Udupi

Understand

History

Politically, Udupi had an uneventful history. It was ruled by various feudatories of the Mysore kings till it was taken over by the British, who then made it part of the administrative district of Kanara, which was then divided into South and North Kanara. Udupi was part of the former. After independence, South Kanara became Dakshina Kannada, and in 1998, Udupi district was hived off from Dakshina Kannada. Its claim to fame is as a religious and spiritual centre. Udupi is the headquarters of the Maadhva sect of Hinduism. This sect was established by the sage Madhvacharya in the 13th century. He propounded the Dvaita philosophy, which is commonly translated as dualism, rivaling the older Advaita (non-dualism) philosophy propounded by Sankaracharya, Maadhvas are Vaishnavites, worshippers of Vishnu, of whose many incarnations Krishna is one. The Krishna temple Madhvacharya worshipped at is the heart of the city, and a major pilgrimage destination. Udupi had a nascent career as a financial hub till the 1960s, with many banks being established here, but most of them got nationalized. Manipal, a suburb of Udupi city, is an important educational and medical centre owing to the efforts of T M A Pai in the 1960s.

Climate

The weather is fairly equable throughout the year, due to the nearby Arabian sea. Temperature ranges from 30 to 35 °C in day time and is around 25 °C at night. Humidity is normally high most of the time. The rainy season is from June to September. At this time the monsoon shows its colours. Within seconds, you could find yourself soaked in rain water. The best time to visit is October to March, when the weather is cool. April and May will be hot and June to September will be wet, so if you are visiting during this time, you will spend most of your time indoors. But then, April and May is when you get the ripe mangoes, and June to September is when the rains make the area green and beautiful, so life isn't fair.

Tourist informatio

Getting there

Udupi is well-connected with the cities on India's west coast. NH-66 (formerly NH-17) runs right through Udupi, connecting it to Mumbai and Goa to the North and Mangalore and Kochi to the South. Konkan Railway connects Udupi to the same cities. The city is around 406 km from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. Rail connectivity with Bangalore is good, but travelling by road is a good option, as you are exposed to the beauty of the nature. The road journey through Agumbe ghats is really mesmerizing.

By plane Mangalore International Airport (IXE IATA) is 59 km from Udupi. The airport is well-connected with major Indian cities and a few Middle-eastern destinations. Pre-paid taxis (non air-conditioned) can be booked from the counter inside the arrival terminal. They take approximately 1½ hours to reach. Goa's Dabolim airport (GOI IATA) is around 300 km from Udupi. Getting in via Goa is not the most practical or convenient way to get to Udupi, but if you are planning to combine a vacation in Goa, this is a good option.

By train 1 Udupi railway station (UD). Udupi is a major station on the Konkan railway route. There are connections with Mumbai, Bangalore and Mangalore. Major trains including Rajdhani Express stop at Udupi Railway Station. A night train is available from Mangalore to Bangalore, known as the Mangalore-Bangalore express. Yeshwantpur-Karwar express is another train which connects Bangalore to Udupi and runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Starting 2021, Vistadome Express which has one coach with 40 rotating chairs with live size windows has been running through Udupi. Vistadome allows one to enjoy the scenic beauty of Western Ghats. (updated Feb 2026)

By car Udupi is located right on National Highway NH-66 (formerly NH-17) connecting Kochi with Mumbai. See Karavali#Get in about the lowdown on this route. This connects Udupi with Kerala, Coastal Karnataka (including Mangalore), Goa, and the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Drive in on your own only

Getting around

Buses, cabs and auto-rickshaws are ways to get around the city. Udupi has excellent city bus services run by various private companies. Buses generally start and end at the main bus stand. There are bus stops throughout the city. Ask around. Tickets can be bought once you board or from the conductor just before boarding. Rates start from ₹5 per 2 km.

By taxi Hired cabs are available, though they can't be hailed off the street. They are unmetered, but as a general guide, ₹15 per kilometre for a non-air-conditioned compact car for short distances is a good starting point.

By autorickshaw Autorickshaws can be found on the street, and are generally a cheap mode to travel. For autos, fares start at ₹25 for the first 1.5 km and go up by ₹16 every kilometer after that. This is assuming that they agree to go by the meter, which they generally do not. Nonetheless, this is a good guide to estimate the rate you should agree to.

On foot Walking around the city when the weather is good is a nice experience. There aren't any footpaths, though, so you will have to share the side of the road with autos and bikes.

See

Udupi has some nice beaches, lush greenery, the quaint charm of a small town and many temples. Many of the places to visit are not very well known to many people outside of Udupi. If you are an adventurous person who loves nature, there is a lot to explore in Udupi.

Krishna temple complex

The heart of Udupi is undoubtedly the Krishna temple complex. It comprises of, in addition to the main temple, two other historic temples - Anantheshwara and Chandramouleshwara, all connected by the Ratha beedi or "chariot street", so called because on festive occasions such as the "Paryaya", the deity is taken in procession in temple chariots. The chariots themselves are usually stationed at Ratha beedi. In addition to propounding a philosophy and performing miracles, Madhvacharya also established a monastic order with eight main monasteries (or "mutts"). All around the Ratha beedi are the eight mutts (ashtamathas). 20th century additions to the area are the Gita Mandira and the Rajangana, where cultural programmes and discourses held, a short walk away. The Ratha Beedi is also a shopping street.

1 Sri Krishna Temple and Mutt, Ratha Beedi (Chariot Street), ☏ +91 820-252 0598. 5AM-9:30PM. A complex of temples and monasteries located near the Madhva Sarovara, or Madhvacharya's pond. The main temple is constructed in the architectural style typical in Kerala and Dakshina Kannada, with multiple layers around the inner sanctum sanctorum, with no massive sikhara over it as is found elsewhere in South India. There are shrines to subordinate deities including Garuda and Hanuman. On special occasions, the temple area is beautifully decorated with flowers and lamps. Offerings can be made and "prasadam" can be bought inside. The temple offers free lunch to everyone at three dining halls, or Bhojana Shaalas. Free. (updated Aug 2018) 2 Kanakana Kindi (Kana