JOIN USThe enchanting Magod Falls is situated about 20 km from Yellapur in Uttar Kannada district, off the Dharwad-Karwar highway. Yellapur is popularly known as a “main road town,” because there is only one main road in this small town and allmajorcommercial complexes and residential buildings lie on a single side of the main road. This small town is at the edge of the Yellapur Forest Division, set in a serene, sylvan environment, adjacent to the Western Ghats.
It is an almost isolated place amid wilderness, packaged with beautiful cascading waterfalls. These are the attractions for tourists, especially after the monsoon flush adds vigour and bounty to the waterfalls. The place has an elevation of 1774 feet; and in the valleys all around Yellapur, we come across rich agricultural lands, where paddy and arecanut are cultivated.
Proceeding on NH 63 from Yellapur, towards Ankola, on the Dharwad-Karwar Road, after about a 5 km drive, a small deviation to the left leads to Magod Falls. This road, though not in a very good condition, is motorable. one can hear sounds of birds while travelling on this stretch, and if lucky, we may even get a glimpse of a stray jackal darting across the road.
Jaw-dropping views
It is a five-minute walk to the first point from Magod village. From here, one is assured of a magnificent view of the Falls, its waters falling in two steps from the hills opposite to the point of view. River Bedti (also known as Gangavalli) gushes down in two leaps through a crevice in the hills, flanked by the steep hills and dense forest on both sides. On the second leap, the waters plummet from a height of about 650 feet into a crucible-shaped rocky ravine. Thereafter, River Bedti flows westwards to merge with River Shalmala.
There is no path to get down to the bottom of the Falls, but there are steps to the right side of the viewpoint, which lead to a second viewpoint at a higher level, from where one can have a panoramic view of the mountain ranges all around, covered with the dense forests. During the summer season, Magod Falls almost dries up, but regains its full glory during monsoons.
The road from the highway towards Sathodi Falls twists and turns and plunges into deep forests. It occasionally gets quite dark as the trees above block the sun rays. The road to Sathodi makes for a pleasant walk through the forest, with a small stream gurgling on one side, and thickly forested hills on the other. The stream crosses the path occasionally, and there are small concrete bridges to help us across. One will encounter numerous species of birds and multicoloured beetles.
Sathodi Falls is a broad curtain of water that falls into a large pool and then tumbles down into a rocky stream. The path ends among rocks, after which, moving forward is risky.
There are no shops in Sathodi, so it’s best to carry some water and snacks along. However, at the beginning of the path to the Falls, there’s a small eatery- cum-house. The best time to visit is during the monsoon, when the falls are at their best.