Located a few kilometres beyond Byndoor on the highway, the hillock offers an unparalleled vista of the confluence of the Arabian Sea and the Byndoor River. A sunset here can seem to be too good to be true. And if you make a trip just at the end of the monsoons, you can be witness to a rare sight. The hill is magically draped in carpets of wild flowers. But this festival lasts for only about 15 days.

The Western Ghats lend themselves to some brilliant trekking terrain and rare species of animals. A few hotels including Turtle Bay and Hotel Sharon arrange group excursions to the Anajeri Wildlife Camp in the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary. Malyadi Bird Sanctuary (8 km from Kundapur) can also be included in your trekking itinerary. The best way to get to these places is by taxi. At Rs 550 for 5 hours, they are a much more feasible option than the infrequent local buses. Soans Holidays (Tel: 720823-36, 720623) in Kundapur arranges camping and trekking to some of the 25 waterfalls that abound in the ghats here. You can opt for a day trip or even a weekend stay. Soans charges about Rs 1,500-2,000 (minimum 5 pax) per day for such a trip. Includes stay and meals. Other tours include island trips, birdwatching, water sports, a Jain circuit and culture tours.