In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Honavar
Honnavar
Half a day is enough: see the beach and the falls, then move on to Gokarna or Murdeshwar. One night only if you want the island fort.
Honavar is a small port town on the Sharavathi estuary in Uttara Kannada. Its draws are the long ECO beach, the Apsarakonda waterfall viewpoint and the 16th-century Basavaraja Durga island fort. Most travellers pass through on the NH66 or Konkan Railway between Goa and Mangaluru; the town itself has little nightlife or dining variety.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- Honnavar
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy monsoon, many beaches unsafe)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102 · All emergencies 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Vegetarian thali meal | ₹80–150 |
| Fish curry rice (local catch) | ₹150–250 |
| Auto-rickshaw within town (up to 3 km (1.9 mi))Auto-rickshaw within town (up to 1.9 mi (3 km)) | ₹50–100 |
| Bus Honavar → Gokarna | ₹40–60 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GOI · Dabolim Airport (Goa)
- about 140 km (87 mi) north, 3–4 h by roadabout 87 mi (140 km) north, 3–4 h by road
- IXE · Mangaluru International Airport
- about 200 km (124 mi) south, 4–5 h by roadabout 124 mi (200 km) south, 4–5 h by road
Typical fares
- Honnavar station → ECO beach (auto)
- ₹50–100, about 10 min (check)
- Bus Honavar → Murdeshwar
- ₹30–50, about 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws are the main option within town; negotiate the fare before boarding. The railway station is 2 km (1.2 mi) from the bus stand. ECO beach is a 2 km (1.2 mi) walk or short rickshaw ride from the centre.Auto-rickshaws are the main option within town; negotiate the fare before boarding. The railway station is 1.2 mi (2 km) from the bus stand. ECO beach is a 1.2 mi (2 km) walk or short rickshaw ride from the centre.
See and do
Known for
- ECO beach (Kasarkod)
- Apsarakonda Falls
- Basavaraja Durga Island
- Idagunji Maha Ganapati Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gokarna | Bus or train (Honnavar → Gokarna Road, about 1 h) | About 1 h |
| Murdeshwar | Bus or train (about 30 min) | About 40 min |
| Sirsi | Bus via NH66 and SH, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Karwar | Bus or train (about 1 h) | About 1 h 15 min |
| Dandeli | Bus via Yellapur, about 2.5 h | About 3 h |
| Kumta | Bus or train (about 20 min) | About 30 min |
Sleep
- NH66 strip
- Budget hotels and lodges near the highway; convenient for a transit stop.
- Kasarkod beach area
- A few guesthouses closer to the beach; quieter.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | ಎಷ್ಟು?eshtu |
| Where is the beach? | ಬೀಚ್ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?beach ellide |
| I want to go to the fort | ನನಗೆ ಕೋಟೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕುnanage kotege hogabeku |
| Thank you | ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುdhanyavādagaḷu |
| One chai | ಒಂದು ಚಹಾondu chaha |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings strong currents; swimming at ECO beach is not advised then.
- Basavaraja Durga Island boat service is seasonal and weather-dependent: check locally.
- ATMs are limited; carry enough cash for rickshaws and small purchases.
Honavar is safe for daytime visits. The main risks are monsoon currents at the beach and negotiating rickshaw fares. Keep valuables out of sight on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Honavar yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- ECO beach (Kasarkod)
- Apsarakonda Falls
- Basavaraja Durga Island
- Idagunji Maha Ganapati Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Honavar, revision 5219370 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5219370
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
HonavarHonnavar
ಈ ವಿಳಾಸಕ್ಕೆ, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most foreign embassies are in New Delhi; consulates in Mumbai and Bengaluru. For emergencies, contact your country's embassy in New Delhi.
Kannada is the local language; Hindi and English are understood at hotels and bus stands.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/honavar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.