Major city · India
HonavarHonnavar
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.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- avoid Jun–Sep (heavy monsoon, many beaches unsafe)
- Airports
- GOI · IXE
- Nights
- 0–1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Honavar100 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Honavar, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyHonavar is safe for daytime visits.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers100 police · 101 fire · 102 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportGOI Dabolim Airport (Goa) (about 140 km (87 mi) north, 3–4 h by road).GOI Dabolim Airport (Goa) (about 87 mi (140 km) north, 3–4 h by road).
- Getting aroundAuto-rickshaws are the main option within town; negotiate the fare before boarding.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealChai at a roadside stall₹10–20 (≈ under US$1)
- Budget bedDorm bed in a basic lodge, a night, per person₹500 (≈ US$6)
- Mid-range bedDouble room in a budget hotel, a night, per room₹2,000 (≈ US$25)
- High-end bedDouble room in a budget hotel, a night, per room₹3,500 (≈ US$40)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,500 (≈ US$18) · Mid ₹3,000 (≈ US$35) · High ₹5,000 (≈ US$60)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GOI Dabolim Airport (Goa) (about 140 km (87 mi) north, 3–4 h by road) · IXE Mangaluru International Airport (about 200 km (124 mi) south, 4–5 h by road)GOI Dabolim Airport (Goa) (about 87 mi (140 km) north, 3–4 h by road) · IXE Mangaluru International Airport (about 124 mi (200 km) south, 4–5 h by road)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Apr
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
May
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Aug
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Sep
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Best: Oct–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Mar (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C) low), wettest Jul (26 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Honavar: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Mar
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
2 rd
Apr
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
4 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
8 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
23 rd
Jul
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
26 rd
Aug
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
24 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
Dec
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Auto-rickshaws are the main option within town; negotiate the fare before boarding. The railway station is 2 km from the bus stand. ECO beach is a 2 km walk or short rickshaw ride from the centre.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Gokarna
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus or train (Honnavar → Gokarna Road, about 1 h)
Beach town with temples; combine with Honavar for a day.
Murdeshwar
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Bus or train (about 30 min)
Giant Shiva statue and temple on the coast.
Sirsi
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus via NH66 and SH, about 1.5 h
Waterfalls and temples in the Western Ghats.
Karwar
goDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Bus or train (about 1 h)
Coastal town with a fort and beach.
Dandeli
cautionDoor to door: About 3 h
Bus via Yellapur, about 2.5 h
River rafting and wildlife; better as a dedicated trip.
Kumta
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Bus or train (about 20 min)
Small town with a beach and temple.
Yellapur
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus via NH66, about 1.5 h
Gateway to Magod Falls and the ghats.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,500–2,500 (≈ US$18–30) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹2,500–4,000 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- High
- ₹4,000 (≈ US$50)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room in a budget hotel1 × 1 night × ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Auto-rickshaw from station to beach (one way)1 × ₹100 · check | ₹100 |
| Boat to Basavaraja Durga Island (return)2 × ₹300 · check | ₹600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹870 |
| Trip total≈ ₹4,790 per person per day, bed included | ₹9,570≈ US$110 |
2026 estimate in rupees; flights and long-distance buses excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Chai at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 (≈ under US$1) |
| Vegetarian thali meal | ₹80–150 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Fish curry rice (local catch) | ₹150–250 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Auto-rickshaw within town (up to 3 km) | ₹50–100 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Bus Honavar → Gokarna | ₹40–60 (≈ under US$1) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 100
- Fire
- 101
- Ambulance
- 102
- All emergencies
- 112
Pocket card
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HonavarHonnavar
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ಈ ವಿಳಾಸಕ್ಕೆ, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟುTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police100
- Fire101
- Ambulance102
- All emergencies112
Embassy
Most foreign embassies are in New Delhi; consulates in Mumbai and Bengaluru. For emergencies, contact your country's embassy in New Delhi.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Honnavar station → ECO beach (auto): ₹50–100 (≈ US$1–2), about 10 min (check)
- Bus Honavar → Murdeshwar: ₹30–50 (≈ under US$1), about 30 min (check)
Say or show
- ಎಷ್ಟು? — How much? (eshtu)
- ಬೀಚ್ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ? — Where is the beach? (beach ellide)
- ನನಗೆ ಕೋಟೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು — I want to go to the fort (nanage kotege hogabeku)
- ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು — Thank you (dhanyavādagaḷu)
- ಒಂದು ಚಹಾ — One chai (ondu chaha)
Kannada is the local language; Hindi and English are understood at hotels and bus stands.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Honavar. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Mar · avoid Jun–Sep (heavy monsoon, many beaches unsafe) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for ECO beach, Apsarakonda Falls, Basavaraja Durga Island, Idagunji Temple.
- Eat pages with last orders and dish tags.
- Verified boat schedule for the island fort.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures for Honnavar railway station.
Sources
Ask about Honavar
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