The sandy beaches of Karwar make for a perfect weekend destination. Located in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka, Karwar is a major centre for agriculture and gives the visitors the opportunity to explore the rural life of Karnataka from close quarters.

Karwar has immense historic significance as it was used as a harbour by Arab, Portuguese and French. As Karwar is located on the edges of Kali River, the region as a whole is a biodiversity hotspot with numerous endemic species of plants and animals being found in the area.

Any time of the year is perfect for planning a visit to Karwar but if you have keen interest in exploring the flora and fauna of the area, monsoons are the perfect time to plan a visit.

Location

Located on the western coast in the state of Karnataka, Karwar lies at the mouth of Kali River. A bustling city in Uttara Kannada District, Karwar is surrounded by the Western Ghats on its eastern side. The city lies at a distance of 15 km from Karnataka-Goa border and is around 500 km from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka.
Arab, Portuguese, French and British merchants have inhabited Karwar over a period. Among Portuguese, Karwar was known as Sindpur or Chitrakul. It was the English who established trade at Karwar in the real sense. The first factory was established at Kadwad village and commodities as cardamom, black pepper and muslin were traded from Karwar.

Karwar can be considered to be a multilingual city in the true sense as Kannada, Konkani and Marathi are spoken in the region. Hindi, Urdu is also understood and spoken by people in Karwar. Besides its linguistic diversity, Karwar is popular among the foodies for its seafood cuisine. Fish curry is the staple diet in Karwar and ginger, turmeric form a vital part of the curries prepared in Karwar.

Attractions

Devbagh Beach

Located at a distance of 4 km from the Karwar beach, Devbagh can be reached via ferry from Karwar. The beach is known for its water sports activities like scuba diving, banana boat rides and boat cruises through which one can explore the hinterlands of Karwar.

Karwar Beach

One of the most popular beaches in the state of Karnataka, the Karwar beach is popular among tourists who wish to undertake sun bathing and spend some moments of solitude with family and friends. Local cuisine can also be tried at Karwar beach as numerous stalls selling delicacies are located along the edges of the beach.

Maruti Temple, Karwar

Rangoli Festival which is held annually at Maruti temple, 8 km from Karwar is the major attraction for tourists at Maruti temple. Devotees and locals alike make Rangoli art designs which lend a unique ambiance to the entire region.

Kali Bridge, Karwar

The view of Kali River from the Kali Bridge located just on the outskirts of Karwar is simply breathtaking. Visitors can spot Karwar beach, the fort and surrounding mountain ranges from the Kali Bridge. The bridge also serves as a boundary mark between Karnataka and Goa as it connects Karwar to Goa.

Sadashivgad Hill Fort

The hill fort located 5 km from Karwar offers a bird’s eye view of the entire area. The fort was constructed by King Sonde in 1698. A temple dedicated to Goddess Durga has also been built in the fort premises.

Reaching Karwar

Air

Dabolim airport which is located 97 km in Goa is the nearest air link to Karwar. Taxi can be taken from the airport for a convenient ride to the region.

Rail

The region is served by the Konkan Railways and trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmadabad and Cochin pass through Karwar.

Road

Karwar is well connected through road route and an overnight bus service is available from Bangalore. It can also be accessed from Goa through road.

Accommodation Options

Numerous budget and luxury resorts are in operation at Karwar. For a comfortable stay, you can explore Devbagh beach resort. The resort located close to the beach gives the visitors an option to explore the marine life of Karwar from close quarters.