Muduru: The natural beauty of Belkal Teertha waterfalls, dropping from a height of 500 feet on the backside of Kodachadri hills located near Kollur is a sight to behold. Now that the rain has reduced to an extent, this is the right time for those wishing to visit and enjoy this beauty.
Belkal Teertha is also known as Govinda Belkal Teertha and is located in Jadkal village near Kollur. Taking birth from Kodachadri hill, the water flows through rocks and boulders and the specialty is that it drops down from different points.
No basic facilities
Not only being a viewing spot, it is also considered to be holy for adoration purposes and there is opportunity for the tourism department to develop it into a tourism location. The trail leading to the waterfall through the forest can be made more accessible and the road reaching to the point can be developed.
Go prepared
There are no food or drinking water facilities available for trekkers or tourists there. It is well advised to take necessary supplies from Kundapur or from any market along the way. There are small food canteens in Muduru and Maidana villages.
Now is the right time
Now that the rain intensity has dropped, it is the right time to visit the waterfalls up till December post which, even though there is water, the beauty of the force by which it falls will not be as good as now.
Backstory
There are three temples located around 3-4 km from the water fall and apparently, the temples were initially located near the waterfalls itself. However, since the path leading to the temples was quite inaccessible, the temples were reinstalled to their present locations. Since there is a tradition of washing the Mookambika weapon in the waters of the waterfall, many people visit the waterfall on new-moon day and take a dip in the water. There is a belief that taking a dip in the water here during the new-moon day is auspicious, informs Sheena Naika, a local.
How to reach?
Belkal Teertha waterfall is located at a distance of 50 km from Kundapur and 14 km form Kollur within the lush green forests of Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary. One has to travel to Jadkal via the Kundapur-Kollur road and at Jadkal junction, take the route to Muduru from where, the waterfall is located at a distance of 8 km. along the way, you will have to cross Maidana village from where, and vehicles will proceed only a little further. Next, part of the journey is made of trekking a distance of 3 km through the jungle to reach the destination. The waterfall can be approached from Siddapura and Hallihole as well. The waterfall is located around 90 km from Udupi and about 150 km from Mangaluru.
