Manipal, Udupi (2023)| University, Attractions, How to Reach

Manipal, Udupi Overview

Well known for the Manipal University, this town is home to multiple educational institutions founded by Dr T M A Pai. It is located in the Malabar coast region with the Arabian Sea at a touching distance of 8km. Apart from the Manipal University campus, this place also houses the international headquarters of Syndicate bank and a regional IT hub.

Manipal was a sleepy coastal town that was not very famous before 1950. It was once a part of the Shivalli village panchayat. However, all that changed when the town was selected by Dr Tonse Madhava Anantha Pai as the location to set up an institution for imparting medical education. With the establishment of India's first private medical college, Kasturba Medical College, in Manipal in the year 1953 this sleepy town started getting attention and within a few years, it became one of the most well-known places in Karnataka.

Manipal University

Manipal University is easily the most famous attraction here and cannot be missed. It has drawn the attention of the academic world to this quaint little town. The University campus covers over 313 acres, with 20 constituent institutions, and houses over 25,000 students from more than 50 nationalities making it a cultural melting pot.

Main Attractions in Manipal

The main commercial establishment in the city is known as Tiger Circle, often abbreviated to TC. It is also a major hub for transport services. Manipal boasts of a planetarium named after Dr Pai, which is the second oldest in Karnataka after the one in Bangalore. Another important tourist attraction is End Point. Situated at the far end of the town, it is a cliff overlooking the Swarna river. The ghats, as well as the sea, are visible from this point. The Malpe beach is also pretty close by at hardly 7 km. Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village is a remarkable house that contains antiques curated from other ancient houses. Previously owned by Vijayanath Shenoy, it has been converted into a museum with the aim to preserve and showcase ancient culture and heritage. Exhibits include ancient arts, crafts, paintings and textiles along with a library.

How To Reach Manipal

The nearest railhead is at Indrali in Udupi on the Konkan railway line, 4km west of Manipal, while the closest major railway station is Mangalore Central. Government run KSRTC buses ply frequently on all major routes connecting nearby towns like Udupi, Karkala and Mangalore. There are also overnight buses to major metros nearby. The nearest international airport happens to be in Mangalore at a distance of 50 km. Premium bus services are also available to the Bangalore Airport.

Udupi Travel Packages

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8 Days / 7 Nights

Holy Karnataka Pilgrimage Package

Bangalore(0N) → Kukke Subrahmanya(1N) → Mangalore(1N) → Udupi(1N) → Gokarna(1N) → Sirsi(1N) → Kollur(1N) → Horanadu(1N)

₹38,750/person

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Manipal Reviews

Your rating

Muhammed Salih

on Manipal 6 years ago

Manipal is now known as a student's city as it is an education hub and provides everything a student might need. With Hill Stations and Beaches really nearby, it ups the ante for people to visit or j (Read More)ust come to study. Agumbe Hill station is just an hour and a half away, most of the beaches are just 30 minutes away from the city.