What to expect
Highlights
- Kayaking and coracle rides on the calm reservoir.
- Island camping amid Malnad forest.
- Quiet backwater scenery near Sagara.
Honnemaradu
Honnemaradu is a cluster of islands and still backwaters on the Sharavathi (Linganamakki) reservoir near Sagara, ringed by forested hills.
Practical guide
Plan Honnemaradu
Who's going?Tailor Honnemaradu to your trip
Typebackwater
Nearest baseSagara
DistrictShivamogga
Best timeOctober to February, when the water is…
Time neededHalf a day to an overnight camp
EntryVia activity/camp operator
Places to visit4→It is a long-established outdoor base where visitors kayak, ride coracles and windsurf and camp on the shores, well away from crowds.
Getting there
How to visit
- About 20 km from Sagara; reached by road and then boat, usually through an adventure camp or operator.
- Water levels and access change with the reservoir; arrange activities and camping through licensed operators in advance.
Distance by road
- Chikkamagaluru90 km
- Udupi120 km
- Mangaluru185 km
- Hubballi200 km
- Bengaluru275 km
Road km to Shivamogga; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February, when the water is high and the weather settled.
Weather in HonnemaraduSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Honnemaradu
Sunrise6:22 am
Sunset6:09 pm
Golden hour best light5:09 pm–6:09 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:09 pm–6:34 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌓 First quarter · 49%
Sunset is in about 1 hour.
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- Open water on a reservoir — always wear the life jacket, go with licensed operators, and mind changing water levels.
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Top experiences around Sagara
3 more places around Sagara. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.
waterfallJog Falls
8.9 km · ~15 min by cab
One of India’s highest plunge waterfalls, where the Sharavathi river drops about 253 m in four separate cascades — Raja, Rani, Rover (Roarer) and Rocket — over a sheer cliff on the Sagara–Siddapura border. The flow is fullest in the monsoon and is regulated upstream by the Linganamakki dam.
templeKeladi Rameshwara Temple
15.9 km · ~27 min by cab
The 16th-century Rameshwara temple at Keladi, the first capital of the Keladi (Nayaka) dynasty, blends Hoysala, Dravidian and later styles with finely carved pillars; a small museum of Keladi history stands nearby.
templeIkkeri Aghoreshwara Temple
16.5 km · ~27 min by cab
A large stone Shiva temple at Ikkeri, a later Keladi-Nayaka capital, built in a distinctive Vijayanagara–Hoysala hybrid style with a granite Nandi pavilion and carved outer walls.
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Honnemaradu — at a glance
TimingsDaylight; activity slots
Best timeOctober to February
Entry: Via activity/camp operator
Getting here
How to reach Honnemaradu
~20 km from Sagara; road + boat
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Honnemaradu
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at Honnemaradu
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Honnemaradu
waterfallJog Falls
One of India’s highest plunge waterfalls, where the Sharavathi river drops about 253 m in four separate cascades — Raja, Rani, Rover (Roarer) and Rocket — over a sheer cliff on the Sagara–Siddapura border. The flow is fullest in the monsoon and is regulated upstream by the Linganamakki dam.
8.9 km · ~15 min by cab · straight linetempleKeladi Rameshwara Temple
The 16th-century Rameshwara temple at Keladi, the first capital of the Keladi (Nayaka) dynasty, blends Hoysala, Dravidian and later styles with finely carved pillars; a small museum of Keladi history stands nearby.
15.9 km · ~27 min by cab · straight linetempleIkkeri Aghoreshwara Temple
A large stone Shiva temple at Ikkeri, a later Keladi-Nayaka capital, built in a distinctive Vijayanagara–Hoysala hybrid style with a granite Nandi pavilion and carved outer walls.
16.5 km · ~27 min by cab · straight line
trekKodachadri
A forested peak of about 1,343 m in the Mookambika range, among the highest in the region and a well-known trek, linked to the Kollur Mookambika temple and topped by the Sarvajna Peetha shrine.
35.3 km · ~59 min by cab · straight line
heritageNagara Fort
The hill fort of Nagara (Bidanur/Bidnur), the last capital of the Keladi Nayakas near Hosanagara, with moats, ramparts and the ruined Neelakanteshwara temple.
43.2 km · ~72 min by cab · straight line
heritageKavaledurga Fort
A ruined hill fort near Thirthahalli strengthened by the Keladi Nayakas, with concentric stone ramparts, temples and a palace site reached by a forest climb that opens up wide Malnad views.
57.5 km · ~96 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where Honnemaradu is
Good to know
Honnemaradu — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Honnemaradu?
October to February, when the water is high and the weather settled.
What are the entry fee and timings at Honnemaradu?
Entry: Via activity/camp operator. Timings: Daylight; activity slots.
How do I reach Honnemaradu?
About 20 km from Sagara; reached by road and then boat, usually through an adventure camp or operator. Water levels and access change with the reservoir; arrange activities and camping through licensed operators in advance.
How much time do I need for Honnemaradu?
Half a day to an overnight camp.
What else is near Honnemaradu?
Nearby you can pair Jog Falls (8.9 km), Keladi Rameshwara Temple (15.9 km), Ikkeri Aghoreshwara Temple (16.5 km), Kodachadri (35.3 km).
Read before you go
Honnemaradu guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Honnemaradu itself yet. These cover Sagara and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Image credits
Photographs: Sarthak Banerjee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Wikimedia Commons.