Karkala Tourism (2024) - Karnataka > Top Places, Travel Guide

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Karkala is not very well linked by any mode of transport.Read More

Karkala Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1 day

Best Time: September to March Read More

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"The town of Black Stones"

Karkala Tourism

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. The town also serves as an important religious centre for Jains and Hindus and has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Changing hand of power several times, it was the Pandya Kings who ruled the town for more than 300 years. Today, the town of Karkala is immersed in a unique and rich culture of various folk arts such as Yakshagana, a night-long dance and drama performances. Deriving its name from the word 'Karikal' meaning 'black stone' owing to the abundance of black granite in the area, a trip to Karkala is bound to be an unforgettable experience.

Chaturmukha Basadi

Statue of Bahubali (Gomateshwara)

Ramasamudra Lake

Anekere Lake

Attur Church

Shri Anantha Shayana Temple

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Why You Should Visit Karkala

A history of the Jain rule can be seen in the past of Karkala. The most famous of all is the immensely tall statue of Lord Bahubali at Shravanbelagola. It was established by Chavundaraya and is fifty-seven feet tall. Karkala holds the celebration of Mahamastabhisheka of the statue of Lord Bahubali. This takes place every twelve years.

Karkala is a place of pilgrimage for persons of several religious followings. There also is a presence of ancient art and architecture that represents time dated back to that of the very ancient rulers. Padutirupathi Karkala and St. Lawrence Shrine are some of the very popular landmarks in Karkala. Karkala offers an amazing scenic view. There are also several lakes that can be visited during your stay in Karkala.

Restaurants and Local Food in Karkala

Karkala is a major Jain pilgrimage town, recently being increasingly flocked by tourists. You will find many restaurants there serving predominantly traditional Jain and Konkani/Malabari food. Being a pilgrimage, many eating joints serve vegetarian food only, however non-vegetarians need not be disappointed.
Some of the famous popular delicacies of the town are Potato Capsicum Upkari and Kulitha saaru with rice. Also do not forget to have tender coconut, with its cooling effect, a specialty of the place.
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Suggested Itinerary for Karkala

Day 1 - Start your day by going to see the statue of Lord Bahubali. Next pay a visit to the Yaksha, which is near to the statue. Post lunch, visit the St. Lawrence Church. You can enjoy your evening at the Ramasamudra Lake.
Day 2 - Visit the Veeramaruthi Temple and the Chaturmukha Basati. Go to the Matadha Kere in the evening.

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How to Reach Karkala

How to Reach Overview

Karkala is not very well linked by any mode of transport.

How to reach Karkala by flight

The closest airport to Karkala is situated in Mangalore and is at the distance of around 70 km. This is a domestic airport. The closest international airport is in Bangalore and is at the distance of 370 km from Karkala. You can hire a taxi from both these airports to reach Karkala.

How to reach Karkala by road

Karkala is a well-connected town to its neighbouring cities via a network of roads. Many private and government owned bus services ply to and fro between the Udupi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Mangalore and Karkala. If not restrained by budget taxi is also one of the options.

How to reach Karkala by train

The nearest railway station to Karkala town id Udupi station (29 km). You can find the direct trains from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Rajkot till Udupi. From there on, hire a taxi to reach Karkala.

Local transport in Karkala

There aren't many options in Karkala to commute from one place to another. Although, the city tends to have a good network of buses that connects almost whole town, you may want to hire a cab for your journey if time is your constraint.

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FAQs on Karkala

What is famous about Karkala?

You get to experience a vast heritage of culture and traditions.

What is not so good about Karkala?

May get a little crowded during festivals. Not very well connected.

Who should visit Karkala?

This is the ideal destination for those who wish to experience a truly spiritual and cultural vacation.

What is the best time to visit Karkala?

The best time to visit Karkala is during the cooler months from September to March. The temperatures from September to March remain cool and pleasant enough to help you explore the town to its best. However, if you are travelling during the month of February, you can witness two enthusiastic celebrations- Maha Shivratri and Mahamastakaabhiskeka, which is held once in every twelve years, last held in 2014.
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What is the local food in Karkala?

What is the best way to reach Karkala?

Karkala is not very well linked by any mode of transport.

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What are the things to do in Karkala?

The top things to do in Karkala are Chaturmukha Basadi, Statue of Bahubali (Gomateshwara), Ramasamudra Lake, Anekere Lake, Attur Church, Lord Ananthashayana. You can see all the places to visit in Karkala here

What are the places near Karkala?

The top places near to Karkala are Kudremukh which is 29 km from Karkala, Coorg which is located 119 km from Karkala, Udupi which is located 30 km from Karkala, Mangalore which is located 36 km from Karkala, Horanadu which is located 38 km from Karkala

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Karkala Reviews

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Muhammed Salih

6 years ago

A small temple town located around hills is home to many architectural wonders. The Bahubali statue is one of the main attractions here and Jains from all over India come for pilgrimage there. A walk (Read More) around Karkala will let you learn about temples, culture, and history of the town as most of them are at nearby distances.

Kumar Kislay

6 years ago

- While travelling during November or December, carry a jacket as temperature gets low.
- Make sure you carry a camera to capture the glorious past and beautiful architecture of the town.
- Car (Read More)ry proper trekking shoes while heading to Karkala as there is so much to explore in the city.

Nehad Zein

6 years ago

Karkala is a cozy little town tucked away amidst hills. The city features numerous treks and a lot of Jain temples, many of which are hundreds of years old. The town also features numerous statues, t (Read More)he biggest of which is the Bahubali statue. However, due to its secluded location, the town is a bit difficult to reach. The treks featured in and around the town are sure to make nature lovers very happy.

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