Amazing Coastal Karnataka Tour

by Shobhit Kumar Sr. Web Analyst

A combination of uncrowded beaches, wildlife, history and culture makes the coastal region of Karnataka an amazing holiday experience.

Unspoilt, that’s what you would call the beaches of Karnataka. Touching Goa in the north and Kerala in the south, the beaches here are beautiful, palm-fringed, pristine and unexplored. Plus you have the rich inland beauty along the Western Ghats.
One of the best places to begin your journey would probably be from Mangalore, a sea port about 350 kms from Bangalore. It is also well connected with Mumbai.
Mangalore has the lovely Ullal and other beaches around, with rows upon rows of coconut trees, quaint gable-roofed houses, temples, and churches. Must see places here include St Aloysius Chapel, the 10th century Mangala Devi Temple, the Tipu Sultan Battery and the Jumna Masjid.

Around Mangalore

Karkala — Just about 50 kms from Mangalore, it is a 15th century Jain
Centre with massive 12.8 metre high monolithic image of Gomateshwara, and St Lawrence Church, both of which attract thousands of visitors the year round.
About 35 kms from Mangalore, Moodabidri is another Jain Centre with the famous 1000 pillared shrine.
Udupi, known the world over for its delicious dosas, attracts a large number of Lord Krishna devotees. This is also the place where saint Madhavacharya lived and preached 700 years ago.
Just next to Udupi is Malpe Beach - unspoilt, and an excellent picnic spot, from where St Mary’s Island is only a boat ride away. About 80 kms drive from Udupi will bring you to Kollur. Located in the foothills it is famous for its Mookambika Temple, and for the lovely Arasina Makki waterfalls.
Katil is about 27 kms from Mangalore, on the banks of the Nandini, and is famous for its Durga Parmeshwari temple. About 100 kms from Mangalore, Dharmastala attracts tourists, travellers, and pilgrims to the famous Manjunath temple, and to the 14 meter tall monolith of Lord Bahubali. A special attraction here is the Laksha
Deepotsava when the temple is illuminated with 1 lakh lamps.
A beautiful scenic spot Naraharigudda is about 30 kms from Mangalore.

Another way to explore the amazing A coastal beauty of Karnataka is to begin
from Karwar, about 500 kms from Bangalore, or about 25 kms from south Goa. Karwar, they say, has the makings of a perfect holiday — a lovely palm-laced beach Dev bagh, gentle waves and bracing weather. Protected from five islands, Karwar is also on active port. Having been an important trade centre of the British, French, Portuguese, and the Arabs, the port-beach town has much to offer to the visitor. The Sadashivgad Hill Fort with a Durga Temple and the Naganath Temple are only two among many other attractions here. The Karwar beach is so beautiful that it is said to have inspired Rabindranath Tagore to pen some of his dramas here. Rock—climbers and trekkers can head for Yana, famous for its unique rock formations, 60 kms from Karwar. A little distance away is Sirsi, dotted with old temples, Jain shrines, mosques and churches. One of the most important temple is Marikamba which enshrines a wooden deity, said to been taken out from a tank.
About 60 kms along the coast is Gokarna, famous for being a centre for Sanskrit learning. Literally meaning cow’s ear, this township is formed by the ear- shaped confluence of two rivers. According to a belief the place is so named because Shiva is said to have emerged from the ears of a cow, here.
The Om Beach and the Kutle Beach nearby are also worth a visit.
Famous for its magnificent waterfalls, the beautiful Jog Falls are not too far. Located amidst sylvan surroundings, these falls are a popular picnic spot. Here the Sharavati River takes a 292 metre leap and divides into four smaller ones known as Raja, Rani, Rocket and Roarer, creating an amazing sight. An excellent place all the year round, it is a tourist’ paradise and Ideal for adventure tourism and water sports.

Set against the Western Ghats, along the river Kali, Dandeli is about 120 kms from Karwar. A natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, it abounds in crocodiles, waterbirds, black panther, bison, civet cat, porcupine, spotted deer, and sambar, etc.
You just cannot rush through Karnataka. And, when you come exploring the coastal stretch of Karnataka you not only get a taste of a rich culture you also come across amazing sights of nature at its purest.

For More Tour to India: Destination Management Company of India, Cultural Tours of India and South India Tour.

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