Call it a huge floating basket or a small round boat, the Coracle is a traditionally designed craft used to ferry people across the river and a must tick off on your visit to South-India. These coracles are round bamboo boats with curved sides. In order to make it waterproof, animal hides or plastic is used.
Here’s a list of seven places that offer the most incredible experience of a Coracle boat ride along with an INSANE view!
Hogenakkal is cascading waterfalls on the Kaveri river in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, that is often called the Niagara falls of South-India. Derived from two Kannada words – ‘hoge’ is smoke and ‘kal’ means rock, indicating the magical mist created by water hitting the rocks and creating a cool soothing ambiance.
Coracle Ride:
As you begin the Coracle ride you can feel the conversion of the soft floating to gliding along the stronger swells, as the sound of gushing water transform to a heavy uproar of the falls, you can feel the rush of adrenaline! The boat-man takes you super close to the thundering falls and the cold-water will splash all over you.
Next, he stops at a small island along the riverside. You can chill along the river and spot plenty of “floating vendors” selling chips and cold-drinks on their coracles. How cool is that! (Remember, to not throw the used plastic and packets around)Do not forget to take plenty of videos and photos of this off-beat boat ride.
The last coracle ride is usually be around 5 pm.
Cost: The cost for the coracle ride varies depending on the season and negotiations. They usually charge INR 750 for a boat that includes a maximum of 4 people.
Duration: 1 Hour 30 Mins
Where: 170 km from Bangalore (3-4 hours by road)
Pro-Tip: The drive from Bangalore to Hogenakkal is dotted with green landscapes, scenic topography, and traditional hamlets. Hence a road-trip is recommended.
Water taxis, also known as Dongi, basket boats or Coracles are one of the major forms of transportation in Hampi.
The bowl-shaped boat made of reed and saplings in Hampi is used not just to cross the river, but to travel from one era to another. It carries you from one side of the river that is dotted with ruined temples, palaces remnants, ancient market streets and buildings complexes from the Vijayanagar Empire to and the other side that is the quintessence of bohemian hippie culture.
Cost: Since these boats are used as water taxis to ply from one place to another, the price is subjective to distance, number of passengers and negotiation. A short ride, however, will cost around 50 INR per person.
Pro-Tip: These Water Taxis float only until 5 pm after which crossing over to the other side becomes extremely difficult. So make sure you are on the right side before the sun goes down.
Where: The nearest railway station is Hospet Junction. There are also many buses that ply from major cities to Hospet and Hampi. The nearest relatively major airport is at Hubli, 143km away from Hampi.
Ganjam is an ancient town that was formed half a millennium ago, it is the land of the erstwhile kings of Mysore who built a beautiful temple for goddess Nimishamba in the 'island' town of Srirangapatna.
You must try a coracle ride at Ganjam along with the local fishermen who will point out dozens of rare birds and tell you stories from the Sthala Purana as well as fascinating bits of folklore. Float through the confluence, as the black hills of Karighatta act as a backdrop against the river on one side while the other side is dotted with tropical forests and the temple stairs that lead to the waters.
Cost: You can negotiate and arrive at a cost with the local fishermen. 50 INR – 100 INR approximately for one person.
Duration: 20 minutes
Where: 20 km from Mysore, 120 Kms from Bangalore.
Located on the Kaveri river, Shivasamudra is a series of twin waterfalls famous as the hosting site of Asia’s second Hydro-electric power station. It was the power station which electrified Kolar Goldfields and is considered as the second largest waterfalls of the country. The river further splits into two beautiful waterfalls – Barachukki and Gaganchukki.
Soak in the vibe of South-India as you waft through the enormous river outlined with rocky hills, coconut and banana trees in your basket boat. The coracle ride will take you till the mouth of the roaring Bharachukki waterfall, making it an unforgettable experience.
Cost: 100 INR per person.
Duration: 30-60 mins
Where: 80 km from Mysore, 120 km from Bangalore
While many travelers consider Dandeli in Karnataka, an extension to their Goa trip, this place deserves an exploration of its own. Excitement level = MAX here. Mountain biking, trekking, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, river rafting and of course coracle boat rides – take your pick. The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, with its trails and dense forests, is home to animals including black panthers, monkeys, and elephants, as well as many bird species.
The River Kali in Dandeli is temperamental. It controls the hills, the forests and all that it streams through. A coracle ride in Dandeli means dodging crocodiles and watching birds in the heart of the land that is synonymous with adventure.
The boat accommodates four people, including the boat rider-cum-guide and float from 9 am to 6 pm.
Cost: 100 INR per person
Duration: 1-2 Hours
Where: The nearest railway station is Alnavar Junction, 23 km away from Dandeli. The nearest airport is in Hubli, 56 km away from Dandeli.
Legend says a curse once buried an entire city under the sand, making the current Talakad a desert city on the banks of the Kaveri river. It once had over 30 temples, most of which now lay buried in the sand.
The Kaveri riverside is crowded with throngs of tourists who wish to experience the unique circular boat ride (which is also called theppa here) and hence you’ll find several boatmen who offer a coracle ride for extremely cheap fares and a lot of boats out there floating on the water.
Duration: 20 mins
Cost: 50 INR per person
Where: 50 km from Mysore, 130 km from Bangalore.
Adorned with rich forest cover at the west of the Kabini River, the Nagarhole National Park is counted among the well-maintained national parks in India. Along with other safaris by land and by boat, one can explore the national park by Coracles too.
You can ride on the traditional basket boat and slowly drift down the Kabini River while holding close to the shoreline. A sensory explosion is ensured as you hear the soft gushing of the river swells, the chirping of rare birds and the rustle of the jungle trees, connecting with the woodland spirits. You can also witness some rare flora and fauna as the boat-man recounts fun facts about the national park and the river. Morning safari: 9 am to 11 am, evening safari: 5 pm to 6 pm.
Cost: 300-500 INR
Pro-Tip: Most resorts in the area offer complimentary basket boat rides for their guests, so keep this point in mind while booking your accommodation.
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