'Shiroor' Beauty Makes Karnataka More Dazzling!

INN sets out to explore Shiroor, a town between Baindoor and Bhatkal on the Konkan highway, and discovers two hidden cascades, Kosalli. The list of lesser known waterfalls hidden amidst the forests and mountains of the State seems to be endless. The quest for discovering these lovely cascades in farflung remote corners only unearths newer spots, making the exploration a ceaseless adventure. 

We had to plan our exploration before summer set in. So we planned a two-day venture to the base of the mountains on the seaside of the Western Ghats in Udupi district. The destination was Shiroor, an inconspicuous town between Baindoor and Bhatkal on the Konkan highway.

It was sheer coincidence that when we landed there after dark, we met a local landlord, Ashok Prabhu, who was knowledgeable about the geography of the area. On learning about our quest to find two waterfalls, namely Kosalli Falls and Kudumari Falls, he promptly arranged for an autorickshaw to take us to the spot the following day.

It was still six as we set off in the morning. As we drove for about seven km to a village called Toodalli, we had the first glimpse of Kosalli Falls from far away. It was like a white stripe in the green jungles high up in the hills. Beyond Toodalli, we drove further to Kallikone, the last settlement in this road.

The driver showed us the trail and left. The mud path cut across the fields and crossed a stream before it went up through the forest. The canopy made it cool and less tiring. After about an hour, the trail opened into a wide valley with the rocky surface on our left and the roaring waterfall. 

The broad cascades of water tumbled down relentlessly. Kosalli Falls, which has several names like Abbigundi, Gudanagundi and Boorlagundi, is a seven-tiered huge waterfall dropping from about 400 ft. in stages. This was only the last stage of the falls. Though climbing to the top was not a priority, we had to scramble up two more rocky patches to get an overall view of the falls in its entirety. It was indeed an awesome sight and worth the effort. The valley on the other side was also equally breathtaking. 

The second waterfall was waiting to be discovered. Walking back briskly, we reached the road head at Toodalli village from where a three-km path went eastward to the village of Chakatkal. The only way to reach the spot was by foot. Kudumari Falls, often referred to as Chakatkal Falls after the village, is also called Belligundu Falls locally. 

With no guide to follow, tracing the path to the cascade was far more arduous and tiring. In fact, with no one having walked to the spot in the recent past, a new route had to be opened up, with frequent crossing of streams and boulder hopping. When the going was getting too tough and we had thoughts of giving up, the thundering sound from the side of the valley motivated us to go on. At last, the waterfalls came into view. 

It was one tall cascade dropping straight down from a height of about 400-500 ft. Though the falls seemed thinner following the beginning of summer, the sight of the falls amidst the dense green forest was beautiful. Having explored the two little-known falls, we made it back to Shiroor.

If these waterfalls are not enough, there is a lovely unspoilt beach too, at Shiroor. Just a km away from the town, the river Shankhada Gundi flowing from the twin waterfalls joins the sea. The curved beach, with its swaying palms and pebbles, is a pristine locale. Being isolated and devoid of tourists, it is the right place to spend some quiet moments.

Getting there
Shiroor is six km beyond Baindoor on NH 17 from Mangalore to Kumta. For stay and food, Baindoor or Bhatkal (10 km north) are ideal. To visit the falls, a guide is necessary; extreme care should be taken as fatal accidents have been recorded. The best time to visit the waterfalls is before summer or late after the monsoon.