Udupi
Krishna's Temple Town & the Home of the Dosa
Overview
Udupi is a temple town on coastal Karnataka best known for the Sri Krishna Matha, a 13th-century monastery-temple founded by the Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya, where the Krishna idol is traditionally viewed through a silver-plated window called the Kanakana Kindi. The town's eight mathas run the temple in turn, marked by the biennial Paryaya festival, and Udupi is also the cradle of the celebrated vegetarian 'Udupi' restaurant tradition. Nearby lie Malpe Beach and the basalt columns of St. Mary's Islands. MyTripMyTravel bases guests here for temple ritual, coastal excursions, and the region's renowned vegetarian cuisine.
Udupi punches far above its size. This coastal Karnataka town is the seat of one of Hinduism's great philosophical schools, the Dvaita or dualist tradition of the 13th-century saint Madhvacharya, and the Sri Krishna Matha he founded remains its beating heart, an intensely active temple where ritual runs from before dawn to late at night.
The temple has its own famous story. The Krishna idol faces west and is traditionally worshipped through a small silver-plated window, the Kanakana Kindi, said to have opened so that the devotee-poet Kanakadasa could see the deity. Eight monasteries, the Ashta Mathas, administer the temple in rotation, and every two years the grand Paryaya festival marks the ceremonial handover between them.
Udupi's second fame is culinary: it gave India the archetypal vegetarian 'Udupi' restaurant and refined the dosa and its accompaniments to an art. Just west lie Malpe's fishing harbour and beach and, offshore, the extraordinary columnar basalt of St. Mary's Islands. MyTripMyTravel bases guests here for the temple's living ritual, the coast, and the food, with an easy chauffeured link up and down the Konkan shore.
At a glance
Udupi in brief
When to visit
October to February
October to February brings the most pleasant coastal weather, warm, dry days ideal for temple visits and the beach. March to May is hot and humid. The southwest monsoon (June to September) is heavy on this shore, with a rough sea that limits the St. Mary's Islands boat crossing, though the temple ritual continues year-round and the Paryaya festival, held in January of odd years, is a spectacular time to visit.
Things to do
Experiences in Udupi
Sri Krishna Matha
The living 13th-century temple founded by Madhvacharya, where Krishna is viewed through the silver Kanakana Kindi window.
Chandramauleshwara & Ananteshwara temples
The ancient Shiva and Vishnu temples flanking the Krishna Matha, older than the matha itself.
Malpe Beach & harbour
A broad beach and busy fishing port a short drive west, the launch point for the island boats.
St. Mary's Islands
A boat trip to the offshore islands famous for their hexagonal columnar basalt, a National Geological Monument.
Udupi food trail
An escorted tasting of the town's celebrated vegetarian cooking, masala dosa, idli, and filter coffee at its source.
Manipal heritage village
The Hasta Shilpa heritage village of restored coastal houses in adjacent Manipal, an open-air museum of the region's architecture.
Getting there
How to reach Udupi
Mangalore (IXE), about 60 km south, is the nearest airport, with domestic and Gulf connections; our fleet meets guests on arrival.
Udupi station on the Konkan Railway links the town north and south along the coast; we handle transfers.
Along the coastal NH-66, roughly 1.5 hours from Mangalore or a longer coastal run from Gokarna.
Our orthopedic-grade fleet covers the town, the coast at Malpe, and the Konkan approaches with GPS telemetry and comfort stops.
Where to stay
Full-service resorts toward Malpe and the shore, with pools and beach access a short drive from the temple.
Well-run hotels close to the Krishna Matha for early-morning ritual and the old-town food trail.
Smaller character properties around Udupi and Manipal for a quieter, more local base.
Where to eat
The definitive crisp dosa with coconut chutney and sambar, and strong filter coffee, in the tradition Udupi gave India.
The vegetarian meals served at and around the Krishna Matha, a core part of the town's ritual life.
Fresh coastal catch by the harbour for those wanting the region's non-vegetarian fish cooking alongside the temple-town veg.
Good to know
Udupi, your questions
How many days do I need in Udupi?
One to two nights covers it well, the Krishna Matha and old-town temples and food on one day, with a second for Malpe Beach and the St. Mary's Islands boat trip.
What is the Kanakana Kindi?
It is the small silver-plated window through which Krishna is traditionally worshipped at the Sri Krishna Matha, tied to the legend of the devotee-poet Kanakadasa.
Is Udupi really the home of the dosa?
Udupi's temple-linked vegetarian kitchens and the 'Udupi restaurant' tradition are central to the fame of the dosa and South Indian vegetarian food; we arrange a guided tasting at its source.
Can I visit St. Mary's Islands?
Yes, by boat from Malpe in the dry season. The islands are known for their striking columnar basalt. Crossings are suspended in the rough monsoon sea, so we time visits to calmer months.
When is the Paryaya festival?
Paryaya, the biennial ceremonial handover of the temple's administration between the eight mathas, falls in January of odd-numbered years and is a grand time to visit.
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