At a distance of about
32 km from the town of Yellapur
is one of the most beautiful falls in Karnataka! Satoddi Falls,
also known as the Mini-Niagara of Karnataka, is in the Ganeshgudi range forest
of the Yellapur taluq. Several unknown streams converge near Kallaramane Ghat, plunge
from a height of about 15 m to create a picturesque waterfall and then join the
backwaters of Kodasalli dam built across the Kali River.
The fall is situated in
the middle of dense forests and a part of the road leading to the fall is an
all-weather road but a portion, nearly one-third the distance, is not motorable
during rains. Currently, the Satoddi
Falls is on the verge of
submersion. The Kodasalli dam built down the stream of the river is the cause
for this danger and in consequence, the death of this beautiful waterfall.
There are
several options for getting to Satoddi
Falls. From Yellapur,
take the highway towards Hubli and then turn left towards Ganeshgudi
immediately after the petrol bunk. An arch at the beginning of this road is a
good landmark for the road to Sathodi
Falls.
Roads are all right,
with both good and bad patches. The distance between Ganeshgudi and Sathodi Falls is around 10 kilometres. Another
way of getting to the Falls is to take a bus up to Barballi and from there to
trek for a distance of about 10 km.
The best time
to go visit Satoddi
Falls is in the winters, from
early November to end of February. It is strongly recommended to avoid the
rainy season, when the hostile terrain and blood-sucking leeches make these
falls inaccessible.
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