Udupi

The sacred city of Udupi is a unique blend of the traditional with modern. Udupi has made quite a reputation for itself in the field of mouth-watering vegetarian cuisine and restaurants. It is a coastal town in the state of Karnataka. The city has a lot more to offer its tourists than great Udupi food. Places to visit in Udupi include picturesque beaches, cascading waterfalls and majestic places of worship. Udupi Sri Krishna Temple attracts hordes of devotees from all over the country turning the Udupi into a holy city. Find more elements of natural beauty in and around Udupi. Udupi is also close to the internationally recognised Manipal University. Know the places to visit in Udupi and the most convenient time to do so in this article.

Udupi Overview

When to Visit Udupi?

The best time to visit Udupi is between October and March. The pleasant daytime and cool nights make this season great to hang out on the beaches and explore the surroundings. You can enjoy the brightly lit city during the festivals and celebrations of Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Sankranti and Shiv Ratri. Udupi temperature during the winter season ranges between 10-30 degrees. Monsoons (July-September) see greenery everywhere and moderate Udupi weather. The waterfalls also have additional force during this time. The summers here see Udupis temperature touching 40 degrees or more. The sweltering heat and humidity make it difficult to tour the various places to visit in Udupi.

How to Reach Udupi?

The convenient ways to reach Udupi are through trains and road routes. The Udupi Railway Station falls on the Konkan Railways line and has trains from Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra. It receives trains from other cities in Karnataka. The city enjoys excellent roadways connecting places to visit in Udupi. You can get car rides or bus services from all nearby cities as well as long-distance buses from other states. Within the city use autorickshaws to reach the places to visit in Udupi. The nearest airport to Udupi is Mangalore Airport about 60 km away. You can take a cab or bus to Udupi from the airport.

What are the Things to See & Do in Udupi?

The best part of Udupi is that it is a temple town as well as a beach destination. Sri Krishna Temple, Kunjaragiri Durga Temple, Chandramoulishwar Temple, Mookambika Temple, Sri Indrani Panchadurga Parameshwari Temple and St Lawrence Church are some of the sacred places to visit in Udupi. The beaches of Udupi are a huge draw for tourists as they are clean and safe. Try the water sports offered at some of the beaches. Beach cycling is a popular activity as is a stroll down the Malpe Sea Walk. Take a boat ride to St Marys Island. Visit Sri Madhavacharyas birthplace, Pajaka. Gushing waterfalls make exciting places to visit in Udupi. Visiting Manipal town along with its university should be on your itinerary too. You must select the best time to visit Udupi if you want to enjoy sightseeing. Avoid the hot and humid summers.

Places to Visit in Udupi

Sri Krishna Temple - One of the most revered places to visit in Udupi, Sri Krishna Matha is the popular name for Udupi Sri Krishna Temple. Udupi Anantheshwara Temple, which is almost 1000 years old, surrounds Sri Krishna Matha. The deity here is resplendent with jewels riding a golden chariot. An unusual prayer and worship pattern and the special temple food are the big attractions for spiritually inclined travellers.

Gomateshwara Statue - You cannot miss this location when touring the places to visit in Udupi. In the small, historic town of Karkala stands the 17 m tall statue of Lord Bahubali. The Gomateshwara statue built in 983 AD is carved out of a monolithic stone. Every 12 years, Jain devotees visit the Gomateshwara statue for the Mahamastakabhisheka festival. The worship ritual involves bathing the statue with milk, turmeric, sandalwood, honey and saffron.

St Lawrence Shrine - This majestic Roman Catholic Church was built in 1759. Known as Attur Church, St Lawrence Shrine holds a school, an orphanage and a dining hall. It hosts a free vegetarian lunch every Thursday. St Lawrence Shrine is open to all faiths. You should put this location on the list of places to visit in Udupi.

Kudlu Teertha Falls - Kudlu Teertha Falls is a spectacular waterfall formed by the Seetha River. Also called Seetha falls, this waterfall cascades down 38 metres to form a pool at its base. Lush forests surround Kudlu Falls that you need to trek through to reach them. You will get glimpses of the flora and fauna including colourful fish in the water. Do not carry plastic and remember not to litter any of the places to visit in Udupi.

Kapu Beach - On the way to Mangalore from Udupi is the exquisite Kaup beach with a 1901 lighthouse. Kaup beach and lighthouse make for a great location because of the mesmerizing view from the top of the lighthouse. The beach is pristinely clear and lined with beach huts and cottages to stay in. You should plan a trip to this location while exploring places to visit in Udupi.

Malpe Beach - Malpe beach is one of the best-maintained, charming beaches on the Western coast. It flaunts a Sea Walk that provides a better view of the turquoise water. The numerous food stalls and 24/7 Wi-Fi connection make it one of the top places to visit in Udupi. The C-shaped beach has white sands lined by blue water on one side and greenery on the other. Laze around, indulge in beach activities and click beautiful photographs at Malpe beach.

Barkur - Kachoor, Hosala and Hanehalli 3 villages cluster together to form Barkur. They house ancient temples from the Alupa Kingdom located on the banks of River Seetha. Visit the Panchalingeshwara Temple and Barkur Fort when here. Make time for Barkur since it is one of the most interesting places to visit in Udupi.

Food to Try in Udupi

Udupi food is lip-smacking, basic and fresh. Some of the food items such as idli, wada, dosa and upma-sheera have been already popularised by Udupi restaurants. When you are touring places to visit in Udupi, try some of the local flavours that are not available elsewhere. Most Udupi foods depend on whole grains rice, ragi, jowar and wheat and vegetables and fruits such as gourds, white pumpkin, Colocasia leaves, jackfruit, banana (green and ripe) etc. Savour sweets such as Hayagreeva (a sticky barfi of gram flour, jaggery and coconut), Pelakayi halwa (made of jackfruit, rice and jaggery) and Holige (flatbread stuffed with jaggery and gram flour). Snack on Mangalore buns (sweet and savoury fried flatbreads) and Goli baje (deep fried balls of flour batter) on your trips to places to visit in Udupi. Another simple yet tasty dish is Udhina Gojju (a white lentil, white pumpkin and buttermilk dish).

Things to Buy in Udupi

Find shops around most places to visit in Udupi to pick up some classy souvenir items and bargain prices. Get yourself GI-tagged Udupi sarees. Buy metal decorative items or articles used for worship. Buying good quality cashews at reasonable prices and natural, fresh jaggery are great ideas too.

If you are a beach lover, you must head to Udupi. You will love the festivals and beaches. Surrender to the tranquillity of Udupi.

If you're craving for a great vacation, you should plan a trip to Udupi, where most of the travellers go in the months of October, November, December, January, February and March. And you will have perfect attractions to explore like Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Gomateshwara Statute and St. Lawrence Shrine. Scheduling your trip around the moderate season in the months of June, July, August and September, you will cherish steady rainfalls with high humidity levels. If you wish to have a grasp of their culture and practices closely, travel around these months: (January, January, and August. You will be able to witness their grand festivals: Attur Festival, Paryaya Festival, and Krishna Janmashtami. Take a break from your mundane routine and unwind in Udupi to make some lovely memories!

Conclusion

The temple town of Udupi presents travellers with some spell-binding beaches, lakes, waterfalls and forests. Places to visit in Udupi keep you engaged for more than a week. Stay in Udupi is reasonable and the food is delicious. There are temples, museums, hanging bridges and the famous Manipal University among the places to visit in Udupi. The atmosphere of this city is warm and peace-loving. Carry an umbrella and wear sturdy shoes to help during your treks. Maintain discipline while visiting religious places and do not litter any tourist location. Enjoy a relaxing trip in Udupi.