St. Mary’s Island: A Quick Travel Plan To Coconut Island!

A spectacular island with an abundance of natural beauty, a thrilling boat ride and the picturesque sight of birds and sea animals. If you are already excited, St. Mary’s Islands is one such destination that offers a never before experience for its visitors.

Now comes the most interesting part. St. Mary’s Islands, also known by the names Coconut Island and Thonsepar is not just a single island, but a group of four beautiful islands named Coconut Island, North Island, Darya Bahadurgarh Island and South Island.

St. Mary’s Islands also has a historical significance as it was at this place that Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, landed in the year 1498 on his way to Kozhikode in Kerala.

Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland is a place famous for its 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. St. Mary’s Islands is the only such place in India where you will find a series of interlocking basalt columns.

They were formed as a result of hot molten lava that erupted from the earth’s surface and was later cooled off by the waters of the Arabian Sea. According to scientists, St. Mary’s Islands has formed 88 million years ago during the rifting of Madagascar.

In 2016, the basalt rock formations at St. Mary’s Islands found a place among one of the 34 National Geological Monuments of India as announced by the Geological Survey of India.

Location

St. Mary’s Islands lie in the Arabian sea, off the coast of Malpe. A natural port, Malpe is located in Udupi in the Karnataka state of India. To travel to St. Mary’s Islands, all it takes is just 6 Km from Udupi and 65 km from Mangalore. 

Climatic conditions

The summer season at St Mary’s Islands starts in March and ends in May. During summers, the weather will be extremely hot and the maximum temperature may go up to even 39 degree Celsius. From June onwards, the monsoon starts and it will last till September.

During the monsoons, there will be heavy rainfall here. The month of December marks the beginning of the winter season and it goes up till February. The temperature during this season will be hovering between a maximum of 34 degree Celsius and a minimum of 20 degrees Celsius.

Best Time To Visit St Marys Islands

Plan a visit to St Marys Island somewhere between the months of October to January. During this time, the weather will be quite pleasant and you will enjoy visiting the beautiful beaches.

With warm winter sun and pleasant temperatures, the beauty of these islands will be at its best. Make sure that you wear comfortable cotton clothes during the trip. 

How To Reach St Marys Islands

As St Marys Island is 4 miles away from the coast, the only option to commute to this place is by boat. There are boat services available from Malpe beach and Malpe fishing harbour in Udupi. The boat covers a distance of 8 km and it takes around 25 to 30 minutes.

Now let’s quickly go through the travelling options to Malpe, the place from where you can board the boat service to St Marys Island.

By air – From Malpe, the nearest airport is Mangalore at a distance of 58 km. There are lots of cabs and buses available from Mangalore airport to Malpe.

By rail – If you prefer train travel, the nearest railhead is at Udupi, which is around 4 km from Malpe. There are auto rickshaws and cabs available at the railway station to travel to Malpe.

By road – If you love to travel by road, there is good connectivity by road from Malpe to Mangalore and Udupi. There are both private and public buses available on this route.

Places To visit near St Marys Island

A major attraction of St Marys Island is a couple of beautiful tourist spots located in the surroundings.

Malpe Beach

Around 6 Km from Udupi lies Malpe beach, a beautiful virgin beach that will leave you mesmerised for sure. With a vast stretch of golden sand, swaying palm trees and a serene environment, it is the perfect destination to unwind yourself.

The other attractions include the Sea Walkway offering a magnificent view of St. Mary’s Island, Bhadargad Island, as well as the rest of the beach. Last but not the least, there is a stunning statue created by artist Purshotham Adve which portrays a fishing family, including a fisherman, a fisherwoman, and their child.

Vadabhandeshwara Temple

Vadabhandeshwara Temple is a renowned Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Balarama, the brother of Lord Sri Krishna. From the Udupi railway station, the temple is just 10 km away.

It is believed that Vadabhandeshwara Temple was built by Madhvacharya, a prominent philosopher who built the famous Udupi Sri Krishna Temple as well. The seashore near the temple is considered to be a sacred place as Madhavacharya had a vision of Lord Krishna at this spot. 

Plan a visit to this temple in the evening as you can also cover the beach located nearby and watch the amazing sunset. The temple is open for visitors from 6 am to 8 pm.

Darya Bahadurgarh Fort

A rocky island, Darya Bahadurgarh Fort attracts tourists in large numbers due to its architectural beauty. The fort is located at a distance of just 8 Km from Udupi railway station. With a glorious history that dates back decades, the Fort was built by Basavappa Naik.

It consists of an area of hardly 250 yards and a width of just about 1.6 square kilometres. There are plenty of boat services available from Malpe to the fort.

Tourists who visit the Darya Bahadurgarh Fort also get a chance to explore the old tile factory and some other famous temples as well.

This is Daria Bahadurgad Fort Island near #Malpe #Udupi#VisitUdupi
📸 Insta : drone_eye pic.twitter.com/ARtBj6TEXd

— Visit Udupi (@VisitUdupi) October 12, 2021

Tips For Visiting St Mary’s Islands

• Keep in mind that you are not permitted to carry food items and single-use plastic items.

• Though there are toilets available, make sure that there is water before you step inside. Alternatively, you can seek the help of a guard.

• Make sure that you wear shorts and clothes that dry quickly. The reason is that before getting into the boat or ferry, you have to wade through the water and your clothes will become wet.

• Swimming is restricted on the island as the sea is rough.

• Keep in mind that you are not permitted to carry back shells from the island.

• It is recommended to visit the island in the early morning so that it will be less crowded. The other option is to plan a visit in the evening so that you can also view the beautiful sunset.

Timing And Entry Fees

Please note that St. Mary’s Island is closed during the monsoon season i.e. between May 15  to September 30. The timings of the boat rides here are from 9 AM till 5 PM and it will cost Rs.300 per person. However, these rides start only after the boat is full.

Conclusion

St. Mary’s island offers one of a kind experience making it one of the must-visit tourist spots in the country. With tourist spots such as Malpe beach, Vadabhandeshwara Temple and Darya Bahadurgarh Fort in the nearby areas, it is absolutely worth planning a trip to St. Mary’s island.

Read More:

Bareilly: Discover The Rich History & Culture Of UP!

Patan: Enjoy The Rich Historical & Architectural Monuments!