Karwar

If you have time to explore the country north of Mangalore or are traveling on to Goa, stop at the tiny port town of Karwar, unremarkable in itself but across the water from Devbagh. Three kilometers (2 mi) away, this small island is the site for an attractive Jungle Lodges camp, set amid casuarina trees. Swimming and scuba diving are possible; one side of the island faces the sea and the other the mouth of the Kalinadi. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, about two hours northeast of Karwar, is a pretty forest reserve set on the banks of the Kalinadi; it's home to crocodiles and waterbirds that can be spotted from coracles on the river.