Inland from the coast the Western Ghats rise fast, and Netravali is where the road ends and the forest begins. There are two waterfalls worth the walk: Savari, a short hike from the road with a pool you can swim in, and Mainapi, further in and quieter. The famous 'bubble lake' at the Gopinath temple — where gas rises through the water when you clap — is on the same road.
It is a full-day outing. We suggest a driver rather than a scooter for the distance and the ghat roads, and a stop at a spice plantation for lunch on the way home.
Best time: October to January, right after the rains.
