jain Mata Temple and numerous view points. Dandeli (about 60 km.): Popular for Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, white water rafting adventure and a number of historical and religious spots. Banavasi (about 74 km.): An ancient town and cultural centre, Banavasi is famous for its folk dances, classical music and Madhukeshwara Temple. Gokarna (about 76 km.): Beautiful beaches and the popular Mahabaleshwar Temple of Lord Shiva attract huge flocks of tourists to this place. Yana (about 105 km.): One of the best tourist places in the region, it is known for unusual limestone rock outcrops accessible by trekking, Vibhuti Falls and a cave temple with self manifested Shiva Lingam.

Other worthwhile places nearby include Gadag (amazing temple complexes with astonishing architecture), Kumta (beaches and temples), Karwar (historic temples, beaches, fishing and water sports like snorkelling and diving), Honnemardu (backwaters and adventure) and the extremely majestic Jog Falls.