It is part of Honnavar Taluk in Karnataka State of India.
The island can be reached by boat, fishing trawlers or canoe (although canoe is not recommended for visitors) by a sail upstream on river sharavati.
This island has a Hindu temple on its top surface constructed by the ruler between the 16th and 17th centuries.
Now people, especially fishermen and boat owners, visit this temple with their families on Makarasankranti day (a Hindu festival) on 14 January to give pooja to Nagadevate (a Hindu god) to protect and guide them from natures forces while working on the sea.
Basavaraj Durga Fort was constructed during Vijayanagar rule in 1590.