Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary protects the dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests surrounding the Sharavathi River in the northern Western Ghats of Karnataka. The sanctuary encompasses the catchment area of the Linganamakki reservoir and is closely associated with Jog Falls, India's second highest plunge waterfall. The forests here are part of an important lion-tailed macaque corridor and support a rich assemblage of Western Ghats endemic species including Malabar giant squirrels, great hornbills, and king cobras. The sanctuary is not set up for traditional vehicle safaris — it's more of a wilderness area accessed through nature walks and birding trails. The combination of dense forest, the Sharavathi River system, and Jog Falls makes this a compelling nature destination, though visitor infrastructure is limited.