Basavaraj Durga Island

Karnataka, India

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Basavaraj Durga Island is a small island located in the Arabian Sea near Honnavar in Karnataka, India.

The island is about 19 hectares in size and sits 45 to 50 meters above sea level, accessible only by boat from Honnavar or nearby villages. It gained its name from the Basavaraja Durga Fort, built during the Vijayanagara Empire around 1690. Later, the Keladi ruler Shivappa Nayaka captured the fort and named it after a Keladi prince, Basavaraj. The fort is notable for its strong fortifications made of massive laterite stone blocks and the remnants of eight mounted guns.

The island features a plateau covered with dry grass and trees, with several freshwater wells. There is also a temple on the island built in the 16th to 17th century, visited annually by local fishermen and boat owners for a protective pooja on the day of Makar Sankranti.

Due to its location and rough seas during the monsoon, reaching the island is challenging and generally recommended for adventurous visitors. Its serene natural beauty, historical significance, and limited accessibility make Basavaraj Durga a unique heritage and ecological site on Karnataka’s western coast.