My favorite part of our side of Karnataka has always been Uttara Karnataka or UK. My friends from this parts used to introduce themselves as "Hi I am-- I am from UK" confusing the other person.
I enjoy visiting remote villages and jungles for the solitude they offer. During my college days Sathodi Falls near Yellapur was our regular haunt. In the past 2 years I have taken up to explore the tourist places around Hubli particularly around Yellapur/Sirsi and Dandeli.
A friend of mine had been to Shirley falls and had recommended it as it was possible to get into the water and also lack of crowd as not many know of this place. So me and my riding buddy planned to ride to the place. The road from Hubli to yellapur is very good and can be covered very fast. We went there on a CBR 250 and we usually halt for break fast at a hotel next to a Bank on the main road and also enquire for direction. A huge map is painted in the hotel highlighting all the places of interest around UK.
Shirely falls is very near to the highway a little after Yellapur, a small detour has to be taken at a small bus stop, there are no sign boards , just written in red brick " Shirley Falls here" and an arrow mark.
The road is wide enough for bike and small car and the road leads upto a small Areca nut farm. the falls is in the farm. You need to pay 10rs as entry fee.
The trail to the falls is about 500 Mts to the falls. You need to negotiate boulders to reach the falls. We climbed on the boulders and approached to the left side of the falls. One needs to be quite careful as the rocks are quite slippery .
The force of the falls at the time we visited was not too great and could sit direclty under the falls.
There is also a small cavity near the falls inhabited by Bats.
It is better to pack some food. Be care full not to liter the place as dumb idiots have already made a mess of the place with broken beer bottles in the water and all round it.
