Located 12 km north of Kundapur, Trasi is mainly known for its beautiful beach, a beach resort and Turtle bay. The beach is one kilometer long and serves as a picnic spot.
Distance from Kundapura: 16 km
One of the seven sacred places established by Lord Parshuram and an important religious hub, Shankaranarayana Temple attracts a large number of devotees. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, a naturally formed Udbhava Linga is found in the temple as a presiding deity which is believed to be a confluence of Lord Narayana and Lord Shiva.
Distance from Kundapura: 26 km
Once again dedicated to Lord Ganesha, this ancient temple is lying close to the base of huge granite rock resembling an elephant in sleeping form. The idol of presiding deity Lord Ganesha is in sitting position. Two very important rituals are performed here namely Ayurkoda Abhisheka and Akki Kadubu Seve. The first ritual involves bathing the idol with thousand pots of water while according to the second one dish is prepared using 480 kg of rice and 240 kg of pulses.
Distance from Kundapura: 20 km
Considered to be one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in South India, the Krishna Temple or the Udupi Sri Krishna Matha is quite a huge name associated with the worship of Lord Krishna. The fascinating idol of the Lord is adorned with jewels and a golden chariot. What makes the temple unique, is its worshipping pattern. The prayers and process of the whole worship take place only through a silver-plated window with nine holes called the Navagraha Kitiki. Several temples known as Udupi Anantheshwara Temple surround the Shree Krishna Matha. These temples trace back to 1,000 years. The Krishna Temple is always seen to be crowded with Krishna Bhakts.
Distance from Kundapura: 41 km
On the top of the list of exquisite unexplored beaches in India is the Malpe beach, is located at a distance of 66 kilometres from Mangalore and 6 kilometres from Udupi in Karnataka. This scenic beach is as popular amongst locals and foreigners alike. The clean white sand and pleasant weather make the Malpe Beach an ideal spot to indulge in a variety of water sports. The never-ending seashore of this hidden gemstone of Karnataka has four rocky islands. The northern-most island is the Daria-Bahadurgad, the middle one is the Daria-Gadara-Kallu, while the southernmost island is the Kari-Illada-Kallu.
Distance from Kundapura: 39 km
The land where Vasco De Gama set his first foot, the land whose geological importance is immense and whose beauty is spectacular, is St. Mary's Island, Karnataka. A quaint island just off the coast of Udupi, St. Mary's Island is an island of white sand beaches, rock monoliths and great wildlife making it a mesmerizing place to be in. Located just 4 miles off the coast of Karnataka in the Arabian Sea, St. Mary's Island is a geological treasure and hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. It is a group of four individual islands namely Coconut Island, North Island, South Island and Daryabahadurgarh Island.
Distance from Kundapura: 45 km
Known For : Kudremukh Trek Kudremukh National Park Hanuman Gundi Falls
With the promise of a picturesque view of a mountain in the shape of a horse face, Kudremukh is famous for its biodiversity and scenic beauty. A popular hill-station among the Bangalore crowd, Kudremukh is actually a hill range in the Chikmagalurdistrict of Karnataka. With its rolling meadows, grasslands and dense forests, this place is a bio-diversity hotspot.
Best Time: October to May
Located in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, Agumbe is a tiny village often referred to as the "Cherrapunji of South India". This biodiversity-rich region highest rainfall in south India and the second highest annual rainfall in India. Visiting Agumbe is an enriching experience as this hill station and picturesque beauty coupled with trekking trails and gushing rainfalls. It is one of the last surviving lowland rainforests. This beautiful place served as the setting for India's very famous fictional town Malgudi in the TV serial Malgudi Days.
Distance from Kundapura: 67 km
Known For : Kukke Subramanya Temple Sringeri Mutt Kumara Parvatha Trek
Known for the Subramanya temple with Subramanya, lord of all serpents as the deity, Kukke Subramanya is a village with beautiful landscapes all around. Placed on the banks of the river Kumaradhara, this village is a pleasant mix of natural beauty and religious sanctity. Its unparalleled and abundant natural endowment makes it a popular tourist destination. It is mostly well known for its religious attractions, with a quite a few temples in the area. It is also a tourist spot owing to the lush green forests, rivers and the mountains that surround these temples.
Distance from Kundapura: 191 km
Best Time: July to March
Known For : Murudeshwar Temple Netrani Island Murudeshwar Beach
Murudeshwar is home to the second tallest statue of Lord Shiva (123 ft) in the world. With the shimmering Arabian Sea on three sides and the magnificent Western Ghats imposing their presence on this town, it is a favourite picnic spot for the folks from Kerala and Karnataka. The beaches and the adventure activities around Netrani island are significant attractions for the tourists. Murudeshwar temple and fort are also the most visited spots, captivating one with their rustic charm and beauty.
Distance from Kundapura: 66 km
Best Time: October to May
Known For : Annapoorneshwari Temple Kalaseshwara Temple
Known for the revered Annapoorneeshwari Temple, Horanadu is a holy town located in Malnad, Karnataka. Carpeted with green paddy fields and accompanied by a hilly backdrop, this region lies at an altitude of 2726 feet. With pristine natural beauty, Horanadu is also famous for its extensive collection of dry fruits, namely cashew nuts and almonds.
The town of Horanadu being agriculture centric is rich in tea, coffee and spice plantations. One can purchase these in bulk at much cheaper rates than those found in cities.
Distance from Kundapura: 156 km
Best Time: Throughout the year
Known For : Baba Budangiri Mullayanagiri Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
Famously known as the ‘Coffee Land of Karnataka’, Chikmagalur is situated in the foothills of the Mullayangiri Range in Karnataka and stands at an altitude of 3400 feet. If you love the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the mornings, you are going to love Chikmagalur, which has a perpetual fragrance of coffee lingering in the air. Famous for its tall mountains, lush green forests and its tranquil environment (apart from its coffee production), Chikmagalur is a very popular tourist destination and is a quaint getaway from the busy life of the city.
Distance from Kundapura: 173 km
Best Time: Throughout the year
Padukone village is a small village which is located in the Udupi district of Karnataka. The village is beautiful and is surrounded on all sides by Bhatkal Taluk in the north region, Udupi Taluk in the south part, Hosanagara Taluk in the East region and Sagar Taluk in the West region. Since the village is situated near the Arabian Sea, the climate of the village is humid many a times. The residents of the village speak the local language Tulu.
Distance from Kundapura: 18 km
Kodachadri Hills serve as a stunning backdrop of evergreen forests to the town of Maravanthe. Located in the Western Ghats at a height of 4411 feet above the sea level, they also proves to be one of the good trekking trails, beginning at the South Kanara Forest. Beginners or trekking newbies can easily undertake this trek. Since most of the expedition covers a forest landscape amidst low altitudes, chances of altitude sickness are low as well. The total distance is 14 kilometres to and fro.
Distance from Kundapura: 74 km
Known For : Belur Hoysaleswara Temple Yagachi Dam
Halebid (or Halebidu) is a city located in the Hassan district of Karnataka state. Formerly known as Dwarasamudra, Halebid is a city with adorned with a beautiful collection of temples, shrines and sculptures. It is also known as the Gem of Indian architecture owing to its sterling Hoysala architecture, its magnificent temple complexes and some stunning Jain sites. Once the majestic capital of the Hoysala empire, the city is in ruins now.
Distance from Kundapura: 203 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Dharmasthala Temple Bahubali Statue Netravathi River Barrage
Popularly known as the Land of Charity, Dharmasthala is a beautiful temple town with a blend of heritage, culture and religion. Situated on the banks of Nethravathi river in Karnataka, it's popularly known as a pilgrim site for the Shaiva, Vaishnava and Jaina communities. Dharmasthala Temple is a major tourist attraction which hosts 'Lakshadeepa' - a festival of lights that takes place in November - December. Another prime attraction here is the Bahubali statue, carved out of a single stone and 39 ft high.
Distance from Kundapura: 142 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Shringeri Shree Sharadambe Devi Temple Kigga Annapoorneshwari Temple
Commonly known as Sri Kshetra Shringeri, Sringeri is a famed hill town nestled in the Chikkamagaluru District of Karnataka. It is a pilgrimage centre, mainly known for the Sharada Peetham which was built by the great Adi Shankara around the 9th century. According to experts, Adi Shankaracharya stayed here for 12 years and preached his disciples. Packed with numerous temples and ancient relics, Sringeri is a hub for Vedic learning and attract students from different parts of India.
Distance from Kundapura: 90 km
Best Time: Throughout the year
Known For : Kurumgad Island Sadashivgad Fort Devbagh Beach
Karwar is a port city with scenic beaches surrounded by casuarinas trees along the Arabian sea coastline. Located 15kms away from Goa, on the west coast of Indian Peninsula, It is both a natural harbour as well as a historic town since the 15th century. Karwar is a multicultural destination with Konkani, Kannada and Marathi speaking communities. It is also famous for the historic monuments that it houses as well as the rich flora and fauna in the region.
Distance from Kundapura: 180 km
Best Time: November to April