Gokarna, Murudeshwar and Jog Falls are the three names most visitors to this part of Karnataka have heard of, and Honnavar sits between all of them. Gokarna is 48 km north of Hotel Pumerai, Murudeshwar 26 km south, and Jog Falls lies inland up the Sharavathi valley on NH-69. With two full days and a car, you can see all three.
It is a busy plan with early starts. If you have a third day, split day one in two and give Gokarna and Murudeshwar a day each.
Day 1 morning: Murudeshwar
Start with Murudeshwar, the closer of the two coastal towns: 26 km south, about 35 minutes. Arriving by 8:00 AM means a shorter queue at the temple and cooler air on Kanduka Hill. See the temple, take the lift up the Raja Gopura, and walk around the 123-foot Shiva statue before the midday heat.
Day 1 afternoon: Gokarna
Drive back north past Honnavar to Gokarna, 48 km from the hotel (about 1 hour 30 minutes from Murudeshwar in total). Stop for lunch at the hotel on the way if you like: Madhura's Karavali veg thali or Matsya's seafood.
In Gokarna, visit the Maha Ganapati and Mahabaleshwar temples, then drive to Om Beach for the late afternoon and stay for sunset. Head back to Honnavar for dinner; the whole day is about 150 km of driving.
Day 2: Jog Falls
Leave right after an early breakfast and take NH-69 inland along the Sharavathi river, past Gersoppa and up the ghat road to Jog Falls. The road has sharp bends, so allow time and drive in daylight; the route link on our Jog Falls page shows today's driving time.
At the falls, see the four streams (Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket) from the main viewpoint and then from the other side of the gorge. Stop at Gersoppa's Chaturmukha Basadi on the way back, and be at the hotel in time for a swim in the rooftop pool or a sunset at Kasarkod Eco Beach, 5 km away.
Before you go
- Start each day by 7:00 AM; Madhura serves breakfast from 6:30 AM.
- Fill the tank in Honnavar before the Jog Falls drive, and carry water and snacks for the ghat road.
- Pack comfortable shoes with grip for the Gokarna beach trail and the Jog viewpoints, and a light rain jacket from June to October.
- Keep clothing that covers shoulders and knees for the temples at Murudeshwar and Gokarna.
If it rains
Heavy monsoon rain can close beach trails and cover Jog Falls in mist. Swap the beach afternoon for the Sharavathi backwaters (2.8 km from the hotel) when it clears, and wait out the mist at Jog: it often lifts within the hour and reveals the falls at full power.
When this plan works best
- October to February: dry roads, calm sea, and Jog still flowing after the monsoon.
- July to September: Jog Falls is at its fullest, but beach time is limited and the ghat road needs extra care.
- March to May: Jog can thin to a trickle in the dry months, so consider swapping day two for Sirsi and Yana.