Udupi

At a distance of 65 km from Mangalore, 102 km from Murudeshwar, 147 km from Shimoga, 309 km from Mysore and 403 km from Bangalore, Udupi is a famous temple town and headquarters of the Udupi District. It is also the source of Udupi cuisine which is famous across the world. It is also one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Karnataka, mainly for it's pilgrimage importance and beautiful beaches.

The name of this city was originated from Odipu. According to local legend, the 27 stars of the Hindu astrology were married to the Moon and soon after, the Moon lost its luster. As Lord Shiva is the last resort for everyone, the Moon and the stars created a Lingam and offered puja. Udu means Lord and Pa means Stars in Sanskrit.

Udupi is the land of breathtaking beauty, located between the verdant mountains of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Udupi is famous for Sri Krishna Temple. The Udupi Krishna Math was established in the 13th century by the great philosopher, Madhavacharya. The temple attracts pilgrims from all over India and is also a center for the Dvaita philosophy. This temple has a fascinating idol of Lord Krishna that is richly adorned with jewels. Famous Hindu saints such as Chaitanya, Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa visited this temple for the darshan of Lord Krishna. Another attraction of Sri Krishna Temple is the Kanakana Kindi, a small window through which Lord Krishna is believed to have given darshan to his devotee, Kanakadasa.

There is also another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, believed to be more than 1000 years old, located near Yellur. Udupi is also famous for the wonderful beaches including Malpe Beach, Kaup Beach & St. Mary's Island. Being part of the Tulu Nadu, Tulu is the main language spoken in this region

Udupi is synonymous with the world-famous Udupi cuisine, which is served all over India in the efficiently-run Udupi 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 who come to pray at the holy shrine.

The most popular festivals include the Paryaya festival held every alternate year; the last being held in 2014. The festival is organized on January 18 and attracts large number of devotees. The roads are flooded with chariots with processions that display cultural shows such as folk dances and religious hymns. Holi, Ramanavami, Rathasaptami, Krishna Janmastami, Dusshera and Diwali are the other festivals that are celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Mangalore Airport is the nearest airport, which is 62 km from Udupi. Udupi Railway Station is well connected by trains to cities like Trivandrum, Bangalore, Mangalore, kochi, Bikaner, Madgoan, Mumbai, Tirunelveli, New Delhi and Goa. Buses regularly ply from Udupi to major cities like Bangalore, Mangalore, Goa, Shimoga, Mysore, Karwar, Pune and Mumbai.

The best time to visit Udupi is from October to March while the peak Season is from November to February. Usually it takes 2 days to visit places in and around Udupi.