Apsarakonda

Apsarakonda, the pool for Apsaras, if you want to believe the locals. They didn't say you'll turn into one, though! They just said angels used to come by for a dip at night. We don't even know whether angels ever need a bath!! Anyways, this place is just too idyllic to let go which means, the first thing you'll do is to strip as much as you can and simply wade in. Mind you, it's perennial.

You might also bump into someone who would connect it to the times of Mahabharatha, but you cannot find any link to Sharavathi - which is our main focus - except that Apsarakonda is about 7 km south of Honnavara and just off the highway. Look for the right turn to the Falls. There's a refreshment stall beside the gate facing the parking lot. Climb down some 80 steps and you'll come face to face with the angel descending from heaven... only for you!

As we know, seaside weather is generally sticky. So the best time to visit is a little late in the afternoon, just when your lunch begins to weigh on your eyelids. Get into the pool, stand under the gentle fall, and feel rejuvenated. We didn't find too many people when we visited, so if you're lucky, you can have it all for yourselves, till the next group descends that is. Locals told us we could climb all the way down to beach level, but somehow we weren't very enthusiastic.

Once we surfaced back to the parking lot, we noticed that there's a nice park maintained by the Forest Department rightt there. When you walk to the edge of this park and peep down, you'll find Arabian Sea lapping the shore peacefully, down below. In fact, we could find shadows of a few clouds appear & disappear on the sea surface, as they raced across the sun! To your right, you'll find one of the greenest patches of cultivated land, just behind the beach.

You can also visit Apsarakonda Beach which has a separate approach road. Here you will find the stream coming down to sea level from the Falls through a little patch of forest, and then joining the sea! You could even feel the cool water from the falls merging with the warm saline of the sea, as you wade through the stream on a good day. You'll surprised by the current though!

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