Byndoor Travel Guide

Chances are higher that you are completely unaware of Byndoor's mere existence, leave alone paying a visit to this coastal Karnataka town. In-fact, 'town' might be a little exaggeration, and 'environs' of Udupi district would be an appropriate description. But that does not change the fact that Byndoor is home to some of the most exotic beaches in the country.

Located along NH17 which connects Mangalore to Goa, Byndoor is yet to fulfil its huge potential to be a tourism hub. Byndoor is a costal town situated north of Kundapur taluk, near Shiroor in Udupi District of Karnataka. Bordered by the Arabian sea in West, beaches are undoubtedly the major attractions here, - but not to forget the Western Ghats Mountain Ranges that forms the Eastern border. Rivers, streams and waterfalls are the integral parts of any trip to Byndoor.



Byndoor is also a favorite destination for the bird lovers. You can be assured of being greeted by the elegant Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus) as soon as you step out on the sea-shore. Besides, the beaches, hillocks and estuaries are the natural habitat of several waders. Great Sand Plovers, Eurasian Curlews, Whimbrels, Ruddy Turnstones, Terek Sandpipers, Redshanks, Pied Avocets, Western Reef Egrets, Great Crested Terns are a few of the exotic avian species that can be spotted in and around Byndoor.

Did You Know? Etymological references state that Sri Rama had stayed for a night at Byndoor while on his way to Lanka for rescuing Sita from Ravana's confinement. It is also believed that the Shiva Linga at Seneshwara Temple was installed by Rama himself.

How to Reach Byndoor?

By Bus:

Located at a distance of 130 KM from Mangalore and 480 KM from Bangalore, Byndoor has daily Government (KSRTC) and private bus services (SRS, VRL, Sugama Tours) from these two major cities in Karnataka. It is a 12 hours bus journey from Bangalore, while Mangalore-Byndoor distance can be covered in 3 hours.

From Goa, situated at a distance of 230 KM, one can reach Byndoor with a change of bus at Karwar. There are plenty of buses plying in the Margao-Karwar route. Subsequently, you can catch any Mangalore-bound bus from Karwar to get down at Byndoor. It is a 150 KM bus journey from Karwar to Byndoor which takes around 3.5 hours time.

By Taxi:

A more comfortable option would be to hire a taxi. From Bangalore, one-way taxi fare for a non-ac 5-seater vehicle would come up to INR 5000-6000. A similar trip from Mangalore would cost you INR 1500-2000 approx. Approximate travel time by taxi from Bangalore and Mangalore would be 10 hours and 2.5 hours respectively.

Personal Vehicle:

If you own a car, then the best option would be to drive down to Byndoor. It is a very scenic drive from Bangalore through the amazing Ghats roads. You can reach Byndoor via Shiradi Ghat, Charmadi Ghat, Shimoga or through the Ghat section of Coorg.

Shiradi Ghats section has been relaid recently, so the roads are in excellent condition. Charmadi Ghats section is a bit narrow, but the roads are in good shape. The third route through Chitradurga and Shimoga is not as scenic as the first two. Finally, if you decide to take the Mysore-Coorg-Mangalore route, then the distance would increase, but the level of driving difficulty would be much lower compared to Shiradi and Charmadi Ghats. It is also a very scenic route.

From Mangalore, it is a point to point journey on the NH17. NH17 runs parallel to the Arabian Coast line, so you would certainly enjoy the drive. You would not encounter any hilly terrain on this route.

By Train:

Byndoor has a railway station along the Konkan Railway that connects Mumbai to Mangalore. The station is named as Mookambika Road Byndoor. Bhatkal is a major junction located just 14 KM away. It is well connected by trains from all the major cities.

By Air:

Mangalore is the nearest airport - around 120 KM away. Domestic travellers coming from the Northern and Eastern parts of India can land at Mangalore and then travel to Byandoor either by bus, train or taxi. Being an International Airport, Mangalore will be a convenient base for the foreign tourists as well.

Byndoor Climate and the Best Season to Travel:

Like all other beach destinations along the Arabian coast, Byndoor exhibits hot and humid weather during the summer days, while the South-West monsoon brings along relentless downpour. End of September to February is the coolest period and it receives majority of the casual tourists.

Except for the summer months, Byndoor has a tropical climate. A cool breeze blowing throughout the day makes it pleasant for the tourists. For the beach lovers, the best time to visit Byndoor would be December-January when the sky remains clear and the mercury level does not exceed beyond the 30 degrees mark. Having said that, this dry period is not ideal to visit the streams and waterfalls around Byndoor. If you want to catch the best of both worlds, then go for the trip in October - right after the monsoon days.

Tourist Attractions at Byndoor:

Ottinene Beach:

Voted as the 'Most Exotic Beach in India' in a survey conducted among the verified travellers at TripAdvisor, Ottinene Beach (also pronounced as Vattinene) achieved a staggering 68% recommendations leaving the famed Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island at a distant second position. The beach is popular as the 'secret beach' among the locals as it remained an unknown entity to the outsiders till a few years ago.



Located beneath the overhanging cliff of a little hillock that holds Someshwara Temple, the spectacular sight of Ottinene Beach surrounded by lush green forests overlooking the sea is as exotic as it can get. Add to that the estuary of Sumana river merging on to the Arabian sea right besides, it can't get more exciting than this. Ottinene's beautiful seashore decorated with the finest of silver sands is famous for offering amazing sunset views. This beach is a nesting ground for the Ridley Sea Turtles during the months of October to December every year.

Kshitija Nesara Dhama View Point:

Managed by the Department of Forests, this is a place of natural beauty located on top of a small hillock nestled amidst lush tropical foliage of palm trees. The hill-top view provides a bird's-eye view of the Arabian sea. The panoramic view of the seamless horizon merging on to the water looks exquisite at the time of sunset. There's a Forest Department bunglow with adjacent eatery for the serving the visitors. The rooms are fairly priced and the food is of good quality.

Maravanthe Beach:

Located at a distance of 17 KM from Byndoor, you can visit the unique beach of Maravanthe where the NH17 seperates the Arabian Sea from the Suparnika River. One seldom comes across such a pristine beach and Outlook Travel justifiably rates it as the most beautiful beach in Karnataka. NH-17 from Byndoor towards Udupi runs along the beach on the right hand side. The other side is equally impressive with the Souparnika River flowing down right beside.

The beach is conducive for taking a dip because of its sandy shallow surface. It is a breathtaking sight to catch the fiery ball of light painting the water in flaming red color before sinking beneath the horizon. If you wish to catch a out-of-the-world view of sunset, do make sure to visit the Maravanthe Beach at dusk.



Kodi Beach:

A secluded beach located at a distance of 28 KM from Byndoor and 4 KM from Kundapura, Kodi Beach is mainly used by the local fishermen community. There's not much to do at the beach, but it is an ideal place to spend some quiet time with your loved ones under the shades of coconut grooves.

Trasi Beach:

Trasi is popular for its one kilometre long virgin sandy beach. Adventure lovers would love this place as the Turtle Bay Beach Resort at Trasi offers the opportunity of snorkeling, banana boat rides and surfing. The shallow level of water here makes at a perfect place for swimming.

Koosalli Waterfalls:

Situated in the dense tropical forest near the Kosalli village at Byndoor, Koosalli Falls is a unique 6-stage cascading waterfalls with a total height of over 380 feet. A 4 KM trek from Kosalli village through a rocky ravine is needed to reach at the bottom of this magnificent waterfalls.

It actually looks like 6 different waterfalls - one above the other. The first three are relatively smaller and can easily be reached. The fourth stage involves a little difficult climb and it gets tougher as you reach higher. The 6th and the last one is the largest of the lot with a height of over 150 feet. You can catch a panoramic view of Arabian sea from the 6th level, but unless you are an expert hiker, it is not recommended to continue beyond the third level. Do keep it mind that the surrounding areas are infested by viper snakes. So make it a point to be extremely careful and carry the necessary first aid medications with you.

Belekal Theertha Waterfalls:

Belekal or Belakallu Theertha is a waterfalls in the Western Ghats ranges near Kollur. Situated in the lush green forests of Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, the water here drops off from a staggering height of 300 feet. The source of water is Korshi Betta - which is an extension of Kodachadri Mountains. The water is believed to have religious significance. Besides the holidayers, lots of people come here to take a holy dip. In winter, the water almost dries up so January to April is not the right time to visit this waterfalls.

Seneshwara Temple:

Seneshwara Temple is a place that has made its way in to the history and folklore. Besides the intricate exterior craftwork, it is said that the Shiva Linga at this temple was installed by none other than Lord Rama during his journey to Lanka. During the festival of Shiva-Ratri, the temple is thronged by thousands of pilgrims.

Kollur Mookambika Temple:

Mookambika Devi Temple is one of the Shakti-Peethas established by Shankaracharya. This is an abode where the Goddess Shakthi is worshiped. Situated at a distance of 28 KM from Byndoor, the history of this riverside temple complex dates back to around 1,200 years. It is an important pilgrimage for the Hindu community as well as a historical spot for the history enthusiasts.

Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary:

Situated at a distance of 40 odd KM from Byndoor, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 247 square kilometers in area. The forest area is divided in to three parts - core zone, buffer zone and tourism zone. Unless you have special permits from the Forest Department, you will only be allowed to visit the tourism zone. Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary is home to animals like Tiger, Leopard, Slender Loris, Lion-tailed Macaque, Sambar, Chital, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, and Porcupine to name a few. Among the birds, you can spot the Great Sand Plovers, Eurasian Curlews, Whimbrels, Ruddy Turnstones, and Terek Sandpipers.

Where to Stay?

No	Hotel	Location	Minimum Tariff	Contact
1	Ottinene Forest Guest House	Ottinene Beach	INR 450	(+91) 82542 30349
2	Beena Residency	Kollur	INR 900	(+91) 82542 58258
3	Hotel Kwality	NH17, Soosgadi	INR 1250	(+91) 97906 18579
4	Sagar Kinara Beach Resort	NH17, Trasi	INR 1500	(+91) 94487 24861
5	Turtlebay on Sea	NH17, Trasi	INR 3000	(+91) 82542 65422
6	Wild Woods Spa and Resort	Shirur Chekpost, Baindur	INR 7500	(+91) 77609 76680
7	Sai Vishram Beach Resort	Ottinene Beach	INR 15,000	(+91) 94498 17535

If you are looking for an off-beat beach destination devoid of the typical mad rush of tourists, then Byndoor is a place that merits a visit. With its exquisite beaches and scintillating waterfalls, the tiny coastal town of Byndoor will bowl you over with its natural splendor. If you are a spiritual soul or a history lover, then the heritage sites and religious spots will surely make it a wholesome vacation for you.

Regards,
Deb