Top Places To Visit In Udupi, “The Temple City”!

Formerly part of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, India, Udupi is a slight coastal city situated almost 56 km from Mangalore and almost 400 km from Bangalore. Like the Dakshina Kannada district, Udupi goes to Tulunadu or Tulunaad, which essentially means the land of the speakers of Tulu, a Dravidian language.

This city gets its title from the Sanskrit word up which means ‘moon’, and is well-known for its temples (so much so that it is better known for its status as a popular temple town), cuisine, culture, and beaches.

There are several places to visit in Udupi, most of which are centers of religion and religiousness, although there are leisure places for other visitors. There are also diverse attractions around Udupi, and apart from visiting tourist locations, you can also eat at some of the most iconic eateries around the beautiful city. 

Places To Visit In Udupi

St. Mary’s Island

The land where Vasco De Gama set his first foot, whose geological importance is massive and whose beauty is remarkable, is St. Mary’s Island, one of the best places to visit in Udupi. An attractive island just off the coast of Udupi, St. Mary’s Island is an island of white sand beaches, rock monolith, and inordinate wildlife making it an enthralling place to be in.

Situated just 4 miles off the coast of Karnataka in the Arabian Sea, St. Mary’s Island is a geological treasure and hosts some of the most attractive beaches in the country. It is a group of four individual islands called Coconut Island, North Island, South Island, and Daryabahadurgarh Island.

One can find a shoreline made up full of crystalline rocks which were generated at the time Madagascar Island got detached from India. The captivating site is wonderful but is yet to be truly exposed for its tourism potential. Witnessing the sunset standing on the crystalline rocks is one of the most appealing experiences on the island.

Sri Krishna Temple

Thousands of devotees throng this temple town to propose prayers to Lord Krishna. It is said that the Krishna idol here is the most attractive idol of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is shown here as a small boy (Balakrishna). The fascinating idol is not seen directly, but through a 9-holed window named the Navagraha Kitiki.

Another stimulating attraction at this temple is the ‘Kanakana Kindi’ – a small window through which Lord Krishna is supposed to have provided darshan to his ardent devotee, saint Kanakadasa. According to legend, Kanakadasa was of a low caste and was not enabled entry to the temple.

Unconcerned, he went behind the temple and prayed to the Lord through a small crack in the wall. Delighted, the statue of Lord Krishna turned around and carried him to darshan. Just head-to-head is the Kanakadasa Mantapa, which houses a statue of the saint. There is an attractive water tank nearby named Madhwa Sarovara with a little mantapa in the center.

The picture of Lord Krishna is taken on a float throughout festivals. Udupi is a prodigious center of Sanskrit learning and the language is communicated through the Ashta Mathas (Eight Maths): Puttige, Pejavara, Shirur, Palimaru, Sodhi, Adamaru, Krishnapura, and Kaniyuru, which are situated across the temple.

Kaup Beach

Located between Mangalore and the town of Udupi, Kaup (Kapu) beach is another pristine and relatively untouched beach. There is a great lighthouse here, constructed in 1901, which is open every day for an individual hour from 5:30 AM. The beach is lined There are many beautiful Airbnbs around the beach which makes for the perfect quiet getaway. The all-encompassing view of the sea from the top of the lighthouse is remarkable.

Malpe Beach

If you are a beach bum, then you are definitely going to love Malpe beach. It is reckoned as one of the optimum beaches in Karnataka and is still an unfamiliar beach to quite an extent. So, if one is looking for unusual places to visit in Udupi, then this is an inordinate beach to go to.

It is a great holiday destination, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. As it is unfamiliar territory, the beach is clean and untouched. Enjoy viewing a sunset with your partner here. You can also discover the Daria Bahadurgad fort situated on this beach.

Daria Bahadurgad Fort

Daria Bahadurgad Island is one of the popular islands in Malpe. Malpe in the Udupi district is better known for its beaches and islands. Every year thousands of travelers visit these islands in Malpe. Daria Bahadurgad Fort is situated on this island. The island is less than 250 yards and is broad about just 1.6 sq km.

Although small, the rocky island has different scenic locations. A very old tile factory and a few popular temples are also near the Daria Bahadurgad fort. Basavappa Naik of Bidanur built the fort different decades ago. The Daria Bahadurgad Fort is just a few miles away from beautiful Malpe beach towards the west.

It is convenient to reach Daria Bahadurgad Fort once you reach Udupi Railway station which is just 8 km away from the fort. There are different boat services from Malpe town to Daria Bahadurgad and the boat fare is very cost-effective. Malpe is well linked by road too from Udupi.

Kodi Beach

Enclosed by water on three sides, Kodi Bengre Beach is one of the places to visit in Udupi for beach lovers. With the Suvarna River demanding into the Arabian Sea, it forms a delta and therefore it gets its name as Delta Beach and is also better known as a ‘sangama’ point. It has a small port for fisheries and is well-known for toddy and freshly prepared seafood.

Travelers can also take boat trips into the neighboring mangroves or just celebrate an afternoon of fresh seafood followed by a spectacular sunset. The beach waters are not appropriate for swimming as it has sunk sands and the activity could pose foremost life risks. The road that leads to the beach is slight and is enclosed by water on both sides. Wear suitable footwear as it requires climbing down a few rocks to get to the beach.

Karkala

Nearly 40.5 km from Udupi is the small town of Karkala, popular for its massive statue of Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali. This town contains a variety of Jain monuments, including Chaturmukha Basadi, that you may visit from Udupi due to the roughly 300 years it spent under the Jain administration.

If you are lucky, you could be here throughout ‘Mahamastakabhisheka’, a remarkable religious event that takes place every 12 years. Karkala is also holy with indistinctly forested hills that attract trekking fanatics and several lakes where you could spend a leisurely day with loved ones.

Mattu Beach

If one craves amity and quiet while visiting a beach, then Mattu Beach in Udupi is absolutely a place one must visit. This secluded beach is situated just off NH66, 10 km from Udupi. Tourists can relish the shade of coconut trees while viewing breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.

It also celebrates bioluminescence at night owing to the local species of algae which turns blue at night. The pristine sands are comparatively untouched, making it a good place to spend the day. Foodies can also try the exclusive ‘mattu gulla’ eggplant to get a taste of the local cuisine.

Chaturmukha Basadi

Chaturmukha Basadi is a prevalent 16^th-century Jain temple in Karkala, a taluk headquarters and town in the Udupi district in coastal Karnataka. Chaturmukha basadi is situated on a higher field in the middle of the coconut farmstead and paddy fields.

Chaturmukha interprets it as “four faces”. Chaturmukha Basadi is open on all 4 sides, with four undistinguishable doorways all leading to the inner sanctum- Gurba Gruha. Temple doorways feature different Jain Thirthankaras as well as Hindu gods and divinities.

There is also a 700-year-old stone temple enthusiastic to Lord Ananthapadmanabha (a form of Lord Vishnu). Neighboring is St Lawrence Church at Attur, a catholic church christened after St. Lawrence and was constructed in 1839 in Karkala.

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— Karnataka Tourism (@KarnatakaWorld) December 3, 2022

Achakanya Falls

Achakanya Falls is located close to Aralsuruli at a separation of 4 Kms from Ambutheertha and also it is located at a separation of 89 km from Udupi, 16 Kms from Tirthahalli, 72 km from Sagar, and 75 km from Shimoga. The view of this waterfall is so attractive and awesome. Visitors come from around the globe with their friends and family to spend their holidays or vacations here and celebrate a lot.

This fall is mounted by the Sharavathi River. This is an abstemiously little waterfall where water drops from a stature of across 20 feet in 2 stages. The surroundings of the falls offer blast normal superiority.

Mookambika Temple

Mookambika Temple is enthusiastic to Aadiprakarshakti who is supposed to embody the powers of 3 goddesses, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Mahakali, and Maha Lakshmi. The sanctum sanctorum houses a Linga that represents Purusha as well as Shakti and is named the Udbhavlinga.

Kudlu Theertha Falls

This waterfall is also named Sita Falls which is better known for its attractive beauty. This waterfall flows down towards the Western Ghats from a height of 150 feet amongst the dense forest. The waterfall demands moderate trekking to reach and celebrate the enchanting beauty of the waterfall.

Best Time To Visit Udupi

The best time to visit Udupi is throughout Winter from October to March owing to its unabated heat during summer. The winters are agreeable here, while the temperatures soar up to 40 degrees throughout the summers. However, evenings are comparatively cooler in Udupi. Monsoon, on the other hand, is an appropriate time for traveling to Udupi and the neighboring places because the temple town has a lush green surrounding after the rains.

Udupi is the cultural center of Karnataka, and there are different festivals and events renowned there with unmatched pomp. The mutts and temples are patrons of art, hosting different cultural events frequently. Most of these take place in winter. Visiting Udupi throughout the months when these events are in full swing is perfect because the aesthetic eagerness is at its zenith.

How To Reach Udupi? 

Auto-rickshaws can be addressed directly from the street and are a rather cheap and relaxed mode of transport. You can also get to dissimilar parts of the city utilizing private bus services that function on foremost routes within Udupi.

If you crave coziness and want to discover the city at your own pace it may be a good idea to book taxis, either online or over the telephone. As many of the traveling sites in Udupi are within close distance of each other, traveling the city on foot is also an expedient alternative. A comparatively conservative city, Udupi is not known for its nightlife.

It is harmless to remain indoors at night-time. Being a religious city, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is forbidden here. Visitors are directed to respect religious norms and dress self-effacingly when visiting places of worship.

By Flight

Udupi is not well linked to other major cities of the country via unvarying flights. The closest airport is in Mangalore at a distance of 44 km.

By Train

You can effortlessly get regular trains to Udupi from other key cities of the country.

Conclusion

You can relist, explore and have an astonishing time while enjoying the places to visit in Udupi. In fact, Udupi, in itself is a gorgeous hill station meant to enthrall and invigorate you for a complete holiday experience. Hence, planning a trip to Udupi with us would allow you to have a great time. Rest assured; you are more than welcome to share your appreciated experience. 

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