Varahi River, also called Halady River, flows through Western Ghats in the Indian state of Karnataka. It joins the sea via Halady, Basrur, Kundapur and Gungulli. It joins with the Souparnika River, Kedaka River, Chakra River, and Kubja River and merges into the Arabian Sea. According to mythology, Varaha is one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Varahi is feminine gender of Varaha.
The river originates in the Western Ghats and flows into the Arabian sea. It is originates at a place called “Hebbagilu” near Agumbe in Thirthahalli taluk in the district of Shivamogga, from an elevation of 730 metres (2,400 ft) above mean sea level. Many tributaries join Varahi at places such as Shettykoppa, Halige, Kollavadi, and Bangaragalli. The annual rainfall varies from 20–1,280 centimetres (7.9–503.9 in). The river joins the Arabian sea near Kundapura in the district of Udupi in Karnataka.
The major waterfall is in Hosanagara Taluk, Shimoga. It is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the origin of the river. There are falls of 455 metres (1,493 ft) in cascades, popularly known as Kunchikal Falls. The falls do not directly drop, but jump through rocks and boulders. After construction of the dam near Mani village for Varahi Hydro electric project, the water flow in these falls was greatly reduced. Now the falls operate only during the rainy seasons.