Udupi is an ancient temple city in Karnataka that is notable for its age-old Krishna Mutt (temple of Lord Krishna). The city lies in the Udupi district of Karnataka and is located at a distance of about 422 km from Bangalore. Famous as a centre of pilgrimage, Udupi is also recognised for its delicious Kannada vegetarian cuisine that is popular the world over. But there is much more to Udupi and its surrounding areas apart from the magnificent Krishna temple and the Udupi cuisine.
We bring to you a list of some of the wonderful places to visit near Udupi.
Maravanthe
Maravanthe is an idyllic village located at a distance of about 50 km from Udupi. It has the scenic Maravanthe beach which is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Karnataka. A stretch of a kilometre of this beach is flanked by the National Highway 66 (erstwhile NH-17). The Suparnika River flows along the other side of the highway and creates a captivating scenery that is one of its kind in the country.
Byndur
Byndur or Baindur is a quiet coastal hamlet located at a distance of about 70 km from Udupi. The major attraction of the village is the captivating Byndur beach that is known for its glorious sunsets. The pristine beach is an ideal place for tourists to enjoy various kinds of watersports. The hills near Byndur offer excellent views of the Arabian Sea.
Manipal
Manipal is a famous town situated off the shores of the Malabar Coast. It is located at a distance of 7 km from Udupi. Manipal has one of India’s finest educational institutes, the Manipal University. The town is dotted with a number of tourist attractions, which includes the Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village, the Anatomy Museum, the Smrithi Bhavan and Sri Venu Gopalakrishna Temple.
Venoor
Venoor or Venur is a small town situated on the banks of the river Phalguni. It is located at a distance of 77 km from Udupi. The town is famous for the colossus statue of Lord Bahubali (also known as Lord Gomateshwara). The 38 feet high statue was carved out of a single rock and was erected in the year 1604. The statue is one of the four giant monoliths of Lord Bahubali found in Karnataka.
Barkur
Barkur or Barakuru is an ancient port town of Karnataka that stands on the banks of the river Seeta. It is located at a distance of about 16 km from Udupi and just 3 km from the Arabian Sea coast. The place is known for its ancient temples and the Barkur Fort. The Barkur Fort was built during the Vijayanagara Empire and is spread across 20 acres of land. Though it is in a ruined condition, the fort is a major attraction for tourists.
Someshwara
Someshwara is a small town situated on the foothills of the Western Ghats, at a distance of about 46 km from Udupi. The Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is the main attraction of the town. The wildlife sanctuary has wild animals of various species, which includes tigers, leopards, sambar, spotted deer, wild pig, gaur, jackal, etc. Diverse species of reptiles and birds have also made the sanctuary their home. Trekking, camping and bird watching are some of the activities that can be enjoyed inside the wildlife sanctuary.
Kallianpur
Kallianpur is a serene village situated on the southern bank of the river Swarna. It is located at a distance of about 6 km from Udupi. Kallianpur attracts tourists due to the presence of quite a few temples built during the period of the Vijayanagara Empire. It has the famous Sri Venkatramana temple, which is about 350 years old. The Milagres Cathedral and the Mount Rosary Church are two ancient churches that are worth visiting in Kallianpur.
Uppinakudru
Uppinakudru, also known as Salt Island, is a beautiful coastal village that was once popular for trading of salt and seafood. The small village is situated at a distance of about 38 km from Udupi and is renowned for its many ancient temples. Among the popular temples of Uppinakudru are the Lord Gopala Krishna Temple, the Lord Vasudeva Temple, the Siddi Vinayaka Temple, Ishwar Mutt, Devi Mutt and Lakshminarayana Mutt.
Karkala
Karkala is a town of historical importance and a famous pilgrimage centre for Jains. It is located at a distance of about 35 km from Udupi. The famous St. Lawrence Church and the 42 feet tall monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali are the major attractions of the town. Among the other well-known attractions of Karkala are 18 Jain temples, the Venkataramana temple, the Veerabhadra temple and the Anantashayana temple.
Hattiangadi
Hattiangadi is an ancient village that is located at a distance of about 45 km from Udupi. The village is famous for the Siddivinayaka temple that is dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Ganesha. The temple is believed to have been constructed during the 8th century. Due to the presence of the age-old temple Hattiangadi is visited by a large number of Hindu pilgrims from all over South India.
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