The Surf Window

Mulki

Karnataka, India

River waveBeginner

A river mouth break in coastal Karnataka where the Shambhavi River meets the Arabian Sea, Mulki is India's original learn-to-surf destination and has a unique, gentle river-mouth wave great for absolute beginners.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)

Wind

NE

Offshore

Tide

low-mid tide

LowMidHigh

Season

November–January

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Left (primarily)

Bottom

Sand (river mouth sandbars)

Shape

Gentle, slow left, the river creates consistent sandbars with forgiving, rolling waves

Length

30–80m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Beginner
  • •Why: One of India's most forgiving surf environments, warm, shallow water over soft sand with gentle, predictable waves.

Hazards

  • •River current, avoid the river channel itself
  • •Boat traffic from fishing vessels using the river mouth
  • •Limited wave quality outside of good sandbar conditions

Local Tips

  • •Mulki Surf Club is one of India's original surf schools and has trained generations of Indian surfers.
  • •The river mouth sandbars shift after heavy rainfall, conditions change significantly throughout the season.

Location

Map showing the location of Mulki in Karnataka, India

13.0830, 74.7816