About Udupi Tourism
Sixty kilometers from Mangalore, is the temple
town of Udupi, famous for its Krishna temple
established in the 13th century by the great
Sanskrit philosopher, Madhavacharya. The
temple attracts pilgrims from all over India and
is also a centre for the Dvaita philosophy. Udipi
is also the district headquarters and is the third
-most important city of Karnataka, after
Bangalore and Mangalore. The economy is
based on agriculture and fishing, as well as
small scale industries such as food processing,
dairy and cashew production. It is also
developing into a hub for the software industry.
Udipi is synonymous with the world-famous
Udipi cuisine, which is served all over India in
the efficiently-run Udipi restaurants, famous for
dosas, idlis and other snacks. The tradition of
this cuisine started in the great kitchens of the
Krishna Temple which serve meals in the form
of prasada to the thousands of devotees
Sightseeing Highlights:
Sri Krishna Temple
This is Udipi's most famous attraction and
draws thousands of pilgrims, especially during
the Paraya festival in January. The great
composer Kanakadasa is believed to have seen
the Lord here and there is a window called
Kanakana Kindi commemorating this fact. The
Madhava Sarovar is the holy tank in which
devotees take a dip.
Sri Anathesvara Temple
This is another famous temple right in the
middle of the temple square and is dedicated to
Vishnu. It has intricate carvings in wood and
stone, especially in the alter.
Chandramauleshvara Temple
This temple is in the busy market area of
Temple Square. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva
and has a towering pyramidal roof.
Around Udipi:
Manipal, 3km away from Udipi, is the famous
educational centre with its well-known Medical
College. You can also visit a small museum
established by Vijayanath Shenoy and
displaying his private collection of artifacts.
Malpe is a port town 6 km from Udipi. It draws
many tourists for its beautiful natural
surroundings. There is a secluded beach at the
estuary of the Malpe River and the St. Mary's
Island, with stunning rock formations of basalt.
Brahmavar, 13 kms north of Udupi, draws
pilgrims to its three famous temples: the 9th
century Mahalinga temple, the Gopinatha
temple a fine example of Hoysala architecture,
and the Janardhana temple.
Shopping & Food:
Udipi has a bustling shopping area in Car Street
which is in the heart of town. You will find all
the branded shops, along with supermarkets and
malls here. Udupi is also a famous jewellery
making centre and you can shop here for
traditional designs. As mentioned earlier, Udipi
is the original destination for the famous
vegetarian South Indian cuisine and tiffin items,
now so popular all over India. Naturally you
have to eat the real stuff in the restaurants here.
A sit-down meal at the temple is a great
experience too.
Tourism info:
Regional Tourist Office
Krishna Building, Car Street, Udupi - 576 101
Phone: 91 8252 29718
Karnataka Tourism Information Centre
Triveni Lodge Building, Hampanakatta,
Mangalore
Phone: 91 824 442926
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