THE DREAMLAND Captivating glimpses of the most diverse district UTTARA KANNADA Commissioned by DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION UTTARA KANNADA Editing and Text DINESH MANEER THE DREAMLAND Captivating glimpses of the most diverse district UTTARA KANNADA Commissioned by DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION Uttara Kannada First Edition: 2018 Number of Pages: 124 Number of Copies: 1000 Published by DEPUTY COMMISSIONER Uttara Kannada Karwar 581301, Karnataka, INDIA Design & Printed by FLOWERGRAFIC www.flowergrafic.com © All Right Reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form of or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system,without permission in writing from the publisher Cover photo: Just another morning for the fishermen in Mavincurve on Sharavathi river - by Nagesh Hegde Onikeri Back cover photo: Snaking road through the jungle of Dandeli - by Amoghvarsha MESSAGE Nestled in beautiful scenic locales, Uttara Kannada is one of the most sought after tourist destination in Karnataka. The very first dynasty “Chutus of Banavasi” was started in this district and was the home of the Kadamba dynasty for over a century. The Western Ghats towards the east and Arabian Sea towards the west has appended a lot of geographical features like rivers, waterfalls, hill stations, beaches and evergreen jungles. Apart from this cultural imprints of the Marathas, Portuguese and the Kadambas are still visible here. Historically, for the British, Karwar was the trade centre for pepper and fine muslin. The distinctive spices of the district and the locally grown commodities together makes one yearn for the delicacies the place has to offer. The longest coast of Karnataka as well as one of the biggest districts in the state has made Uttara Kannada district a great tourist spot. Everyday scores of tourists visit the district for leisure, adventure, knowledge, amusement, pleasure and thrill. The rich heritage, diverse culture, picturesque locations, and eco-tourism makes an enthralling experience. As the saying goes “A picture speaks a thousand words”, this coffee table book portrays the different aspects of Uttara Kannada district through pictures. Each page of this book will immerse you with awe, wonder and surprise. R V Deshpande Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries, Infrastructure Development and District In-charge Minister, Uttara Kannada 19th February, 2018 PREFACE It is a great pleasure to be able to bring out this coffee table book which portrays the diversity of the district. Uttara Kannada district has a wide variety of flora and fauna starting from the Great Indian Hornbill, Lion Tailed Macaque, Leopards to varieties of mangrove plants and evergreen forests. The district is also geographically vast with 12 talukas. Comprising of breathtaking beaches, evergreen western ghats, historically significant monuments and major places of worship - The district has something to offer for every type of visitor. The people of different communities in the district have a rich and vibrant culture which is unique in their own manner but come together as a common thread of the district. The food culture of the district is also something very unique and extremely interesting. In the last one year we have undertaken some very interesting projetcs such as opening up scuba diving at Netrani island and also at Karwar, starting para powergliding at Gokarna and Dr Rabindranath Tagore beach, opening 'Nelasiri - Products of Uttara Kannada' outlets at Karwar and Murudeshwara etc., to boost tourism. This attempt at making a pictorial representation of the district through a coffee table book is a small attempt to portray the district through the eyes of a camera shutter and hope that this venture is able to not only spread the diverse and intricate aspects of our district but also to attract tourists from across the country to see and experience our district. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and efforts put in by Sri Chandrashekhar Naik, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat and Sri Prasanna, KAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner in bringing out this book. S S Nakul, IAS Deputy Commissioner, Uttara Kannada 19th February, 2018 INTRODUCTION hen the birds start singing with the sound of a flowing stream in the background, and when the darkness retreats to make way for the sun's daily dance with the mist, the women of the house hurriedly make their W way to the cowshed to begin milking the livestock while the men gather together to go fishing. Kids sit in front of the fire stove while their grandmother readies hot, buttered dosas for them. Their grandfather is already in the garden fetching flowers for his morning Pooja. As the sun rises, dosas are served with black, thick jaggery and fresh ghee. Everyone in the family gathers to partake in a delicious breakfast along with fresh milk tea. As sun slowly beats down in all its majesty, the men return to work, the ladies start planning for lunch and the kids get ready to go to school. A simple and delicious lunch is prepared with fresh fish, jackfruit, raw mango, yams and a variety of fresh plants along with fried dry chillies. This usually results in an afternoon siesta before every one returns to their daily tasks. Evenings are filled with light-hearted chatter, lingering music and yakshagana before an early dinner brings the day to a close. This is what a typical day in Uttara Kannada encompasses. The people here share an inseparable bond with the nature that surrounds them. In fact, this bond is prevalent in every cultural aspect, tradition and day-to-day activity of the people from Uttara Kannada. When the ancient poet Pampa wrote in the 10th century, “Maridumbiyagi men kogileyagi puttuvudu nandanadol Banavasideshadol”, which translates to 'I wish to be born as a bee or a nightingale in the garden of Banavasi’ little did he know that it was going to ring true even a 1,000 years later. The district of Uttara Kannada is probably the most diverse district of Karnataka. This region embraces the magnificent Western Ghats, beaches, rivers, waterfalls, forests, wildlife, flora, fauna and a wide range of people and cultures. Nobel laureate Shree Rabindranath Tagore, who stayed in Karwar for three months, called the district the 'Kashmir of South India'.Such is the vibrant beauty of the nature found here. Hot and humid weather, wet monsoons, green forests, vivid cultures, discrete ethnic groups, warm hospitality, intricate handicrafts, rich folklore, delicious seafood and much more all come together as one in Uttara Kannada. Tourism is booming in the district with a huge inflow of tourists both domestic and international. Activities such as pilgrimages, heritage tours, agricultural and rural tours, trekking, hiking, bird watching, photography and water sports are increasing exponentially. Today, there is a huge demand for both sustainable tourism as well as eco-tourism. Uttara Kannada district is probably the most conducive district in the state when it comes to eco- tourism. Many major areas and forests have been declared as conservation areas by the State Government. The Government along with many organisations is currently working together to implement the eco-tourism model and create awareness at the grassroots level. Extensive educational programs and events are also being carried out by the Government and other organisations to educate locals and tourists alike. This book is an effort to showcase the heavenly beauty of the Uttara Kannada district while still highlighting its ecological and cultural diversity. Huge effort has been put in to collect a plethora of interesting facts and information about the district along with the best photos from some of the finest photographers the current generation has to offer. While it may not be prudent to solely regard this book as a comprehensive guide to tourism in the district, it surely will as a reference on how fascinating touring in this heavenly district can be. 8 NATURE Coastline . Islands . Forests Rivers . Waterfalls s one of the largest districts in the state, more than 70% of Uttara Kannada is covered by forest while 10% of the district comprises of agricultural land. It has a coastline on the west and in between the coastal line and the Aeastern margins is the Western Ghats. The coastal line is home to most of the district's population. The major part of the district consists of uplands, which are partly made up of forests and partly cleared for agriculture, while the Sahyadrian interior is more densely forested. The Western Ghat belt is 3-54 kilometres wide and over 110 kilometres in length and consists of semi-evergreen, moist, deciduous type of forests. The species in semi-ever green type are Cane, Benate, Hebbalsu, Gulma. The general The sea beach of Karwar species in this moist, deciduous region are Teak, Sissum, Honne, Nandi, Mathi,Kindal, Holedasal, Toon, Burga, Jamba, Neval, Bamboo and many more. is certainly a fit place in which to realise that the There are many important sanctuaries and reserve forests found in the district such as Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Attiveri Bird Sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve, Hornbill beauty of nature is not Conservation Reserve, Shalmala Riparian Eco-system Conservation Reserve. a mirage of the imagination, The west flowing rivers Kalinadi, Bedthi, Aganashini, Sharavathi, Venkatapur, Bhatkal, Navgaddehalla, Hattikerihalla but reflects the joy of the and Belambar pass through the Western Ghats giving vent to hundreds of waterfalls in the district. This feature gives infinite and thus draws us Uttara Kannada the title“land of waterfalls”. The Unchalli falls, where the river Aghanashini plunges 116 meters, to lose ourselves in it. Magod falls, where the Bedti river drops 180 meters in two leaps, Shivganga falls, where the river Sonda drops 74 - Rabindranath Tagore meters, and Lalguli and Mailmane, all converge into the river Kali.