Things to do in Udupi and the temple coast

Coastal Karnataka's temple circuit in three days out: Kollur and Murudeshwar, Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala, and Udupi's own matha and coast.

Getting around Udupi and the temple coast

The temples are spread along 150 km of coast and up into the ghats, with buses between them but no ride-hailing to speak of. Every temple closes for part of the afternoon, so the order of the day matters. Kukke and Dharmasthala are nearer Mangaluru than Udupi, so that day picks up in Mangaluru. Every experience below includes the vehicle, a local driver, fuel, tolls and parking.

Experiences

• Kollur Mookambika and Murudeshwar: The goddess under the Kodachadri hills, then Shiva by the sea
• Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala: Up into the ghats to Kukke, back down to Dharmasthala before its doors close
• Udupi Krishna Matha, Malpe and St Mary's Island: Krishna through the window, basalt columns at sea, a lighthouse at sunset

Best months

October to March. June to September is heavy monsoon on this coast: the ghat roads run slower, the beaches close to the water and the St Mary's Island ferries stop.

Getting there

Mangaluru airport is about 1.5 hrs from Udupi by road. Udupi and Mangaluru are both on the Konkan Railway.