Hubli to Sirsi: A Complete One-Day Taxi Guide
Introduction:-
A trip to Hubli to Unchalli Falls is not talked about as much as Gokak or Jog, and that is part of the appeal – Sirsi’s version of a waterfall day trip is quieter, closer than most people expect, and right now, weeks after the monsoon, it is genuinely at its best. Unchalli Falls, also known as Lushington Falls, is a 116 m drop on the Aghanashini river and is one of the few waterfalls in the world where a moonbow, a rainbow created by moonlight rather than sunlight, has been seen, so if your dates allow, it is worth timing to see a clear nite.
Sirsi itself is in the heart of the forest belt of Uttara Kannada, and the town offers two more stops that most day-trippers combine with the falls: Sahasralinga, a riverbed carved with a thousand small Shiva lingas, and the centuries-old Marikamba Temple right in town.
Distance from hubli to sirsi:- Hubli to Sirsi is about 90-105 km depending on which route you take and it takes about 2 to 2.5 hours by road. Unchalli Falls is another 30-35 km from Sirsi via Siddapur. So the total one way distance is around 120-140 km and 3 to 3.5 hrs from Hubli. Sahasralinga is nearer (some 16 km from Sirsi on the way to Yellapur) so easily added to the same loop without much additional driving.
From Hubballi to Sirsi you can use regular busses, but Unchalli Falls and Sahasralinga are not served well by local transport once you are off the highway. The final stretch to Unchalli is a walk from the parking area, and Sahasralinga is just off the main road with no public transport directly available. A private taxi takes care of both problems in one go. It will deliver you to Sirsi quickly on decent road, then cover the shorter, patchier stretches to each site without you having to hunt for a return auto.
Unchalli Falls (Lushington Falls)
Unchalli Falls, named after J.D. Lushington, a district collector during British rule who recorded the falls in 1845, is locally known as Keppa Joga for the sheer volume of sound it produces hitting the gorge below. There is a flight of steps down to a viewing point rather than the base itself and the walk back up is the main exertion of the day – reasonable for most people but worth pacing yourself on, especially if you have kids or older family members with you.
Sahasraalinga
Sahasralinga is a short drive from Sirsi on the banks of the Shalmala river. As the name suggests, it is about a thousand small Shiva lingas carved directly into the riverbed rock, and visible when the water level permits. This is a peaceful, unhurried stop compared to the falls and locals often combine a visit here with a quick puja before continuing the day.
Sri Marikamba Temple Sirsi
Marikamba Temple, constructed in 1689, is among the oldest Shakti temples in the region and is dedicated to Marikamba Devi, who is revered as the elder sister of the different Marikamba goddesses in Karnataka. The temple is famous for its Kaavi murals, an almost-dead art of red-pigmented plastering on white base, and it is worth a thirty-minute visit even outside the biennial Sirsi Jatre Mahotsav that pulls crowds from across the state.
When to go
Like most Western Ghats waterfalls, Unchalli is entirely rain-fed, so it’s at its fullest – and loudest – from just after the monsoon until November, which makes late September and October a really good window. If the falls themselves are the main attraction, go in deep summer when the flow drops off considerably. This is closer to the ideal time of year than a random weekend picked without checking the season.
Helpful Hints for Your Trip
Start early, by 7 or 8 AM so you have ample time to cover all three stops, without hurrying through the walk back up from Unchalli Falls. Wear proper grip shoes – the steps down to the falls remain wet for weeks after the monsoon. Take some water and a light snack, as the choices become very limited after the town of Sirsi. If you are only visiting to see the carved lingas, check the water level at Sahasralinga as a heavy flow can submerge some of them. If you want to see the moonbow at Unchalli, it only occurs on clear, well-lit nites around the full moon – not something you can expect to see on a random nite visit.
Should we do it all in a day or take it easy?
This works conveniently as a single day trip for most coming from Hubli – the drive to Sirsi is short enough to not start the day exhausted and all three stops together take a reasonable few hours once you are there. Or, if you’d prefer to add in Yellapur’s own waterfalls, or just like to take things slow, an overnight in Sirsi makes it a laid-back two-day trip.
Getting There Comfortably
The last stretch to both Unchalli Falls and Sahasralinga is where a self-driven trip starts to feel like more effort than it should be — narrower roads, a walk down to the falls, and no clear signage once you’re off the main highway. Sagar Travels Hubli runs outstation cab service for day trips like this one, with sedan and SUV options depending on your group size, and a driver who already knows the Sirsi–Siddapur stretch. If you’re travelling into Hubli from elsewhere before starting this trip, the same team also handles airport and railway station transfers.
Conclusion
Unchalli Falls, Sahasralinga, and Marikamba Temple together make for a rewarding one-day trip that’s shorter on the drive than most Sagar Travels day trips, and right now — the weeks right after the monsoon — is when the falls are genuinely worth the walk down. Start early, budget time for the climb back up from Unchalli, and treat Sahasralinga and the temple as the calmer half of the day.
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For bookings, vehicle options, or help planning the itinerary, you can reach Sagar Travels Hubli directly or check reviews and location details on our Google Business Profile. For official visitor information on the region, the Karnataka Tourism page is a reliable reference to check before you go.
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