This story is as much about Coastal Karnataka, as about the exciting road trip that we had this winter. Coastal Karnataka is serene, tranquil and gorgeous, and largely unexplored by travelers outside of Karnataka. We had planned for a road trip by taxi from Goa to Mangalore. But we ended up doing it by local transport- an experiment we wanted to do for a long time. And buoy! Was it exciting!
Dotted with white sand beaches, lush green forests, and culture-rich small towns and quaint villages, Coastal Karnataka just stretches out of your imagination to the realm of a great travel experience. From Karwar in north to Mangalore in south, it’s a magical stretch of more than 270 kilometers. It runs between the gorgeous blue Arabian sea on one side, and the verdant green Western Ghats on the other.
{If you like Karnataka destinations, here are a few more: Hampi- a true world heritage ||| Shravanabelagola- Coorg}
Coastal Karnataka : Hidden gems along the Arabian sea
In spite of all the amazing places, ironically, Coastal Karnataka is much underrated as a travel destination. One might have heard about the individual places like Udupi, Gokarna and Mangalore. But seen as a whole, this region is a treasure trove for travellers. And especially, if you are a lover of off-beat locations, Coastal Karnataka is heaven for you.
Of all the places of interest, beaches in Coastal Karnataka are really special. They are different, unique and have a character of their own. One will not find beaches like Om beach, Kudle beach or the ones in Udupi everywhere. Indeed, they are among the best in India.
{If you want to read about some of India’s best beaches, check out: Goa beaches ||| Beaches in Havelock ||| Beaches in Odisha}
Coastal Karnataka : The Plan
Honestly, it was difficult to plan a road-trip about which you have little information. So, we had thought of taking it as it would come, and be flexible. After our Goa sojourn, we had only three days on hand for this Coastal Karnataka road trip. This time as an experiment, we decided to explore Coastal Karnataka only by local transport. But the problem was that the buses didn’t run on long routes. So, we had to change buses at more places than planned. It meant that the initial plans went haywire!
Ultimately, the plan vs. actual scenario turned out to be like this:
- Day-1: Plan: Leave Palolem in Goa and reach Gokarna by evening
- Actual: Palolem to Karwar (via Canacona and Ankola); spent the night in Karwar
- Day-2: Plan: Spend most part in Gokarna, and reach Udupi (via Murudeshwar) by evening
- Actual: Karwar to Gokarna | Gokarna to Murudeshwar | Murudeshwar to Udupi (reached very late night)
- Day-3: Plan: Spend good part of the day in Udupi, and leave for Mangalore (to catch the flight to Delhi)
- Actual: Same as planned
So, as you can see, there were quite a few places to cover in Coastal Karnataka in less than 3 days! But the idea was not to explore the places, rather to have a glimpse, and enjoy a road-trip.
For more such road trip plans, please check out: “Odisha (Golden Triangle)” ||| “Khajuraho- Orchha- Jhansi circuit” ||| “South Kerala Road Trip“.
Day-1 : Palolem to Karwar
After winding up a beautiful day in Palolem, we took an autorickshaw to drop us at Canacona bus stop. Contrary to our expectation, there was no direct bus to Gokarna. So, we decided to take a bus to Karwar (27 kms away from Canacona), and spend a night there. We reached Karwar in the evening, and found a guesthouse for ourselves near the bus station. After checking in, we went for an evening walk around the town.
Karwar
We were really hungry by then; so, first, we had dinner at a popular eatery. And then, while roaming the streets of Karwar, we came across an old temple where a festival was underway. It was interesting to watch the devotees engage in traditional rituals and bhajans. We tasted some local sweet-snack, and soaked in the general excitement near the temple. Though we still wanted to roam around for longer, we were tired and early next morning we had to leave for Gokarna!
The town is located so close to the Arabian sea that we could hear sound of roaring sea late in the night. Karwar played a very important role in the evolution of Konkani culture and language. Apart from its popular beaches, there are mountains for trekking lovers, islands, a historic fort, ancient temples, and a popular mosque.
Day-2 : Karwar - Gokarna - Udupi
Reaching the bus station next morning, we realized that there was no direct bus to Gokarna from Karwar! So, we took a bus to Ankola (37 kms away), and from there, changed for Gokarna (26 kms). I just loved the bus ride with amazing views of boats and ships floating over the Arabian sea. We reached Gokarna by 11 AM. Quickly, we rented an autorickshaw to visit two beaches- the Om beach, and the Kudle beach.
Gokarna
Gokarna is a small, adorable, but largely unexplored town located by the sea. In recent times, overcrowding of south Goa beaches is pushing a lot of peace-seeking and adventure-seeking tourists to Gokarna. Though tourism is increasing steadily in Gokarna, it still gives the ambience of old days. Earlier it was popular for pilgrimage, but now it is getting popular among backpackers and trekkers. They stay long days, and trek across all the beaches, starting either from Om beach or Kudle beach and covering the Half-moon beach and Paradise beach through the mountain slopes.
Om beach:
I would describe the beach in three words- white-sandy, rocky-terrain and tranquil. Secluded by hills with vegetative cover, the beach augurs serenity that makes one want to spend long hours with oneself doing nothing. A clear sky over the sea and undulating rocky terrain made the beach look serene and attractive. Interestingly, the beach is in the shape of ‘Om’ (Hindu symbol), on which it is named.
I felt like sitting there for long hours reading a book with coffee in hand, and take a stroll on the beach talking to like-minded people! Talking of coffee, the best place on the beach is the “Namaste Cafe”, a very popular cafe for obvious reasons. It gives an amazing panoramic view of the beach, and an ambiance to hang out.
Kudle beach:
From the Om beach, we moved to our next destination- the Kudle beach. It’s again another secluded beach. In fact, all the beaches in Gokarna are secluded with gorgeous green cover. From the last drivable point, it took us a 20 minute trekking to reach the Kudle beach.
The C-shaped beach looked really attractive even from a long distance. During our short stay there, we met three young chaps/adventurers from Hyderabad who had just completed their trekking in the adjacent hills covering all the beaches in Gokarna. I could clearly see the excitement and the happiness writ large on their faces. I instantly felt the urge to come back to Gokarna at the earliest! But then it was time to say good-bye to Kudle beach, and Gokarna.
Moving to Murudeshwar:
The auto-rickshaw driver dropped us at the bus station. As we were preparing to board a bus to Murudeshwar (80 kms), we realized that Suvendu forgot his jacket in the rickshaw! A long time bad habit of his! The rickshaw driver was kind enough to give it back on a phone call. However, we had to wait for the next bus! Lost some more precious day-light there!
Murudeshwar
To our good fortune, the bus dropped us near Murudeshwar just in time for the sunset. The bus dropped off on the highway, some 2 kms away from the Murudeshwar temple. We took an auto-rickshaw to reach the temple by 5.00 PM. As we were super excited about watching the sunset from above the Raja Gopuram (entrance tower) of the temple, Suvendu rushed to get the tickets (for only Rs.10).
Murudeshwar in the mythology:
According to Hindu mythology, Murudeshwar (Mrideshwara in ancient times) is the place where one of the pieces of Atma-Linga (soul) of Shiva (Hindu God) was dropped by Ravana (the demon King). In fact, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Vishnu had tricked him in order to prevent him from becoming immortal. To read the complete story, click here.
History:
Though Murudeshwar has an ancient origin, the main temple was built in the 14th century by the Vijayanagar rulers. The impressive Gopuram and the Shiva statue were built in 2008 only.
Murudeswar temple complex has three main sections- the Raja Gopuram (entrance), the main temple and the huge Shiva statue (popular in Instagram). Standing at 237 feet (=72 mt) high, the Raja Gopuram is the second tallest Gopuram in India. Standing below the Gopuram, I was speechless! The massive tower, designed in south Indian architectural style with intricately carved statues, was so impressive!
Watching sunset from the Raja Gopuram:
When we reached the elevator to go to the 18th floor of the Gopuram (of the 20 floors), there was a small que. They managed the crowd very well, I must say. We felt so lucky that we reached there at the perfect time, just when the sun was going down the horizon by turning the sky bright orange! The panoramic view of the Shiva statue (123 ft=37 mt) by the sea facing the temple, and the sea beach was absolutely spectacular. The Arabian sea surrounds the temple complex on three sides; so, you can imagine the amazing view from the top, especially of the beach.
Onward to Udupi:
After the sunset, we spent about half an hour at the temple complex, and then came to the highway to take our next bus to Udupi, 103 kms away.
After a long waiting, we got the bus, but there was no seat! You can imagine how difficult it would be to stand in a moving bus after a long day in the sun! But luckily, we got two seats midway.
Besides, we were so hungry that we could eat grass! And as if the driver could sense it, he stopped the bus and Suvendu brought some food from a roadside eatery to much respite from hunger.
We reached Udupi around 11 PM, and didn’t have a hotel to check-in! Actually, we were expecting a number of hotels near the bus station. But there was hardly any! Taking the help of google ratings, and google maps, we identified a hotel nearby, and walked up to the hotel. Fortunately, they had a room for us. We checked-in immediately, and took a good sleep to revitalize our bodies for the next day.
Day-3 : Udupi - Mangalore - Delhi
Udupi
Udupi has been a center of pilgrimage since ancient times with two very important temples attracting scores of devotees. These temples- Chandramauleshwara temple and Anantheshwara temple are still there; but the town is now famous for another temple- Srikrishna Math. Along with its religious importance, Udupi’s diverse natural beauty attracts thousands of visitors. Lovely beaches, rivers, backwaters, and forests make fore a relaxed few days. The amalgamation of cultural importance and natural beauty makes Udupi such an amazing place to explore!
Udupi has so many amazing places to explore that 1 day would never be enough. However, we had chosen our places of interest by prior research.
Srikrishna Math:
We started our last day around 9.00 AM by visiting Srikrishna Math. The Math was located at a walkable distance from the hotel. Though we couldn’t enter the temple (prayer time was over), the outside environment was quite devotional. People were paying obeisance from outside only. We loved taking pictures of the Gopuram (entrance tower) and the beautifully decorated chariot standing outside the temple.
According to legends, in the 13th century AD, a ship coming from Dwarka carrying the statue of Balakrishna faced a storm at Udupi coast. The saint Madhavacharya helped the ship to safety, and thus, got the statue of Balakrishna as a gift.
Madhavacharya established Srikrishna Math and instituted the statue there. Since then this temple became popular among the devotees. Madhavacharya established 7 more Maths in Karnataka to popularize the Dvaita Vedanta philosophy. {If you love Hindu religious destinations, check out: Vaishno Devi ||| Bhubaneswar}
From near the temple, we hired an auto-rickshaw to show us around Udupi. To make things convenient, and to our good fortune, we got an amazing human being as the auto-rickshaw driver- Satish.
Our auto-rickshaw driver friend:
Sometimes, while travelling, you meet absolutely adorable people. This time, it was our autorickshaw driver friend- Satish. A middle-aged man with a warm and golden heart.
Neither he understood much Hindi, nor we understood any Kannada. But luckily, he managed some broken Hindi, and we got some communication going!
While talking to us during the drive, he actually broke down explaining the plight of his sister’s broken marriage! Such an emotional and kind hearted person!
He went out of the way to help us in everything we needed. On the way to the Kemmannu bridge, he actually took us to his home, and introduce to his lovely wife, and loving mother-in-law. They even offered us some food and beverages! Their love and affection filled our heart with joy. This indeed is the essence of travel, and travel indeed is the essence of life!
Malpe beach:
Our first stop was the Malpe beach. This is the most popular beach in Udupi with water sports, food stalls, etc. I especially loved the art work on the coconut trees by the beach. Besides, the fishing boats, fishermen, and visitors engaged in myriad beach activities made the beach vibes come alive.
Malpe Sea-walkway:
About 2 kms away from the Malpe beach is the Malpe sea-walkway (came up recently in 2018). The walkway is situated at the tourist jetty where boats leave for the St. Mary’s island. It goes 450 meters into the sea, and provides for a pleasant stroll with fresh air brushing your hair. As we were there early in the afternoon, it was too hot for a walk. But we did take a few lovely pictures there.
Kemmannu hanging bridge:
It’s a hidden gem nestled in the lap of nature, located in Thonse village towards the Delta point. Kemmannu bridge, a 280 ft long suspension bridge over the Swarna river, gives the most photogenic view of the place. Set in a serene village environment, it has a typical rustic charm. We loved walking over the bridge to the other side and watch the river flow below our feet.
Some visitors were engaged in kayaking in the river. I definitely wanted to do the same, in case I had some more time! Of all the places in Udupi, Kemmannu bridge was the place where I wanted to spend a lot more time.
Hoode beach:
Though this was not in our plan, Satish suggested and took us there on the way to the Delta point. It’s a long narrow strip of beach, very narrow, maybe only 10 feet wide! But lined by coconut trees and big boulders, it looked beautiful.
After having a look around, we moved to our last destination for the day: the Delta point.
Delta point:
The road towards the Delta point was awesomely handsome! It runs between the Sita river on one side, and the Arabian sea on the other! Delta point is the point where the river meets the sea. As we reached the Delta point, I felt as if it was the end of landmass on earth! The view of river meeting the sea was really enchanting.
Further, this meeting point forms a beach too- the Delta beach. Observing the small crabs come out of their holes on the beach was delightful. And watching the fishing boats coming from, and going into the sea was fascinating!
Places we missed out in Udupi:
St. Mary’s island | Kaup beach | Padubidri beach | Manipal | Karkala | Anantheshwara temple | Chandramauleshwar temple.
Mangalore
From the Delta point, Satish took us to the bus station where we got on to a bus to Mangalore. We had been to Mangalore exactly one year before this trip, and had explored a bit then. So, we decided to directly move to the airport.
We had an indirect flight to Delhi via Mumbai; reached home well after midnight. Though we were extremely exhausted by then, the thrill of the exciting trip kept us in good spirits.
Coastal Karnataka : Road trip tips
Start and finish:
- If you are from Karnataka, well, of course, you would start at a point closer to you.
- But, if you are from outside, I would suggest starting from north, i.e. Karwar and ending in south, i.e. Mangalore. Because at the end of the road trip, you would be tired, and would like to take a flight rather than a train. And Mangalore has an airport. There is no airport near Karwar; but has a railway station. So, it’s good to reach Karwar by a train, and take flight from Mangalore.
Minimum number of days:
Karwar: 1 day | Gokarna: 2 days (plus, a day for Jog falls, if travelling during monsoon) | Kumta: 1 day | Murudeshwar: 1 day | Udupi: 3 days | Mangalore: 1 day | Total: 9+1 days. And of course, a few more days if you are interested in some lesser known places like Manipal and Hannovar.
Local buses:
- Buses don’t run for long distances on the coastal route. So, you would have to change frequently. If you have time on hand, that’s great. Otherwise, plan your itinerary keeping enough time for transits.
Budget trip tips:
For some great tips on budget trips, please check out our post: “How to make your budget trip enjoyable“
Things not to miss:
- A morning stroll on the Kudle beach in Gokarna
- Enjoy the sunset at the Om beach in Gokarna
- Watching sunset from the Raja Gopuram at Murudeshwar
- Kayaking at the Kemmannu bridge in Udupi
- An evening walk at the Malpe Sea-Walkway
- Eat a great Dosa in a popular restaurant in Udupi
- Visit the Srikrishna Math in Udupi
- Spend an evening at the Delta point in Udupi
What a road trip that was!
Long road trips with frequent changes are never easy. And we didn’t have the luxury of time as well. We could have easily taken a cab somewhere to ease things out. But no. We decided to keep it difficult, in order to experience the difficulties associated with budget trips. We stayed in modest accommodations, and ate at small eateries. In spite of all the difficulties, we could make it, and we really enjoyed the trip.
With age catching up, we are not sure if we can do this more often. But one thing is sure that we will keep it simple and cost-effective all the time.
Reflecting on some learning:
- Road trips are tiring, but extremely rewarding. You get to see the people of the region up close, and interact with them while travelling in a local bus.
- The best beaches in India are not in Goa! Gokarna has some of the most beautiful beaches in India.
- Overcoming the fear of the unknown. When we started the road trip, we hardly had any information of the region. But we just kept going!
- Language can not be a barrier in establishing relationships. My mother tongue is Gujarati, Suvendu’s is Odiya, and Satish’s language was Kannada. But we did communicate well.
Concluding note
We will come back!
In this trip, we could explore only 3 places to some extent (didn’t quite explore Karwar and Mangalore). However, there are quite a few smaller and even lesser known places, which are worth spending time. Places like Manipal, Varanga, Baindur, Hannovar beach, Jog falls and Kumta are quite lovely places in their own right. Besides, due to paucity of time, we couldn’t even explore the places that we visited, very well. So, we will definitely come back for a slow-travel in this region, especially to explore the myriad flavors of the not-so-touristy places.
Sharing is a great idea, isn’t it?
- If you liked our road trip experience in coastal Karnataka, do write a feedback below.
- And if you want to share your experience of the region, we would love to hear from you.
- What do you love the most about your road trips? Do share with us.
Prince Prasannan
Very nice places. Costal Karnataka is my favourite place also. I went to Udupi migambika temple, Karwar, murudeswar etc. Very nice.
stampedmoments
Yes, Udupi and Murudeshwar are quite amazing places!
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Soumen Chatterjee
Just awesome experience while reading it, a three day trip seems to be a great learning and discovery. What you plan and what actually happens has a great learning, so sometimes what we plan actually does not happens all the times. Day 1 started from Palolem to Karwar. What I came to know about Karwar is Karwar played a very important role in the evolution of Konkani culture and language. Apart from its popular beaches, there are mountains for trekking lovers, islands, a historic fort, ancient temples, and a popular mosque.
Day 2 is the most interesting and my favourite trip Karwar – Gokarna – Udupi. Coming to Udupi , I have heard lot about Gokarna , Gokarna
Gokarna is a small, adorable, but largely unexplored town located by the sea and it has lot of beaches may that be Om beach or Kudle beach and covering the Half-moon beach and Paradise beach through the mountain slopes. Next was Murudeshwar which has lot of history and architectural temples.watching sunset from Raja Gopuram is stunning and not to forget The panoramic view of the Shiva statue (123 ft=37 mt) by the sea facing the temple, and the sea beach was absolutely spectacular.
Day 3 Udupi – Mangalore – Delhi.
Udupi has always been a center of pilgrimage since ancient times with two very important temples attracting scores of devotees. These temples- Chandramauleshwara temple and Anantheshwara temple are still there; but the town is now famous for another temple- Srikrishna Math. Along with its religious importance, Udupi’s diverse natural beauty attracts thousands of visitors. Lovely beaches, rivers, backwaters, and forests make fore a relaxed few days. The amalgamation of cultural importance and natural beauty makes Udupi such an amazing place to explore!.
Visiting the famous beaches like malpa beach, delta point or may that be Malpe Sea-walkway,Kemmannu hanging bridge, Hoode beach, all has its own story. And finally Mangalore though not much explored. Overall a great journey.
stampedmoments
Hey Soumen! Thanks a lot for reading it, sharing a feedback as always.
Yes, road trips are always difficult. But very rewarding.
Keep connected, mate.
Sanjay Deshmukh
Narrated the travel story beautifully. Got totally immersed in it while reading.
Waiting for more.
stampedmoments
So glad to hear this!
Thanks a lot for reading, and sharing your feedback.
Keep connected, please.
Sarita Rout
So many great places in coastal Karnataka! Wow! I’m marking some of these to visit one day.
stampedmoments
Absolutely! Coastal Karnataka is really amazing, but underrated.
Do visit some of the places.
Nisheeth
It was lovely reading the Blog, Very honest and real experience sharing. This gives a real picture of the places and let people choose their comfort places.
stampedmoments
Thank you Nisheeth for your warm feedback. We try to be as close to reality as possible.
Glad that you found the article/s useful.
Keep reading, and keep sharing your thoughts.
KarnatakaHolidayVacation
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stampedmoments
Thanks for interacting with us.
I hope you have read our articles on other Karnataka destinations.
Keep connected. Thanks.
IsaacAnderson1
Nice blog about How to reach karnataka and places to visit and things to do, very useful information.
stampedmoments
I’m so happy you liked the article; it’s always our effort to give as much practical information as possible.
Thanks a lot. Keep reading us; keep encouraging.
IsaacAnderson1
At KarnatakaHolidayVacation, we believe that travel is not just about reaching a destination but about creating lasting memories such as karnataka temples tour packages. Whether you seek serene getaways in the misty hills of Ooty and Coorg, spiritual journeys through Karnataka’s temples, or adventures in historic cities like Mysore, hampi badami tour package, our team is dedicated to making your dream vacation a reality. What sets us apart is our commitment to providing you with well-planned and customized tour packages that suit your preferences and budget. We work with experienced guides and partners to ensure that you have an enriching and seamless travel experience from start to finish. Our mission is to showcase the hidden gems and well-known treasures of Karnataka, offering you a chance to connect with the culture, traditions, and natural beauty that make this state so unique. Whether you are a solo traveler, a couple seeking a romantic escape, or a family in search of an adventure, we have the perfect package for you. Let KarnatakaHolidayVacation be your trusted travel companion, turning your vacation dreams into cherished memories. We look forward to being a part of your unforgettable Karnataka adventure. Discover, Explore, Experience – KarnatakaHolidayVacation
stampedmoments
Hi! Good to know about your services.
All the best!
T K Chakraborty
wonderful and awesome descriptions . lot of helpful information . In fact, we three of family members have already planned for trip along coastal karnataka next year starting from Goa > Karwar > Gokarna > Murdeshwar ( via Jog Falls ) > Udupi > Mangalore > back home to Kolkata . Your vivid descriptions are sure to help us in a close-knit programme. Thanks to you.
stampedmoments
So glad that you liked it, and found it useful.
Coastal Karnataka has so many hidden gems! You and your family will surely love the experience.
Please share your experience with us later.
Thanks a lot for sharing your feedback.
Rakesh Bagh
Coastal Karnataka: Saga of an Exciting Road Trip” is a beautifully written blog that takes readers on a captivating journey through the stunning coastline of Karnataka. The vivid descriptions of serene beaches, lush landscapes, and historic temples truly bring the region to life. It’s easy to feel the excitement of exploring offbeat places, savoring local cuisine, and soaking in the rich culture. The road trip itinerary is well-planned, offering a perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. This blog inspires wanderlust and is a must-read for anyone seeking a memorable road trip along the mesmerizing Karnataka coastline. Definitely adding this to my travel list!
stampedmoments
Hi Rakesh!
Thanks for the lovely feedback.
Yup, coastal Karnataka is worth a slow travel experience.
I read your blog as well; looks like a good one.
Keep in touch.
Parjatakguru
Your blog is very interesting author. Thank you. Keep it up.
stampedmoments
Thank you so much, Parjatak!
Keep in touch; cheers!