The Koodlu Theertha Waterfall is another mesmerizing place that one can visit. This waterfall is located near Hebri in the dense forests of the Western Ghats. The waterfall is the first fall of the Sita River. Thus this waterfall is also called Sita Falls. The height of this waterfall is approximately 300 feet. The water from this waterfall falls straight into a pond below. Locals here consider the water of this pond to be very holy. It is believed that many years ago sages used to meditate at the place where the pond was because of which people consider this water to be holy. One can also enjoy a good swim in the pond. In order to reach this waterfall one has to trek. The trekking route passes through the dense forest and then one arrives on the banks of the River Sita. Then the trekkers have to cross a bridge over the River Sita to reach the waterfall. The atmosphere around the waterfall too is serene and the view from the waterfall too is an amazing sight.
Transportation & Best time to visit Koodlu Theertha Falls, Shimoga
The Mangalore Airport is located close to this place. From the airport one can take a bus or a taxi to reach the waterfall. There are many buses that one can take to reach the waterfall. If not bus one can also travel by a taxi to reach this waterfall. One can also reach this place by their own private vehicle which will be only be allowed till a certain distance and then the remaining distance needs to be covered by trekking. The Udupi Railway station is located close to this place. From the railway station one can take a bus or a taxi to reach the waterfall. The best time to visit this waterfall is from the months of August to December.
Accommodation & Food near Koodla Theertha Falls, Shimoga
Near this waterfall there are many places for one to stay. The prices too are affordable. Some of the names of the places are Sea Bird Resort, Beedu Heritage Villa, Club Hidden Woods, Tinton Resorts and Water Park, Mallya Residency, etc. There are many places where one can eat food at. Some of the names of the restaurants are R.S Bake and Cafe, Hotel New Dolphin, Hotel Durga Sagar, Hotel Guruprasad, Hotel Saraswathi Bhavan, etc.
Places to visit near Koodla Theertha Falls, Shimoga
Sirimane Waterfall: This waterfall is located on the Western Ghats. The water from this waterfall actually falls into the coffee estates and paddy fields which are located closeby. The height of this waterfall is approximately 40 feet. One can also get to the bottom of this waterfall and enjoy a good swim there. The view from this waterfall is amazing to see.
Hasta Shilpa Heritage Museum: This place was actually the house of Vijayanath Shenoy which he built in the late 1980's. He actually wanted to have an ethnographic museum within his own house. The house contained artefacts like cooking and storage vessels,tools and implements which were used in the olden times,etc. Vijayanath Shenoy lived at this place with his family for quite some time but later he had to leave that home and set up a new one at another place in Manipal. The Hasta Shilpa Trust revived this museum and they also added other artefacts to it like a collection of toys and playthings.
Smriti Bhavan: This building is a residence that has been converted into a museum. It is the house of Dr. TMA Pai who established the Manipal Institute of Technology. He also established the Syndicate Bank and other institutions over Manipal and other cities. The museum is where one gets to know how Manipal actually transformed from being a barren land to an actual city. One also finds artefacts here like Yakshagana characters and other things that Dr. TMA Pai used which gives us a more detailed insight about his life.
Pithrody village: The River Udyavara flows through this village. Hence this river is also referred to as the Pithrody River. There is a beach here which is called as the Pithrody Udyavara Beach which is extremely clean and beautiful and not many people know about this beach. If one is looking for a peaceful time then this beach is the perfect place to go to. In this village the main occupation of the people is fishing. Since there is a river in the backyard here it forms many islets or as people call it in the local language kudrus. The village consists mainly of the Mogaveeras which is a fishing community in coastal Karnataka. One also finds many fish mills here.
Shree Durga Devi Temple: This temple is located on a hillock. The place is also known by other names like Durga Hill and Vimanagiri. In order to reach this temple one has to climb a flight of stairs. The view that one gets to see from the hillock is stunning. There are many tales associated with the place. One of them is that the idol of Adi Shakti was installed here in the temple by Lord Parashurama himself. After Lord Parashurama created Kerala,he happened to find a pearl in the deep sea which he made into a nose ring and then put it on the idol of Goddess Durga. It is believed that he also created four pounds here which are Dhanus Thirtha, Gada Thirtha, Bana Thirtha and Parashu Thirtha around this place. Till today people believe that Lord Parashurama is performing his penance in the cave which happens to be below the hill. It is also believed that this temple was visited by Sri Madhvacharya who was the founder of the Dvaita philosophy everyday. One finds the temple and also the Parashurama idol close to the Gada Thirtha.