Udupi by road: the essentials
Udupi is about 60 km north of Mangalore, typically 1.5 hours on the coastal highway (NH66) from Mangalore airport. A RutzIndia.com sedan costs Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve one way and an Innova Crysta Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve (minimum trip fare), before 5% GST, with tolls and parking at actual cost. From Bangalore, roughly 400 km over the Western Ghats, a sedan is about Rs 14,400 Pay Now to Reserve one way.
Udupi is a temple town first. The Sri Krishna Matha, founded in the thirteenth century by the philosopher-saint Madhvacharya, draws pilgrims from across India, and the town's life revolves around its rituals, its eight mathas and the great Paryaya festival when temple management passes from one matha to the next. But Udupi is also the gateway to one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country, a university town in neighbouring Manipal, and the birthplace of a style of vegetarian cooking so influential that "Udupi hotel" became a byword for a clean, affordable South Indian restaurant in every Indian city.
A car with a driver is the best way to see the region. The temples and beaches are spread along the coast, public buses are frequent but crowded, and pilgrims often want to cover Kollur, Dharmasthala or Kukke Subramanya in the same trip. This guide covers all of that, along with road routes from Bangalore and our fares.
What to see in and around Udupi
Sri Krishna Matha. The heart of the town. Devotees view the image of Krishna through the Kanakana Kindi, a small latticed window associated with the poet-saint Kanakadasa, who, tradition holds, was not allowed in and saw the deity turn to face him through a crack in the wall. The temple kitchen serves free meals to thousands every day. Around the temple square stand the eight mathas (Ashta Mathas) that take turns administering worship.
Anantheshwara and Chandramouleshwara temples. Two ancient Shiva temples next to the Krishna Matha, older than it by tradition and architecturally striking.
Malpe beach and harbour. About 6 km west, a broad beach beside one of the busiest fishing harbours on the coast. Early mornings at the harbour, when the boats unload, are colourful and noisy.
St Mary's Island. A boat ride from Malpe takes you to small islands famous for their hexagonal columnar basalt formations, a rare geological sight. Boats generally run in the fair-weather months and stop during the monsoon; check the current schedule locally.
Kaup beach and lighthouse. About 13 km south, a lighthouse on a rocky headland with sweeping views.
Manipal. Just 5 km away, the university town has the Hasta Shilpa heritage village, a collection of relocated traditional houses (visits may need prior arrangement), and the End Point viewpoint over the Swarna river.
Kollur Mookambika. About 80 km north-east at the foot of the Kodachadri hills, one of Karnataka's most important Devi temples.
Food. Masala dosa, goli baje (fried fluffy fritters), neer dosa, pathrode (colocasia rolls), and a full Udupi meal on a banana leaf. On the coast, non-vegetarian travellers find superb Mangalorean fish curries and kori rotti near Malpe.
The Udupi district website lists tourist places, festival notices and district information.
Roads into Udupi
From Mangalore airport
Mangalore International Airport is at Bajpe, north-east of the city. Your chauffeur joins the NH66 coastal highway and drives north through Surathkal, Mulki and Padubidri to Udupi. It is a busy but straightforward road, tolled in places, with lovely glimpses of rivers and backwaters. Allow about 1.5 hours, more at peak city times. Terminal and flight information is on the Mangalore airport website.
From Bangalore over the Ghats
There are three main ways down to the coast, and the right one depends on season and road works:
- NH75 via Hassan, Sakleshpur and the Shiradi ghat to Mangalore, then north to Udupi. The most direct route, but the ghat has seen repairs and monsoon closures. See Sakleshpur by road.
- Via Chikmagalur and the Charmadi ghat to Ujire and the coast, a scenic alternative through forest.
- Via Shivamogga, Thirthahalli and the Agumbe ghat, dropping straight to Hebri and Udupi. Agumbe is one of the wettest places in India and famous for its sunset viewpoint and rainforest; the ghat has tight hairpins.
All three involve long, winding descents; your chauffeur chooses based on current conditions. Allow 8 to 9 hours from Bangalore and plan the ghat in daylight.
Along the coast
North of Udupi, NH66 continues to Kundapura, Bhatkal and Murudeshwar by road, then Gokarna and Goa. It is a beautiful drive with river crossings and beaches on one side and the Ghats on the other.
When to go and festivals
- October to March. The best time: dry, warm and sunny, with calm seas. Boats to St Mary's Island usually run.
- April and May. Hot and humid; beach mornings are still pleasant.
- June to September. The coast receives very heavy south-west monsoon rain. Beaches are closed for swimming, boats stop, and ghat roads can be affected by landslips, but the countryside is intensely green.
- Paryaya. Held every two years in January, when the administration of the Krishna Matha passes to the next matha with a grand procession through the night. Hotels fill completely.
- Krishna Janmashtami (Aug/Sep) brings the Vitla Pindi celebrations, with human pyramids breaking pots of curd. Makara Sankranti in January and Deepavali are also major occasions.
RutzIndia.com chauffeured services for Udupi
We handle airport transfers from Mangalore, one-way drops from Bangalore, and multi-day coastal and pilgrimage circuits. Cars are within four model years; chauffeurs know temple timings and dress codes. Book online, pay by card or UPI, and ask for a GST invoice if needed.
| Coastal Karnataka fares | Sedan | Innova Crysta | Tempo Traveller |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangalore airport to Udupi, about 60 km (minimum fare applies) | Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,740 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Udupi to Kollur Mookambika, about 80 km (minimum fare applies) | Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,740 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Temple day around Udupi (250 km daily minimum) | Rs 9,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 14,250 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 19,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Bangalore to Udupi, about 400 km | Rs 14,400 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 22,800 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 31,200 Pay Now to Reserve |
These fares do not include 5% GST. Road tolls, state permits and parking are billed at whatever they cost on the day. If the car stays with you, the billable distance is 250 km per calendar day or the actual figure, whichever is greater, and multi-day hires include a nightly driver allowance of Rs 1,500.
The cancellation rule is simple: nothing is charged if you cancel with more than 72 hours to spare. Inside 72 hours the charge is 10%, inside 48 hours 50%, and inside 24 hours, or if you do not turn up, 100%. Read the full cancellation policy.
At Mangalore airport, your chauffeur tracks the flight and stands at arrivals with a name board. There is no charge for the first hour after an international arrival or the first 30 minutes after a domestic one; after that, waiting is billed at the hourly rate.
A three-day coastal itinerary by car
Day 1: Mangalore airport to Udupi (about 60 km). Arrive, check in, and visit the Krishna Matha for the evening rituals. Dinner at a traditional Udupi restaurant near Car Street.
Day 2: Beaches and Manipal (about 60 km). Early morning at Malpe harbour, a boat to St Mary's Island in season, lunch of fish thali or vegetarian meals, then Kaup lighthouse for sunset. Or swap the island for Manipal's End Point and the heritage village.
Day 3: Kollur and back, or north (about 160 to 250 km). Drive to Kollur Mookambika for morning darshan, then return to Mangalore for a flight, or continue north along NH66 to Murudeshwar and Gokarna.
Pilgrim circuits from Udupi
Udupi is the natural starting point for a coastal temple circuit. Common combinations include Udupi, Kollur and Murudeshwar in the north; Dharmasthala and Kukke Subramanya in the Ghats to the east; and the Jain centres of Karkala and Moodbidri, with their monolithic Bahubali statue and thousand-pillared basadi. A five-day loop covering these typically runs 800 to 1,000 km. Our pilgrimage taxi service builds these routes around darshan timings, and a Tempo Traveller on rent suits family groups and temple societies.
Manipal move-in days and visiting parents
A large share of the traffic between Mangalore airport, Bangalore and Udupi is families travelling to Manipal's university campuses: admissions in the summer, move-in days at the start of term, convocations and weekend visits. These journeys have their own rhythm. A student arriving with two suitcases, a mattress roll and a printer needs an Innova Crysta or an Ertiga rather than a sedan, and parents usually want a few hours of local errands for bedding, a bank account and groceries before heading back.
For these trips we recommend booking the airport transfer and a short local hire together, so the same chauffeur stays with you through the day. Tell us the hostel or apartment block name, and the driver will plan the drop around campus entry rules and parking. On convocation weekends, hotels in Udupi and Manipal fill quickly, and roads around the campus are congested, so book early and allow extra time for the airport run.
Parents driving down from Bangalore overnight often prefer to break the journey in the hills; a night at a Sakleshpur or Chikmagalur estate turns a long haul into a small holiday. You can book online with card or UPI, or ask the travel desk to put together the whole plan, including a return pickup at the end of term.
Practical tips
- Temple dress code. Traditional dress is expected at many coastal temples; men may be asked to remove shirts in some inner areas. Carry a dhoti or shawl.
- Timings. The Krishna Matha has specific darshan and puja times; the busiest periods are mornings and evenings.
- Parking. Parking near the Krishna Matha is limited; your chauffeur drops you close and waits in the designated area.
- Beach safety. Swim only where lifeguards are present and never during the monsoon.
- Humidity. Light cotton clothing, sunscreen and plenty of water.
- From Bangalore. For the long drive, see our outstation cabs service or the Bangalore taxi service page.
