Kurumgad Island
Looking for a quaint beachside location with loads of fun and adventure? Kurumgad is the answer. An appealing island just a few yards away from the Devbagh beach in Karwar is of late becoming popular amongst nature lovers, adventure-seekers, and all those who intend to have some adrenaline rush in life. The lush green unspoiled beauty attracts travellers of all genres and even pilgrims to the famous Narasimha temple.
A tortoise-shaped island in the Arabian Sea is approachable via Devbagh. One of the other five islands in the region, Kurumgad is famous for adventure activities, spotting dolphins, boat rides, and the famous Narasimha temple. A paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers, a photographer’s delight Kurumgad Island is an ideal way to spend a weekend or an extended one. If you love hiking, then trek up to an old fort believed to have been related to Maratha rulers.
Things to see and do
Reaching the island and exploring it at your own pace, relaxing and immersing in the lap of nature is the best thing to do on the island. Other activities one can indulge in are fishing, water sports, nature walks, Beach volleyball or just relax and bathe the sun. A leisure walk around the tortoise-shaped island with 360 panoramic views of the sea will not only calm you but will also mesmerise you. Boat rides, watching dolphins, star gazing, snorkelling, fishing and trekking are some of the other activities one can indulge in. Devotees and pilgrims flock to Kurumgad Island to offer prayers to Lord Narasimha. Kurumgad Island is very popular for Narasimha Temple, especially during December- January on a full-moon day. This is the time when the annual fair is conducted at the temple.
Best time to visit
Being a coastal town, summers and monsoons can be avoided. Summers are harsh and it is not a good idea to visit an island during monsoon for safety reasons, as the tides are sometimes very high. The best time to visit Kurumgad Island is post-monsoon i.e. from September to March.
How to reach
Being an island the last mile commute is by ferry or a boat from the Devbagh beach at Karwar. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes to reach the island from the beach. Located in Uttara Kannada district, Karwar is the nearest station one needs to reach. Devbagh Beach Jungle Lodges & Resorts is the closest point to take the ferry to reach the island.
By Air
Being a coastal town, Karwar can be reached best by air via Goa. The closest airport is the Goa airport which is about 90 km and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach Karwar. Mangalore airport is about 210 km and takes almost 5 hours by road to reach.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is Mangalore. It takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach Karwar by rail. The closest railway station is 5 km away and that is Shirwad.
By Road
Karwar is one of the port towns of Karnataka and is well-connected with all the major cities of the state and the neighbouring states. One can take either the state-run public transport bus services or private buses. There are ample cabs and taxis available from most of the major towns of Karnataka to reach Karwar.
Image credits: Anurag Mallick & Priya Ganapathy