VANAMCOVE 
Sagara
Town of Marikamba and the river backwaters
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Backwater walk
- Boat ride
- Marikamba visit
- Hill walk
- Return
Geography & terrain
Sagara lies in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka, 80 km from Shivamogga and 100 km from Mangaluru — the backwater town of the region, its Varahi lake, the Marikamba temple and the Sharavathi edge set on the Malnad hills.
History & culture
The town's story runs with the 16th-century temple era — the backwater town of the 16th-century Marikamba temple and the 1940s-era Sharavathi life, with the town's modern role as the nature stop of the Shivamogga circuit and the home of the 16th-century temple and the Varahi backwaters and the Jog-route views; the town's history of the 1990s-era dam life and the temple fairs, gives Sagara its backwater character.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/nightMid-range
₹2,500–5,000/nightComfort
₹5,000+/nightThings to do
Backwater lakes
Old temples
Boat decks
River edges
Hill paths
Eat & drink
- Bisi bele bath
- Ragi mudde
- Mysore masala dosa
- Coorg pandi curry
- Mangalorean fish curry
Getting there
- Fly
- Bengaluru (BLR) / Mangaluru (IXE) / Hubballi (HBX)
- Train
- Bengaluru City / Mysuru / Mangaluru junctions
- Road from Bengaluru
- varies by district — 50–500 km
- Getting around
- Autos, metro in Bengaluru, KSRTC buses
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹3,000–8,000 (1 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Kannada (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Mar
- Connectivity: good 4G in towns
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The season (Oct–Mar) holds the backwaters
- The boats run on the counters
- Pairs with Jog Falls for the circuit
Frequently asked questions
The backwater town of the Malnad.
The backwaters, the temple and the hills.
A full day.
Town of Marikamba and the river backwaters
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Sagara plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.