Udupi: A Refreshing Getaway!

Udupi district, which lies beside the Arabian sea, a place that strikes a harmonious balance between industrial and natural beauty is often the place preferred by nature lovers. As a resident of this town since the age of five, I can testify the obvious truth behind these words.

Breezy blue beaches, grooves of green coconut trees, tasty, savoury, mouth watering cuisine, abode of various Gods- the 'temple town' of Udupi is a perfect getaway for a vacation. Situated in the coastal region of Karnataka, within the enclosure of the Western Ghats, this tiny little district is also known for the popular, quality educational institutions it houses.

Here are a few interesting places one can visit when in Udupi:

• Malpe beach:

Malpe beach is a prominent tourist spot in Udupi that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Located nearly 6 kilometres west from the city, it is a natural port that also has the eminence of sporting the first 24/7 wi-fi facility in the country. The beach offers a multitude of fun activities like parasailing , jet skiing, etc. Although it gets crowded during vacations, it is most definitely a must visit spot recommended by the locals.

• Krishna Mutt:

Udupi is renowned as being one of the holy places for pilgrimage in South India. There is absolutely no way that someone who visits the city has never heard of the famous Krishna temple! As mentioned earlier, Udupi is often referred to as "temple town" for this very reason.

The temple is surrounded by a car street which is lined with varieties of shops selling an assorted range of knick knacks and what not. In the evenings, one can find people munching on mouth-watering street snacks at various food hubs surrounding the car street.

The Udupi Krishna temple has a rich history to it and is surrounded by eight different muttas, each of which has the responsibility to administer the temple, once in every two years. The head seer of each mutta hands over the authority to the next one in succession and this occasion is celebrated joyously by all the townsfolk through a grand local feast called the paryaya. The temple is also well known for serving the tasty 'Udupi style' saatvik food to its devotees which has proclaimed world wide reputation for its taste.

• Kaup beach:

The Kaup beach is known for its famous light-house that rests on top of a giant boulder at the shore of the beach. The light house is said to have been built in 1901, to warn sailors of the many rock boulders at the shore, and is nearly 27.12 meters above its base. It provides a magnificent, panoramic view of the skyline and is available for visit between 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The beach is situated 15 kilometres from the heart of the city and is accessible through road via public transportation. The light house provides a breath taking view and the shore is very pretty at sun set which makes Kaup great travel destination!

• Barkur temples:

The taluk of Barkur is situated 16 kilometres from Udupi and is a cluster of three villages- Hosala, Hanehalli and Kachoor. It is said that the city of Barkur was the capital of the ancient Alupa kingdom and this information has been backed by many scriptures uncovered in the place. The most popular shrine is the kattale basadi which contains three main structures inside a courtyard that houses statues of religious origins which sadly display evidences of destruction.

Recently, the department of tourism held an event called 'alupotsava' whose major feature was the 'heritage walk', in and around various monuments in Barkur. There were several archaeological discoveries that took place prior to this event which revealed lost monuments and all of it was on full display during this cultural event. If you are a fan of historical monuments and wish to learn about regional folklores, then Barkur will leave you very satisfied!

• Maravanthe beach:

The Maravanthe beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Karnataka. Located nearly 35 miles from udupi, this beach creates a spectacular view. The shore is sided by the national highway alongside which runs the river sowparnika. One can admire this amazing contrast whilst riding down the highway uninterrupted, as the shoreline is only a 100 meters away from the highway!

• St. Mary's island:

St. Mary's island or tonsepar as it is called locally, is a small group of islands located off the coast of Malpe. It is believed to have derived its name from when Vasco da Gama visited the island in 1498 after which he went to Kohzikode in Kerala. This island is very interesting from a geological point of view, as it is believed to have evolved from sub volcanic activity. One can visit this tiny little island by catching a ferry from the malpe port, travelling for a duration of about half hour. Decorated with beautifully shaped columnar rocks, white sandy shore and plaited with coconut trees, this little paradise is a must visit if you're in Udupi!

• Varanga:

If culture, heritage, and religious monuments spike your travel interests, then this tiny Jain temple is the right place for you! The varanga Jain basadi is a sanctum sanctorum that is situated amidst a vast lake, in the village of Varanga, Karkala taluk. The shrine embodies four statues consisting of jain spiritual leaders and local deities, in four different directions. One can get to this temple at the centre of the lake via a boat. The idols are worshipped by a priest who lives nearby. Lush greenery, beautiful lotus pods, refreshing waters; the temple is surrounded by a pleasant scenery that is very calming.

These are only a few of the many things that Udupi is famous for. If you are someone who wants to spend a decent vacation alongside greenery and serene, gentle blue beaches, you should just go ahead and add Udupi to your bucket list. There is no doubt in saying that once you visit Udupi, the experience will leave you wanting for more!