Scuba Diving

Kaup Beach, on the outskirts of Udupi, is one of Karnataka’s most beautiful beaches. It’s a white sand beach with a spectacular view of the Arabian Sea. Scuba diving in Kaup offers you the experience of a lifetime, with a wide range of marine life to be spotted.

This diving course is primarily aimed at those who are ready to dip their toes into the world of scuba diving for the first time. Whether you’re a natural swimmer or someone who’s a little jittery around water, our instructors make it their mission to elevate your skills and introduce you to the exhilarating experience of wading through the deep blue sea. Scuba diving in Kaup is only recommended for those who are reasonably fit and older than the age of 10.

For more details visit https://www.avathi.com/experience/scuba-diving-near-udupi/1094

Manipal Museum of Anatomy and Pathology (MAP)

For students, it is a wonderful learning aid and for visitors, MAP is a storehouse of knowledge. The specimens have been there for close to 40 years. The renovated museum with its new magnificent ambiance will be an added attraction for hundreds and thousands of visitors. Billed as one of the largest in Asia, the museum boasts of over 3,000 specimens and samples of things anatomical, including the skulls of an elephant and a whale, and the long skeleton of a King Cobra.

For more details visit https://manipal.edu/kmc-manipal/kmc-experience/manipal-museum-of-anatomy-and-pathology.html

Hastashilpa, Heritage Village Museum, Manipal

THE HERITAGE VILLAGE project was born out of an intense concern by Hasta Shilpa Trust of Manipal for the restoration, conservation, preservation, and promotion of centuries-old vernacular structures of architectural merit, aesthetic interest and craft importance, as well as for the preservation of traditional objects of art and craft, and elegant artefacts of yesteryear. The various physical properties like age-old furniture, metalware utensils, ritual objects and other household articles, as also royal heirlooms that were earlier put to use in these structures – all acquired by us from their original sources – have been displayed in their appropriate places in their respective buildings.

For more details visit https://www.karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/hasta-shilpa-kala-village/

Krishna Temple, Udupi

Udupi Sri Krishna Matha temple is dedicated to god Krishna located in the city of Udupi in Karnataka . Udupi is first among the seven places of pilgrimages. Thousands of pious devotees throng the Krishna temple all round the year to catch a glimpse of Lord Krishna. The unique feature of Shree Krishna temple Udupi is that the Lord is worshipped only through a window with nine holes called the Navagraha Kitiki. The window is exquisitely carved and silver – plated. It has been a tradition in this temple to worship the Lord only through this window. Surrounding the Sri Krishna Matha are several temples namely the Udupi Anantheshwara Temple which is over a 1,000 years old.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/udupi-sri-krishna-temple/

Jog Falls

The second-highest plunge waterfall of India, these magnificent falls are a major tourist attraction in Karnataka, the spellbinding view of which creates a truly memorable experience. Located on the border of Shimoga and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka, Jog waterfalls is the highest waterfall In the state and is regularly mistaken as the highest waterfalls of India. Also known as Gerosappa Falls or the Joga Falls, these falls are one of the most important attractions in all of South India. Second only to the Nohkalikai Falls of Meghalaya, Jog falls drops about a huge 253 m (850 ft.) in a single fall. However, due to the construction of Linganamakki Dam, the flow in the falls is hugely restricted before monsoons.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/jog-falls/

Agumbe

Agumbe is a small hill village with very limited visitor accommodation. It is located in Shimoga district, Thirthahalli taluk, Karnataka, India. It is sometimes called “The Cherrapunji of the South” in Northeast India. Agumbe is associated with rainforest conservation efforts, documentation of medicinal plants, tourism (trekking and photography), and promotion of cottage industry. Agumbe lies in a hilly, wet region of the Western Ghat mountains. This geography contributes to its scenery, suitability for trekking, leech infestation and motor vehicle accidents. In addition, there are a number of waterfalls in the locality (Barkana falls, Onake Abbi falls, Koodlu Theertha falls,Sunset point).

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/agumbe/

Kaup

Kaup is a town in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. Kaup’s long sandy beaches offer a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea. With its tropical climate and a bevy of attractions that beckon tourists from across the country, Kaup is predominantly known for its greenery that surrounds the beach.

Lighthouse: Kaup lighthouse was built in 1901. Kaup lighthouse is 27 meters tall. Constructed on a rock, the lighthouse has stood the test of time and has guided ships to safety during the days when ships did not have satellite navigation and relied on lighthouses on the shores for warnings. The beach also sports a shack and a bar with seating in the open sky. The best time to visit Kaup is either during sunrise or sunset. It gets too hot during the day. It’s better if one visits in the monsoons. Kapu light house is open to visitors from 4 PM to 6 PM daily. Visitors may go up the stairs and get a bird’s eye view of Kąpu beach.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/kapu-beach/

St. Mary’s Island

St. Mary’s Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka, India.The island reportedly got its name from Vasco Da Gama, who stopped by this island during his journey that discovered India. St Mary’s is a small island, with rocks on all sides. It is probably because of these rocks the island is intact even today, without letting the mighty ocean waters to erode the sands. Apart from the ocean waters and rocks, island has a few coconut trees, few shelters created by tourism department and couple of makeshift shops selling chips and cold drinks.

Malpe

Malpe is a natural port of about six kilometers to the west of Udupi, Karnataka, India. An important port and fishing harbor on the Karnataka coast. It is a suburb in Udupi city. Malpe is a hub of Mogaveera population. Tulu, Kannada and Konkani are spoken here. It is the first Indian beach with Free Wi-Fi for 30 minutes per phone. The place of interest in Malpe is the scenic beach, which is popular among both locals and tourists. St. Mary’s Islands is also a tourist destination.

Sea walk Malpe: A small stretch of walkway formed over rocks placed to facilitate entry and exit of boats into Malpe Harbor.

Water sports: Water sports at the beach includes parasailing and banana boat rides but subject to favourable weather and operator discretion.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/malpe-beach/

Coorg

Coorg is the place to be for all nature lovers. Coorg, officially known as Kodagu, is an alluring hill station in Karnataka. It is blessed with mesmerizing waterfalls, towering hills, scenic views, and sprawling coffee plantations. Besides natural beauty, the region is also a renowned cultural hub. Coorg is home to Bylakuppe, India’s second-largest Tibetan settlement. With so much to explore and experience, Coorg is a must-visit destination in Karnataka.

Madikeri is the region’s centre point with all transportation for getting around starting from here.

For more details visit https://www.karnatakatourism.org/explore-coorg/

Hampi

Hampi (Hampe) is a village and temple town, is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this historic town is also the “World’s Largest Open-air Museum” and covers an area of nearly 29 sq km. Set in an awesome boulder-strewn landscape along the banks of the Tungabhadra River, Hampi was the capital city of the magnificent capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire. Founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336, it fell to the Muslim rulers of the Deccan in 1565, and the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned. It was one of the richest and largest cities in the world during its prime. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, Hampi continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple and several other monuments belonging to the old city. According to statistics of 2014, Hampi is the most searched historical place in Karnataka on Google.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/hampi/

St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur-Karkala

St. Lawrence Shrine Basilica or Attur Basilica is a Roman Catholic church in Karkala, India. It was built in 1759 and is purported to be the site of many miracles. St.Lawrence is known as the miracle worker among His devotees worldwide. Attur Church is situated on the outskirts of Karkala in the Karnataka state of India. It is situated 58 km from Mangalore. It is located with the western ghats on the East side, the blue and purple sky above dotted with small jungles.

The Attur Festival celebrated in January is major festival of the church which attracts several thousand devotees.

For more details visit https://www.stlawrenceattur.org/

Hornadu

Horanadu is a quaint little village boasting of pristine nature in and around. The area is covered in thick vegetation and gives it a beautiful setting. The town of Horanadu being agriculture centric, is rich in tea, coffee and spice plantations.

It is most famous for the Goddess Annapoorneeshwari Temple. Sri Kshetra Horanadu is home to the goddess Annapoorneshwari. The prathistapana of the deity was done by his holiness Agasthya Maharishi several centuries ago. However, the main deity of the goddess Annapoorneshwari was put in place in 1973 by Adi Shankaracharya. The divine deity Annapoorneshwari statue in gold fascinates devotees though out the year.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/horanadu-sri-annapoorneshwari-devi/

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Sringeri Sharada Peetham

Sringeri Sharada Peetham was established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. It is set against the backdrop of the beautiful Malnad hills, on the banks of the Tunga River. This place is named after the great Rishi Rishyashringa. This matha is one of the Advaita centers of authority. It holds authority over the Yajur Veda, especially Krishna Yajur Veda among Smarthas, i.e., followers of the Advaita School.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/sringeri/

Karkala

Karkala is a quaint town in the Udupi district of Karnataka. With great historical significance, it is blessed with several ancient temples and Jain Basadis. Deriving its name from the word ‘Karikal’ meaning ‘black stone’ it has an abundance of black granite in the area.

Karkala is a famous pilgrim centre for Jains. There are about 18 Jain temples (basadis) found here. Few Jain temples built here are Chaturmukha Thirthankara Basadi, Hiriyangaddi Neminatha Basadi and Anekere Padmavathi. Some of the more famous structures found here include the large statue of Bahubali. Set in the rocky hills of the town, the statue is 42 feet high and is the second tallest such structure in Karnataka. The Brahmadeva Pillar in front of the statute is also remarkable

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/chaturmukha-basadi/

Linganmakki Dam

Linganamakki Dam, one of the major dams of Karnataka is located at a distance of 6 Km from Jog Falls near Kargal town in Sagar Taluk. The Linganamakki dam was constructed in the year 1964 by Karnataka State Government. Stretching over the Sharavathi River, it is at a distance of 6 km from the world-famous Jog Falls.

The scenery here is exhilarating with magnificent views of forested islands and hills covered in dense foliage. It has resulted in beautiful backwaters, dotted with myriad islands. The islands are rich in biodiversity, and it is a lot of fun hopping from one to another on a kayak.

Mysore

A city in India’s southwestern Karnataka state, was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947. In its center is opulent Mysore Palace, seat of the former ruling Wodeyar dynasty. The palace blends Hindu, Islamic, Gothic and Rajput styles. Mysore is also home to the centuries- old Devaraja Market, filled with spices, silk and sandalwood.

For more details visit https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/mysuru/

Shravanabelagola

The Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola is one of the most important tirthas (pilgrimage destinations) in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Western Ganga dynasty of Talakad. Shravanabelagola has two hills, Chandragiri and Vindhyagiri. Acharya Bhadrabahu and his pupil Chandragupta Maurya are believed to have meditated there. The 58-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshwara is located on Vindyagiri.

Mangalore

Mangalore (or Mangaluru) is an Arabian Sea port and a major commercial center in the Indian state of Karnataka. It’s home to the Kadri Manjunath Temple, known for its bronze statues, and the 9th-century Mangaladevi Temple. Its Catholic sites include Milagres Church, dating to the 17th century, and St. Aloysius Chapel, which features interior paintings. Tannirbhavi Beach is popular for its sunset views.

Hanging Bridge

The hanging bridge which connects Kemthur to its brother village Manipura is 35 years old and built over the river Swarna, which is 25 feet deep. The bridge is the main attraction for tourists, a walk across the bridge offers breathtaking views of the lush green forest, the swarna and paddy fields. The village is also home to many migratory birds, which offers a treat to bird watching enthusiasts and photographers.

Murudeshwara

Murdeshwara is a town in Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India. This magnificent shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple boasts of the second highest statue of Lord Shiva in the world, and the sheer magnanimity of the statue will fill you with a sense of awe. This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. The Shiva statue here is quite an impressive one and will surely leave you with a humble sense of tranquillity. This magnificent statue is a perfect tribute to a God who is held in high reverence in lands far and wide.

Kudremukha

Kuduremukha is a mountain range and name of a peak located in Chikkamagaluru district, in Karnataka, India. It is also the name of a small hill station cum mining town situated near the mountain, about 48 kilometres from Karkala and around 20 kilometres from Kalasa. The name Kuduremukha literally means ‘horse-face’ (Kannada) and refers to a particular picturesque view of a side of the mountain that resembles a horse’s face. At Kudremukha, the government provides shelter which includes tents and cottages. It is advisable to reserve well in advance before visiting the town. In recent times, some people have opened home stays and guest houses. There are about 13 trekking routes in Kudremukha ranging from easy to tough.

Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay is a beach resort. A short distance away from the resort, on the Highway, lies a beautiful stretch of road with the sea on one side and backwaters on the other. This stretch measures a few kilometres and is a rare sight. The scenic beauty of the Arabian Sea, the calm backwaters of the River Sowparnika, breathtaking nature walks, treks along the scenic coast, clean water for snorkelling, scuba diving and swimming – that about sums up what Turtle Bay is all about! Turtle Bay Beach Resort offers you the luxury of lounging on pristine golden sands, amidst swaying coconut palms. The resort gets its name from the sea turtles that inhabit the beach during the nesting season from October to December every year.

Yana

Yana is a village located in forests of the Kumta, Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India which is known for the unusual karst rock formations. It is located in the Sahyadri mountain range of the Western Ghats. The two unique rock outcrops near the village are a tourist attraction and easily approachable by a small trek through 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) of thick forests from the nearest road head.

Gokarna

Gokarna is a small temple town on the western coast of India in the Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district of the state of Karnataka. The main temple and deity is Lord Shiva, who is also known as Mahabaleshwara. This temple houses what is believed to be original image of Lord Shiva’s linga. The drive up the winding path that leads to Gokarna is scenic, with the rocky mountains and Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. Gokarna is known for the beaches. The Gokarna main beach in town and Kudle beach are west facing. Om beach, Half moon Beach, Paradise Beach (also known as Full moon) and Belekan beach are south facing.