Mangrove Farm is a popular tourist attraction in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada District, particularly in Honnavara. The town is recognised for its lush foliage and natural beauty, making it a perfect getaway for those who enjoy the outdoors. Honnavara’s main attractions are its lush green forests, rivers, and beaches.
How to reach Mangrove Farm
Location: Mangrove Farm, Kelagin Kasarkod, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka
Timings: 9am to 6pm
Entry Fee: 10 INR
Activities: Mangrove Board walk, Boating, Kayaking. Ideal for photo shoots.
Honnavara has a well-known Eco Beach (Blue Flag Beach). The route to Mangrove Farm is the opposite of the route to Eco Beach on the other side of NH 66. Honnavara Bus Stop is almost 4 kilometres away. This farm can be located on the right side of the road while travelling from Bhatkal to Honnavara and on the left side of the road when travelling from Honnavara to Bhatkal.
You can use the following options to reach Honnavara.
Via Air: Although Honnavara does not have an airport, you can fly to Mangalore (IXE, 180 km) or Hubli (HBX, 190 km) and then take a cab or bus to Honnavara.
By Train: Honnavara has a railway station, and several Konkan Railway trains stop at Honnavara. The farm is around 10 kilometres from the Railway station.
By Road: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses run frequently to Honnavara. There are also numerous private buses that run every 5 minutes. While National Highway 66 is a four-lane highway, arriving by private vehicle is another viable alternative.
How did we get there? Since Honnavara is Sneha’s native, we frequently travel down there. So it was not difficult for us to go to Mangrove Farm.
Mangrove Board Walk
Drive to the road opposite to Eco Beach, park in the parking lot, then walk for two to three minutes down the dirt road. Name boards made of wood can be found there. It provides useful information to tourists about the uses of mangrove forests and the food chain. There is also a huge nameplate written in red and yellow that says “Save Mangroves”.
From there, take a 2-kilometer-long wooden bridge to Mangrove Board Walk or Sharavati Kandla Walk. Going across the bridge, we can see beautiful green mangroves with thick and sturdy roots on both sides. The wonderful beauty of the Sharavati river and flora all around may be seen after strolling across the wooden boardwalk. This is an excellent location for photographs. Many people visit for pre- and post-wedding photo shoots.
This two-kilometer-long boardwalk was recently built. Aside from that, there’s an old boardwalk that’s still in fantastic shape. This circular path bridge can be traversed across the heavily developed mangroves. Even in the daylight, this bridge feels dark due to the mangroves’ dense cover.
What are these Mangroves and where do they grow?
Mangroves are a type of tree and shrub that grows along the coast. Mangrove plants can be as little as twigs or as tall as 130 feet (40 metre). A typical mangrove stands about 30 feet (9 metre) tall. Mangrove leaves are typically green and can be thick or waxy. The flowers are either white or yellow. A mangrove forest with over 80 different species of mangrove trees can be found in Loxahatchee, Florida. They contribute up to $1 Billion towards Florida economy.
Mangrove plants can only be found in tropical and subtropical latitudes close to the equator. This is due to their inability to survive freezing temperatures and their preference for low-oxygen soils. They allow for the accumulation of fine sediments and slow-moving water.
Certain mangrove forests are characterized by their thick and dense roots. Its roots are tough and exposed, which enables mangrove plants withstand water. These trees assist the water to cope with the tide’s daily rise and fall. As a result, most mangroves are flooded at least twice every day. These roots thus slow down the movement of water.
Benefits of Mangrove Forest
- Protection against coastal erosion: Mangroves are efficient coastal erosion barriers because their deep roots bind the soil and produce a sediment trap, which helps to stabilise shorelines. Mangroves are said to be able to withstand a tsunami and decrease the impact of waves.
- Biodiversity: Mangrove forests are rich in biodiversity, supporting a wide range of plant and animal species, including migratory birds, fish, and marine invertebrates.
- Carbon sequestration: Mangrove forests are among the world’s most effective carbon sinks, trapping up to four times more carbon per unit area than terrestrial forests. As a result, they are critical in reducing climate change.
- Fisheries: A broad variety of fish species, including commercial fish such as prawns, crab and snapper, use mangroves as breeding and rearing grounds. Mangrove forest fish contribute to the local economy and supply essential protein to coastal communities.
- Water purification: Mangroves operate as natural filters, collecting sediment and absorbing pollutants to assist improve water quality.
- Protection against extreme weather events: Mangroves operate as a natural buffer against extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tsunamis, absorbing wind and wave energy and minimising the impact of storm surges on coastlines.
- Tourism: Mangrove forests are popular tourist destinations because they provide tourists with the opportunity to enjoy the distinctive flora and fauna associated with these ecosystems, as well as outdoor leisure activities like as hiking and kayaking.
It is a great joy for nature lovers and travellers to have a mangrove farm in Honnavara with all of these advantages. The farm is well-kept, and one may easily spend at least two hours there. Be sure to visit the mangrove farm on your upcoming trip to Honnavara.
Also check out: Places to visit in Uttara Kannada
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1 comment
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