Day trips in Udupi
- 01
Kaup Beach & Lighthouse
A quieter beach south of Udupi with a red-and-white 1901 lighthouse open to visitors, backwaters nearby, and far fewer crowds than Malpe. It suits travellers who want the coast without the harbour bustle.
- Time needed
- 1-2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Late afternoon into sunset, when the lighthouse and beach are both at their best
- Tickets
- A small entry fee usually applies to climb the lighthouse, and there are set visiting hours; photography rules near the lighthouse and adjoining areas can be restrictive, so check current signage on arrival.
- 02
Kodachadri
A 1,343-metre Western Ghats peak roughly three hours from Udupi, with a demanding trek to a small Adi Shankara shrine at the summit and views over forest and, on clear days, the coast. This is for fit, adventurous travellers rather than a general-interest add-on.
- Time needed
- Full day for the drive and a shorter route; more for the full trek
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- October to February, avoiding monsoon rain and the hottest months
- Tickets
- There is no formal entry ticket, but overnight camping and campfires have been prohibited since January 2015, so day treks need to be planned around that restriction. A local guide is strongly advisable for the trail.
- 03
Kollur Mookambika Temple
A major Devi temple around two hours from Udupi, dedicated to Mookambika and associated with Adi Shankara, set at the foot of the Western Ghats. It is a full-day trip better suited to travellers with a genuine pilgrimage interest than a casual add-on.
- Time needed
- Full day, including travel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to March, avoiding heavy monsoon rain on the ghat roads
- Tickets
- Darshan is generally free, with an optional paid faster queue at busier times; footwear is removed before the temple, as usual.
- 04
Manipal
A planned university town 5km from Udupi, built around Manipal Academy of Higher Education, with a central lake, a cliff-edge viewpoint called End Point, and better modern infrastructure than Udupi's older core.
- Time needed
- 2-4 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon for End Point's sunset views; any time for the lake
- Tickets
- No entry ticket for the lake or End Point; boating on the lake is paid per ride at the counter.
- 05
St Mary's Islands
A small cluster of islands off Malpe with distinctive hexagonal basalt rock columns, a nationally protected geological site, and the spot where Vasco da Gama is said to have landed in 1498 before reaching Calicut. Access is by a 15-20 minute boat ride.
- Time needed
- Half a day, including the boat rides and time on the island
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to May, on a calm day; boats generally do not run June-September
- Tickets
- Boat tickets are bought at Malpe's Tourist Jetty, with different rates for government and faster private ferries; negotiate or confirm the current fare before boarding, and note that only the main, coconut-treed island is generally open to visitors.
Temples in Udupi
- 06
Anantheshwara Temple
An 8th-century Kerala-style Shiva temple, older than Sri Krishna Matha itself and linked to the legend that gives Udupi its Sanskrit name, Rajata Pitha, the silver seat. It sits a short walk from the Krishna temple and is far quieter.
- Time needed
- 20-30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late morning or late afternoon, outside the temple's own pooja hours when it is quietest
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket needed. Footwear must be removed before the inner courtyard, as at any Hindu temple.
- 07
Chandramouleshwara Temple
A small, old Shiva temple standing beside Anantheshwara Temple in Udupi's temple quarter, dated by local accounts to the same early centuries. It is a five-minute add-on rather than a destination in its own right.
- Time needed
- 10-15 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Any time outside the temple's own pooja hours
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket needed. Footwear comes off before the shrine, as usual.
- 08
Sri Krishna Matha
Madhvacharya's 13th-century monastery and temple to Krishna, still administered in rotation by the eight Ashta Mathas and known for the small Kanakana Kindi window through which the idol can be viewed from outside. It is the reason Udupi exists as a pilgrim town.
- Time needed
- 1.5-2.5 hours, longer if you eat at the temple's dining hall
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- 6-8am for a shorter queue; after 7pm for the evening aarti and a lit gopura
- Tickets
- Darshan is free and there is no general entry ticket. A paid faster-access queue is sometimes offered at a counter near the entrance; ask on the day, since arrangements can change with the matha currently administering the temple.
Landmarks in Udupi
- 09
Car Street (Rathabeedi)
The wide street outside Sri Krishna Matha where the temple's chariots are pulled during festivals, lined with flower stalls, sweet shops and pilgrim lodges. It is the easiest way to see everyday temple-town life without a plan.
- Time needed
- 20-40 minutes for a walk; longer during a festival
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early evening, or during a Rathotsava (chariot festival) date if you can time your visit to one
- Tickets
- No ticket is needed to walk the street. During a Rathotsava, arrive early to find a viewing spot, since the chariots and crowds fill the road for the pull.
- 10
Malpe Beach
Udupi's working beach and fishing harbour, six kilometres west of town, with a long sandy shore, a sea walkway, and the jetty for boats to St Mary's Islands. It is livelier and less contemplative than a resort beach, and mixes tourism with an active port.
- Time needed
- 1.5-3 hours, longer if combined with the St Mary's Islands boat trip
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon into sunset; boats to the islands run roughly 9:30am-5pm outside the monsoon
- Tickets
- No entry fee for the beach itself. Boat tickets to St Mary's Islands are bought at the jetty; expect different rates for government and private ferries, and note that services usually pause in the June-September monsoon.
Culture in Udupi
- 11
Ashta Matha walk
A self-guided walk between the eight mathas Madhvacharya's disciples founded around Sri Krishna Matha, each an active Hindu monastery. It is a slower, more scattered experience than the main temple, best for travellers with a genuine interest in the philosophy behind Udupi.
- Time needed
- 1-2 hours to see several mathas at an easy pace
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Mid-morning or late afternoon, avoiding the hottest midday hours
- Tickets
- Free entry to each matha's public areas, though they remain working monasteries and some inner sections may be closed to visitors. Ask staff before entering areas that are not clearly open.
