Udupi travel guide
Temple town with serene beaches and delicious cuisine.
Udupi, famous for its temples and coastal cuisine, is a spiritual and culinary hub. The Krishna Temple and serene beaches make it an appealing destination for pilgrims and travelers.
Best time to visit Udupi
Go Nov–Mar for dry weather and calm seas. Apr–May is hot and humid. Jun–Sep is the monsoon: very heavy rain and a rough sea, though the countryside turns green.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | best | 21–31 °C | 5 mm | medium | Dry and sunny with calm seas; Krishna Matha Paryaya festival every two years |
| February | good | 22–34 °C | 5 mm | low | Dry, with hot afternoons; calm sea for the beaches |
| March | good | 25–36 °C | 15 mm | low | Dry and hot; humid afternoons, so sightsee early |
| April | mixed | 27–36 °C | 35 mm | medium | Hot and humid; ripe mangoes in the markets |
| May | mixed | 27–33 °C | 170 mm | medium | Hot, humid and stormy before the monsoon; mango season |
| June | avoid | 26–30 °C | 760 mm | low | Monsoon arrives with very heavy rain; sea rough, beaches unsafe |
| July | avoid | 25–28 °C | 1000 mm | low | Wettest month, with rain nearly every day; sea closed for swimming |
| August | avoid | 25–28 °C | 730 mm | low | Very wet with a rough sea; temples stay open |
| September | avoid | 25–29 °C | 410 mm | low | Rain easing but still frequent; sea still rough |
| October | good | 25–30 °C | 210 mm | medium | Showers fade through the month; the sea calms toward the end |
| November | best | 24–31 °C | 80 mm | medium | Mostly dry and warm; the beach season begins |
| December | best | 22–31 °C | 10 mm | high | Dry and warm; busy over Christmas and New Year |
How many days to spend in Udupi
A day covers Udupi Krishna Matha and Malpe Beach; a second adds St Mary's Island, Kaup Lighthouse and Pajaka Kshetra.
How to reach Udupi
- By air: Mangaluru (IXE) — 60 km, about 1–2 h by road. Nearest airport with scheduled flights
- By train: Udupi (UD) — 5 km, about 10–20 min by road. On the Konkan Railway
- By road: From Mangaluru — 56 km, about 1–1.5 h. Along NH 66
Getting around
Private city buses, auto-rickshaws and cabs cover the town. Malpe and Manipal are a short ride out; St Mary's Island is a boat trip from Malpe.
Things to do in Udupi
- Maravanthe Road — Sea drive (Free entry)
- Shri Murudeshwara Shiva Temple — Iconic temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Shree Mahaganapathi Temple — Famous temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Kolluru Shri Mookambika Devi Temple — Sacred temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Agumbe Sunset View Point — Sunset view (1 h · Free entry)
- Sri Durgaaparameshwari Temple, Kateel — Sacred temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra — Grand temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Thousand Pillar Temple — Jain temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Udupi Shri Krishna Matha — Famous Krishna temple with unique darshan window. (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Kodi Bridge — Serene beach
- Someshwar Beach — Rocky beach (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Anegudde Vinayaka Temple Road — Ganesha temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple, Polali — Ancient temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Koodlutheertha Falls — Hidden falls (2.5 h · ₹100)
- Shri Chaturmukha Jaina Basadi — Jain basadi (1 h · Free entry)
- Barkurpete — Old village (2 h · Free entry)
- Devaramane hills — Trek hills (4 h)
- Kyatanamakki hills Station — Sunset hills (2 h)
- Ballalarayana Durga Fort — Hill fort (4 h)
- Sasihitlu Beach — Surfing beach (2 h · Free entry)
- Bahubali Tirth Kshetra — Monolithic statue (1 h · Free entry)
- Shri Ananthapadmanabha Kudupu Temple — Serpent temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Ottinene Beach Byndoor — Cliff view (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Mahankali Temple Road — Jain complex
- Kanwatheertha — Beachfall (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Kadambi Falls — Forest falls (2 h)
- Shri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthana Dakshinamnaya Shri Sharada Peeta — Sacred temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Jomlu Falls Road — Forest falls
- Manjeshwar Beach — Golden Shore (2 h · Free entry)
- Seethanadi Nature Camp — Eco stay (5 h · Paid entry)
- Mahalingeshwara Temple — Divine Shrine (1 h · Free entry)
- Hoode Beach Udupi — Calm beach (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Hanging Bridge — Hanging bridge (30 min · Free entry)
- Malpe Beach — Clean beach with watersports and seafood shacks. (3 h · Free entry)
- St.Mary's Island — Unique basalt rock formations and crystal waters. (2.5 h · ₹400)
- Arikady — Local Charm (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Kaup Light House — Serene beach with a climbable lighthouse. (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Manipal End Point Park — Panoramic view over river and Western Ghats. (45 min)
- Mahathobhara ShriAnantheswara Temple — Ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Udupi. (45 min · Free entry)
- Shri Chandramouleeshwara Devasthana — Twin-shrined historic temple near Anantheshwara complex. (45 min · Free entry)
- Pajaka Kshetra — Birthplace of Madhvacharya, serene spiritual destination. (1.5 h · Free entry)
Food to try in Udupi
- Satvik meal at the Krishna Matha — Free vegetarian meal for visitors, cooked without onion or garlic in the temple tradition
- Matti gulla — A brinjal variety unique to Udupi, cooked as gojju or sambar
- Hayagreeva maddi — A sweet made from chana dal, jaggery and coconut
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Udupi?
Go Nov–Mar for dry weather and calm seas. Apr–May is hot and humid. Jun–Sep is the monsoon: very heavy rain and a rough sea, though the countryside turns green.
How many days are enough for Udupi?
1–2 days. A day covers Udupi Krishna Matha and Malpe Beach; a second adds St Mary's Island, Kaup Lighthouse and Pajaka Kshetra.
How do I reach Udupi?
By air: Mangaluru (IXE) — 60 km, about 1–2 h by road. Nearest airport with scheduled flights. By train: Udupi (UD) — 5 km, about 10–20 min by road. On the Konkan Railway. By road: From Mangaluru — 56 km, about 1–1.5 h. Along NH 66.
What are the top things to do in Udupi?
Maravanthe Road, Shri Murudeshwara Shiva Temple, Shree Mahaganapathi Temple, Kolluru Shri Mookambika Devi Temple, Agumbe Sunset View Point, Sri Durgaaparameshwari Temple, Kateel.
Plan your Udupi trip
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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.