There is little doubt that the temple town of Udupi is one of the most visited places in the southern state of Karnataka. Situated in coastal Karnataka about 425 km from the capital city of Bangalore, Udupi is synonymous with the 13th century Krishna mutt. Considered to be one of the most auspicious places to visit to pay obeisance to Lord Krishna, Udupi’s Krishna Mutt attracts pilgrims from not only India but all over the world. Apart from the Krishna temple, the town is well known for the Shri Chandramouleeshwara Devasthana (temple) as well the Anantheshwara temple. But beyond temples, this bustling town is home to a number of interesting sights that span nature, religion, culture and craft. Here are a few things to do beyond the tourist circuit while in Udupi.
Boating along Panchagangavalli River: the Panchagangavalli River flows through Kundapur town which is located about 40 km from Udupi. If nature is your calling, an early morning boat ride on these placid waters must be on your list. Apart from catching the beauty of the sunrise, it is a perfect place to indulge in some bird watching as the region boasts of several species of aves including the white-bellied sea eagle, open billed stork, pond heron, grey plover, royal tern and the eurasian curlew. You can catch the fishermen in action and even walk on the river bed if the tide is low. Soak your feet in the sand and unwind amidst all the tranquility around.
Visit Shri Pajaka Kshetra: a holy place where Dvaita philosopher Sri Madhvacharya was born, Pajaka is located just under 15 km from Udupi. Known to have been created by Shri Parashurama, this place houses the ancestral home of Sri Madhvacharya. The entire place is a reflection of the life and times of this great scholar. Close to Pajaka is also Danda theerta which is believed to be the place where the scholar studied the Vedas and also created a pond using his ‘danda‘ or stick. Pajaka is situated on the foothills of Kunjarugiri and one can visit the Durga temple situated on this hillock. Read more about Pajaka Kshetra here.
Coin Museum: Situated in the heart of Udupi and very close to the Krishna Mutt, the coin museum forms for an insightful visit with close to 3000 coins dating from as early as 400 BC. It is also known as the Corporation Bank Heritage Museum and the museum is actually housed in the former residence of Haji Abdullah Haji Kasim Saheb Bahadur who was the founder of Corporation bank. The museum is a treasure trove of information on mints, the Reserve bank of India as well historic coins of several kinds. Read more about the coin museum here.
Explore Havanje: Located in Udupi district, Havanje is a small hamlet whose surroundings are home to several species of birds. Interestingly this village is supporting bird watching activities through Bhavana Foundation, a local NGO as well as the Havanje Gram Panchayat’s Biodiversity Management Committee. There is a lake and its surroundings house several species of birds like the White throated kingfisher, Malabar Hornbill, Red vented bulbul Magpie Robin, Rufous treepie, Paradise flycatcher, Golden Oriole and Greater Flameback Woodpecker among many others. There is a large hand painted board that shows the species sighted here.
Beaches Galore: Apart from the famous Malpe and Maravanthe beach, there are several other beaches like the Mattu and Kaup beach which are worth a visit. Do not miss the Padubidri beach with its pristine blue waters which was recently accorded the prestigious Blue Flag tag.
Kayaking along the Seetha River: located around 25 km from Udupi is the village of Saligrama. This region has a large mangrove cover and kayaking is a fairly new activity introduced here which is an excellent example of eco tourism. The pleasantly slow ride through the thick yet serene mangroves at dusk while watching the water birds fly home and the sun go down is an ideal way to end your sojourn of this temple town.
Apart from all of this, Udupi is a place where you can shop for indigenous produce like the GI accorded Udupi mallige (Udupi jasmine) and the Mattu gulla. The Udupi handloom sarees also form for the perfect souvenir from this town.
