Barkana is a beautiful waterfalls near Agumbe, Thirthahalli. It is formed by Sita River, and the total height of fall is 850 feet.
If you want to visit Barkana falls, there are three different ways of doing it. The most popular one being the Barkana viewpoint, where you get to see the water falls from a distance of about 1 km and also the Barkana valley. Second one is reaching the top of the water falls, through a rugged terrain and lastly reaching the bottom of the water falls.
General Information: Barkana
Nearest Town : Agumbe
Nearby Towns : Thrithahalli, Sringeri, Koppa, Someshwara, Hebri
Nearest Airport : Mangalore
From Bangalore : Direct KSRTC bus @ 8:00 pm everyday (344 kms)
From Mangalore : Private buses available regularly (115 kms)
Guide Contact : Thimmappa / Krishnappa - 08181-233213 (Kannada)
The best time to visit Barkana falls is from October to January, though for a more exiting experience one can visit the place in the monsoon season (July to August). The viewpoint is approximately 10 kms from Agumbe (Many sites mention as 7 kms, but I strongly believe that it is almost 10 kms), which includes 6 kms of tar road and 4 kms of jeep track. Help of guide is not needed to reach the view point, but don't sue me if you get lost :)
The first part of the journey is from Agumbe police checkpost till Barkana deviation (approx. 2 kms) through SH 65 (Sringeri Road). You cannot miss the large board on the right side of the road, which indicates that you have to take a right turn to reach Barkana falls. The next part of the journey is through a curvy road, which leads to a small village called Mallandur. The tar road is covered by thick forest on both sides, and all of a sudden the forest disappears on your left side, where the road takes a sharp 90 degrees right turn. After travelling 100 meters from this point, you will find a small stone board, with "Barkana" painted on it. This is where the journey on the tar road ends. On the right side, one can find a jeep track heading into the jungle.
The 4 kms of mud road starts with crossing a small stream. Don't try crossing across with your vehicle during monsoon season. The path is covered with thick vegetation and is a joy to walk through. At times you will keep doubting whether you are in the right route, but its difficult to get lost. Leaches are an integral part of your journey in this part of the world :) The more you stop to detach them, the more they get attached to you. So, just move on..
After walking for about an hour or so, you would finally reach the view point to experience one of the most beautiful V-shaped valley and the Barkana waterfalls.
Personally, I would say that the beauty of the valley is much more satisfying than the waterfalls itself and I like the way the valley opens up from the thick forest.
The forest range of Agumbe has the highest population of King Cobras in the world. Don't go near any large pile of forest litter, because the queen might be waiting to kiss you with her sweet venom (King Cobras are the only species of snakes which build nests for laying eggs). It is better to leave before its too dark (5:00 pm), and also the sunset is more beautiful from the Agumbe sunset point.
Lastly, please do not throw plastics, parcel papers, cigar stubs etc etc. You might argue your case saying that throwing paper and banyan leaves would not harm nature because they are biodegradable, but it might well degrade the beauty of the place for the next visitor and also promote for further pollution. So please. . .
Reaching the top of Barkana falls as well as bottom is a tough job without the help of a guide, and its very easy to get lost because there are no defined paths to reach there. Krishnappa and Thimappa are two guides who reside in Mallandur. To reach there, instead of taking right turn from the tar road towards the jungle (as we did for reaching view point), just continue in the tar road for another 1 km or so to reach Krishnappa's house. It is better to inform them a day or two in advance.
The top of the Barkana falls can also be reached as part of Narasimha Parvatha trek, which is a 12 km trek starting from Mallandur. The trek is a wonderful journey through the thick forests of Agumbe, while unfolding the beauty of Kudremukh hill ranges in the later part of the trek. I will be writing about this trek very shortly.
Thanks for bearing with my English :)
-Ajay
