Lagoon Falls: A Discovery Beyond Maps

"From chasing sugarcane to uncovering untouched blue waters—it was a journey of serendipity."

I always used to wonder how people discover new things. After asking around and questioning it a few times, I realized—it’s mostly accidental.

This is the story of one such accidental discovery.

I had visited Gokarna to relax after being completely burned out from work and the chaos of shifting to a new home. Somewhere in the process of living alone, I felt a little broken. The emotions were new, unfamiliar—and I needed a break more than I knew.

One of the Zostel activities included a trip to a waterfall. I joined the group, mostly carried along by the vibe and the people. I later came to know the place was called Lagoon Falls. I had heard the word “lagoon” before, but I honestly had no idea such a waterfall even existed in Gokarna.

We started around 2 PM from the Zostel. The falls were probably around 16–20 km away. I slept most of the way—I think my body just gave in. And honestly, that sleep was much needed.

Just before we reached the base point of the trek, one of the cars got a flat tire. The trek lead, Adi, suggested that we move forward, but none of us really wanted to leave the group behind. Everyone came together to help fix the car. After a couple of failed attempts, the puncture was finally repaired. Half the group had already gone ahead, and the rest of us followed soon after.

The trail began in a grassland with a few scattered houses. It was straight out of a fantasy—like a scene from a movie. We walked slowly along a narrow path through the grass, passing old architectural homes that reflected the cultural heritage of Karnataka.

We even found mangoes fallen from trees. We picked them up, washed them in a nearby stream, shared them, and ate together. That moment hit me—nature’s beauty is boundless. The taste of those natural mangoes was something else. Sweet, raw, real.

The path felt less like a trek and more like a quiet trail. Along the way, we saw small waterfalls, narrow water streams, and untouched greenery all around. It felt like we were being pampered by nature itself.

Eventually, we reached a spot where we left our bags and footwear and moved forward, looking for more water bodies. The water was crystal clear with a tint of blue—it instantly reminded me of that famous clear pond in Meghalaya, the one that’s still on my wishlist.

We drenched ourselves in it, soaked in its beauty, and lost ourselves completely. Some of the group started swimming. I tried too, but I couldn’t do it properly—maybe the tiredness was still holding me back. Still, I was lost in the moment.

We spent time playing, talking, recording, posing for pictures, and just being present. There was a pure emotion flowing through all of us. Unspoken, but shared.

A couple of days later, I asked Adi how he discovered the place. And that’s when he shared the story.

He had once gone to a nearby village known for its sugarcane. While he was there, he flew his drone just out of curiosity. As he was checking the footage, he noticed some hidden water bodies in the distance. That caught his attention. So he started walking toward them, and eventually found what we now know as Lagoon Falls.

I don’t know what exactly he felt at that moment. But when I saw it for the first time, I couldn’t believe it existed in Gokarna. It was far beyond anything I had imagined.

He named it Lagoon Falls—and that’s how the world outside the village got to know about it. It’s not on Google Maps, and no travel site mentions it. Only Adi and Lohith (who manages the Zostel property) knew the route. And of course, the local villagers had always known.

Yes—it was accidental. But also, absolutely magical.

That’s when I realized: beyond being a property manager, a DJ operator when the vibe calls for it, a friend to many, and a leader—Adi is, above all, an Explorer.

And that made me understand how many treks, waterfalls, and hidden spots might’ve been discovered. Not through plans or guides, but through chance, curiosity, and a little bit of adventure.

Truth be told, I felt like the whole purpose of my trip was to see that waterfall. I had seen the rest—beaches, cafes, sunsets—but this, this was something else.

Also, shout out to the Zostel team—especially the front desk. It was my first Zostel experience, and they made it so comforting and memorable and also the cafe team who considered my food allergies and made me feel at home.