KARNATAKA

A Land Unordinary

Beautiful, quaint, and full of surprises, Karavali or coastal Karnataka, a little-explored, little-known stretch of quiet coastline, is a montage of spectacular landscapes on which rest ancient ruins and hidden beaches, sunlit coves and gently rolling hills, majestic waterfalls and winding rivers, lush rainforests and beautiful wildlife.

The three seaside districts of Uttara Kannada (North Canara), Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada (South Canara) merge together to form this stunning geography defined by the magnificent Western Ghats (or Sahyadri) mountains to the east, and the glorious Arabian Sea to the west.

The sea’s proximity to the Western Ghats ensures that the coast enjoys phenomenal rains during the monsoon – lending it extraordinary allure.

MANGALURU – UDUPI | UDUPI – MARAVANTHE | MARAVANTHE – MURUDESHWAR | MURUDESHWAR – GOKARNA | GOKARNA – KARWAR

Mangaluru

Dakshina Kannada’s port city of Mangaluru sits off the sunny Konkan coast. Great faith and distinctive seafood fare are the mainstays of this primarily agrarian district. There are gorgeous temples and churches to see here as well as stunning beaches.

See & Do

Mangaluru’s notable edifices include:

• Mangaladevi Temple

• Kadri Manjunath Temple

• St Aloysius Chapel

• Rosario Cathedral

• Milagres Church

• Dargah of Hazrat Shareef ul Madni at Ullal

• Zeenath Baksh Jumma Masjid in Bunder

The Sharavu Maha Ganpathi Temple, dating back seven centuries, hosts Yakshagana performances, the famed dance-drama tradition of the Canara region.

Also popular are the Mangalore Dasara, a ten-day festival held at Sri Gokarnatheswara Temple, and Navaratri celebrations at the Mangaladevi Temple.

The city is known for its lovely shoreline with fine beaches such as Panambur (the most famous and popular), Tannirbhavi, Ullal, and Surathkal.

Panambur Beach, where the Mangalore Port is, has activities such as jetski rides, boating, and dolphin viewing.

You simply must try the famed Gadbad Ice Cream, the sweet highlight of Karnataka’s coast. While you’ll find it practically everywhere you travel in this region, the best place to eat it first is of course at the eatery where it was invented: Ideal’s Parlour on Market Road, Mangaluru.

Udupi

The temple town of Udupi is a cultural delight. Udupi’s history and legends are steeped with references to Madhavacharya, the 13th-century Vaishnavaite philosopher-saint who propounded the Dvaita school of Indian philosophy.

See & Do

Visit the ancient complexes of the Chandramouleswara and Ananteswara temples, and the Krishna Temple & Mutt; Pajaka, the house where Madhavacharya was born.

Manipal (5 km), the hub of education, will surprise you with Hast Shilpa, a stunning wooden house housing antiques from across the country.

Around a kilometre from Hast Shilpa is the Heritage Village, which holds a marvellous collection of 26 old houses, each rescued, relocated, and restored.

You cannot leave without eating the famed Udupi oota (meals or food), part of a culinary tradition that dates back to the 13th century, served at the decades-old Mitra Samaja in the Krishna Temple complex.

Kaup Beach is a gorgeous windswept stretch with a charming, century-old lighthouse; Malpe Beach is the gateway to St Mary’s Island, which has amazing basalt rock formations.

Maravanthe

Maravanthe offers a very lovely, quiet, tourist-free beach.

NH-66 runs next to the beach and the River Sowparnika flows on the other side of the road, creating a spectacular scenery that is considered the only one of its kind in India.

Savour the solitude and soak up the sheer beauty of this spot.

See & Do

You can choose from an array of water activities such as boat rides, snorkelling, and scuba diving.

A visit to Kanchugodu Village will reward you with unique glimpses of the lives of fisherfolk and the community here.

It is believed that the River Sowparnika is auspicious, because it supposedly carries with it the essence of 64 medicinal plants and herbs as it flows – a dip in these waters is considered supremely curative.

Kundapura town nearby greets you with a host of lovely historical temples including the Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple and the Mookambika Devi shrine.

Feast on the chicken ghee roast at Shetty’s Lunch Home in Kundapur. Chicken ghee roast was invented here and is still the best in the country.

Explore the beautiful strips of beach just a little outside town.

Murudeshwar

Murudeshwar is bounded by the rolling hills of the Western Ghats and the beautiful Arabian Sea, and although primarily a pilgrim centre, is a favourite with picnickers for its temple, restaurants, guest houses, and resorts.

The theme park, which you can’t miss, built on the Kandukagiri Hill is based on popular characters from Indian mythology.

It is the 123-feet-high statue of Siva though, that commands all attention. This colossal tribute to the lord was sculpted over two years and sits in majestic glory on the hilltop.

You can get a breathtaking view of the sea from here, the turquoise waters bordered by some of the cleanest sands you have seen.

In the sculpture complex, make time for a captivating museum called Bhookailasa, which tells the story of Ravana and the atma linga that is integral to Murudeshwar’s mythology.

The Murudeshwar Beach is great to relax on, splash around in the waters or enjoy water sports.

Gokarna

The temple town of Gokarna owes its unique geography to the rocky cliffs and the high promontories interspersed between beautiful beaches.

Small and nearly hidden away by the Western Ghats rising around them, the four beaches – Om, Kudle, Half Moon, and Paradise – are Gokarna’s biggest attractions.

The famous centuries-old Mahabaleshwara Temple in Gokarna town is worth a visit.

The Maha Ganapati Temple is just a stone’s throw away.

Some of the residences in the town, with teak pillars and spacious verandahs, are over 100 years old.

Karwar

The charming seaside town holds a host of attractions, including its lovely coast and superb seafood fare.

The Rabindranath Tagore Beach is the heart of Karwar’s social life.

Also worth seeing are the Naval Museum, and some of the town’s atmospheric old temples such as the Vithoba-Rakhumal Temple, Dattatreya Temple, and the Muralidhara Mutt.

Early morning, take a refreshing walk across the Kali River Bridge built at the confluence of the river and the Arabian Sea.

You can see the Sadashivgad Fort on the Sadashivgad Hill at the northern end of the Bridge. Historically significant and picturesque, the Fort is a popular tourist destination.

The Baithkola Beach on the northern outskirts of Karwar is one of the most beautiful natural beaches on this coast and has spectacular views out to the sea.

We Especially Recommend

• Gerusoppa (now called Nagarabastikeri)

• Chaturmukha Basadi (Jain Temple)

• Kumta

• Apsara Konda Falls

• Anshi National Park

• Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

• Syntheri Rocks

• Banavasi

• Hulgol

• Kavala Caves

• Yana