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Places to Visit Near Udupi

Shravanabelagola is one of the noted Jain pilgrim spots situated on the bare and rocky summit of the Vindhyagiri Hills, lying to the west of Bangalore. The name of the place signifies ‘The monk on the top of the hill’ and is renowned for the hermits, ascetics, and mystics.

There is a large monolithic idol of Srvanabelagola Gomatheeshwara, which is both magnificent and munificent. The place has been known to be a hub for all the historians as many ancient inscriptions dating back to the period around 600 to 1830 can be found here.

Best time to visit: October to March.

Distance from Udupi: 272.0 km, through the NH 73 (5 hours and 44 minutes).

Highlights: 
-Gomateshwara Statue,
-Bhandaribasadi Temple,
-Vindhyagiri Temple,
-Akkanabasadi Temple,
-Jaina Math,
-Chandragiri Temple,
-Kalama Temple.

Formed as an outcome of the Sharavathi River, the Jog Falls is India’s second-highest plunge waterfall. Surrounded all over with a thick cover of dense evergreen forest cover, the Jog Falls presents a supernatural grandeur delight to the eyes of the strollers.

The magnificence of this waterfall gives rise to a cascading illustration unfettered by the natural rock formation. Jog Falls has got several vantage points from where you can capture the splendour of these magnificent falls. Kayaking, boating and river rafting are the essential adventures to try at the Falls.

Best time: June to September.

Distance from Udupi: 162.6 km, through the Bhatkal – Siddapur – Soraba highway (3 hours and 19 minutes).

Highlights:
-Sigandur,
-Thyvare Koppa Lion and Tiger Reserve,
-Tunga Anicut Dam,
-Kanoor Fort,
-Unchalli Falls, and
-Linganamakki Dam.

The less explored town of Dubare is not behind anywhere on the wanderer’s list. Nisargadhama, a massive wildlife sanctuary here features a wide array of flora and fauna; while the Veerabhoomi offers you an insight into the blend of rich and authentic customs and traditions of Karnataka.

The Dubare Elephant Camp gives you an excellent opportunity of exploring these enchanting creatures even better. The forest that surrounds the Dubare Elephant Camp features abundantly abundant wildlife like a leopard, sloth bear, partridges, wild dog, and peacocks. The river Dubare that flows close to the camp is a hub for some adventurous fun like coracle riding, fishing, elephant riding, trekking, and river rafting. All the shopaholics may seek a delightful shopping experience with coffee beans and berries.

Best time: September to March.

Distance from Udupi: 215.6 km, through the NH66 and NH275 (4 hours and 59 minutes).

Highlights:
-Nisargadhama,
-Dubare Elephant Camp,
-Veerabhoomi,
-Harangi Dam, and
-Dubare Shopping.

One of the most breath-taking destinations of Karnataka, Horanadu, is a quaint little village embraced by the presence of numerous hilly mountains on all sides. The town is presided over by Annapurna, which is a chief deity of Horanadu.

The Annapurna shrine is entirely carved out in pure gold and is a primary religious source for the local residents. There are lush green tea estates and a magnificent tea lounge on your way to the Horanadu village. The lush green paddy hills, along with the verdant hills in the backdrop, also creates a scenic view embracing the overall charm of the Annapurna shrine.

Best time: October to February.

Distance from Udupi: 118.9 km, through the SH66 (2 hours and 55 minutes).

Highlights: 
-Sri Sharada Peetham,
-Sirimane Falls,
-Vidya Shankar Temple,
-Janardhan Temple,
-Kigga, Mallikarjuna Temple,
-Hariharapur, Ganga Moola, and
-Lakya Dam.

Surrounded by a rich bio reserve and bordering hill stations, Agumbe is Karnataka’s last surviving rainforest, lying in lowland regions. This bio reserve is famous for its rare medicinal plant species, such as Myristica, Garcinia, Diospyros, Ficus, and Eugenia.

A visit here for your next vacation is perfect as the region is embraced by the presence of numerous gorgeous waterfalls such as Jogigundi Falls, Kunchikal Falls, Onake Abbi Falls, and Barkana Falls. Moreover, the majority of the tourists visiting this place usually prefer trekking through the verdant forests to get closer to the waterfalls.

This place is one of the most enchanting tourist places near Udupi, where you have a gallery called ‘Sunset Point’ erected to embrace the panoramic beauty of the surrounding. On a clear day, you can even get stunning glimpses of the mighty Arabian Sea.

Best time: November to January.

Distance from Udupi: 61.1 km, through the NH169 A and Brahmavar Road (1 hour and 19 minutes).

Highlights: 
-The Sunset Point,
-Gopalakrishna Temple,
-Barkana Falls,
-Jogi Gundi Falls,
-Onake Abbi Falls, and
-Koodlu Theertha Falls.

A region that gained popularity owing to the presence of the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhadra is a key town of Karnataka’s Chikmagalur district. Rich, lush green hills of the Western Ghats surrounds the village of Bhadra on all sides. It features a wide array of species of herbivores including the Macaques, Chital, Slender Loris, Langurs, Malabar giant squirrels, and Barking deer.

Trekking, boating, bird watching, rock climbing, and camping are essential adventures that one can enjoy here. The presence of Gagangiri, Hebbegiri, Bababudangiri, and Mullaianagiri hills surrounding the backwaters of the Bhadra reservoir makes the town an enchanting natural holiday getaway.

Best time: Mid of October till March.

Distance from Udupi: 123.8 km, through the Hebri-Brahmavar Road (2 hours and 41 minutes).

Highlights: 
-Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary,
-Bhadravati Dam,
-Shiva Idol,
-Halladama Devi Temple,
-Lakshmi Narasimha Temple,
-Jain Basadi,
-Mutts in Bhadra, and
-Bhadra River.

Located in the South Indian state of Karnataka, Hassan is a famous historic site for Srvanbelagola, Halebid, and Belur. Being dedicated to the Hasanamba deity, this town is acknowledged as Karnataka’s architectural capital. It is highly influenced by the rich and authentic culture of the Hoysala dynasty.

The Hasanamba Temple situated here features the local, regional customs and has now become one of the key pilgrim attractions in town. Maharaja Park is a spacious and peaceful park located amidst the city. It is all over flanked with lush green lawns and tall trees. While the Hulikere Pond represents a stunning architectural piece flanked all over by lush greenery encircling numerous descending steps leading you to the bottom of the pond to dig the water.

Best time: November to February.

Distance from Udupi: 221.7 km, through NH 73 (4 hours and 54 minutes).

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One of the outstanding places to visit near Udupi is Kodachadri, which is located atop a height of 1343 meters from the ground level. The mountain peak is surrounded by numerous dense forest cover. It is tucked deep within the premises of Mookambika National Forest.

The local deity of Kodachadri resides high on the top of the hill, which has been left bare due to the enormously strong winds. In addition to being a vibrant hub for the endangered flora and fauna, the forest that surrounds Kodachadri offers an excellent trekking atmosphere for the adventure enthusiasts as well.

Best time: October to March.

Distance from Udupi: 111.3 km, through the NH66 (3 hours and 08 minutes).

Highlights:
-Honnemaradu,
-Jog Falls,
-Kundadri,
-Sakrebailu,
-Keladi, Dabbe Falls,
-Agumbe,
-Heggodu, and
-Gudavi Bird Sanctuary.

Honnemaradu is a small yet beautiful town tucked beside the sprawling reservoirs of River Sharavathi. Over time, this lush green town has become one of the most fabulous offbeat destinations for all the tourists visiting Shimoga. The Sharavathi River backwaters flow down calmly through this sleepy hamlet and cover a land stretch of around 50 to 80 km.

The presence of Honnemaradu Lake here embraces the beauty of the town even more. People reserve their sunrises and sunsets to visit this Golden Lake, which never fails to impress the strollers with its charming aura. Boating, kayaking, wind rafting, hiking, and canoeing are some extraordinary adventures to explore in the region.

Best time: October to November.

Distance from Udupi: 173.5 km, through the Bhatkal – Siddapur – Soraba Highway and NH66.

Highlights:
-Honnemaradu Reservoir,
-Dabbe Falls,
-Gademane, Sagar,
-Jog Falls,
-Burude Falls and,
-Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple.

A beautiful beach town, Malpe is a natural port and a fishing hub of the state of Karnataka. Situated on the estuary of the Udyavara River, Malpe is known for its breath-taking vistas. The volcanic rocks that are tucked besides its shore form its central piece of attraction. The locals of this town engage their day to day routine in either fishing or coconut cultivation or tile-making professions.

Due to the uniqueness of their intricate geographical features, Malpe has always been a hotspot amongst other places to visit near Udupi. The beauty of this beach town is further amplified by the presence of the four rocky islands – Mary’s Islands, Daria-Bahadurgad, Daria-Gadara- Kalluthe, and Kari-Illada-Kallu that are definitely worth a visit.

Best time: October to December.

Distance from Udupi: 5.8 km, through the Udupi-Malpe Road (12 minutes).

Highlights:
-St Mary’s Island,
-Sea Walk Malpe,
-Vadabhandeshwara Temple,
-Delta Beach,
-Mattu Beach,
-Swarna River, and
-Daria Bahadurgad Fort.

Renowned as a stereotypical one-horse town, Yellapur is worth visiting amongst the rest of the tourist places near Udupi. Surrounded all over by the Western Ghats, the city of Yellapur embraces its overall charm as a popular weekend getaway of the South. This town is tucked atop a height of 1774 feet above the sea level.

It features some gorgeous waterfalls gushing down the verdant hills lined across the scenic valleys. Also, the forest that surrounds the town is famous in itself for luxuriously rich bio reserves where you can find ample of birds, plants, and animals.

Best time: December to February.

Distance from Udupi: 233.9 km, through the Mirjan – Ramnagar Road (4 hours and 26 minutes).

Highlights:
-Jenukallu Gudda,
-Sathodi Falls,
-Maskatii rock formation,
-Shirley falls,
-Magod falls,
-Kodasalli dam,
-Kalimath temple, and
-Kavadikeri Lake Temple.

Famous for its shimmering waters and shiny shores, the town of Byndoor is the hometown of Sri Someshwar Temple. Tucked along the beaches, the presence of this Lord Shiva shrine features a glorious natural setting.

Moreover, the Lingam and the stunning sculptures within, further add on to the beauty and charm of the temple. You should also visit Baindur Beach, which is a hub for water adventures such as boating and swimming. Nonetheless, the village is famous for bird watchers, and one can spot Eurasian Curlews, Ruddy Turnstones, Redshanks, Western Reef Egrets, and Great Sand Plovers here in Byndoor.

Best time: Second half of September to February.

Distance from Udupi: 71.0 km, through the NH66 (1 hour and 12 minutes).

Highlights:
-Ottinene Beach,
-Maravanthe Beach,
-Kshitija Nesara Dhama View Point,
-Trasi Beach,
-Koosalli Waterfalls,
-Kodi beach, and
-Belkal Theertha Waterfalls.

Tucked by a beautiful thick forest covering all around, the town of Sirsi is a popular weekend tourist place to visit near Udupi. There are valleys, pilgrimage sites, ancient monuments, temples, and waterfalls, magnifying the beauty of this gorgeous place tenfold. The presence of both natural and historic wonder makes it a worthy place to explore on your go.

The lush greenery of the Western Ghats that encircle this quaint little town features a wide array of insects, plants, and other local animals that would be a delight for all wildlife enthusiasts. Slender Loris, Gaur, Dhole, dragonfly, peafowls, doves, and owls are the key species to be traced here.

Best time: October to January.

Distance from Udupi: 207.9 km through the Kumta-Hubli Road (4 hours and 06 minutes).

Highlights:
-Marikamba Temple,
-Unchalli Falls,
-Sahasralinga, Sodhe,
-Banavasi,
-Musukina Bavi,
-Devimane Ghat,
-Benne Holle Falls,
-Manjuguni, and
-Devarahole.

One of the prime places to visit near Udupi is Sringeri, which is known for the establishment of the first of the four peethas throughout the nation. The town is wrapped with a lush green thick cover of the Western Ghats and features a 1200-year-old temple within.

Due to the presence of a large count of pilgrim centuries, Sringeri is a famous learning centre. And people from across the world reach the town of Sringeri to get acquainted with the Vedic philosophy.

Best time: October to March.

Distance from Udupi: 89.8 km, through the Hebri-Brahmavar Road and SH27 (1 hour and 56 minutes),

Highlights:
-Sharadamba Temple,
-Vidyashankar Temple,
-Sirimane Falls,
-Hanuman Gundi Falls,
-Agumbe,
-Kudremukh, and
-Jog Falls.

The town of Yana is famous for its unusual rock formation which seems to attract both nature lovers and pilgrims equally well. A quaint little hill station lying silently in the lap of Mother Sahyadri it is a significant vacation site for the direst trekkers.

Tucked beside a phenomenally vibrant and elegant centre of bio reserves, Yana features an eye-captivating beauty that leaves the visitors enchanted. That’s why the city is famous amongst all the wanderers as a hub of adventure activities, pilgrim centres, and wildlife reserves.

Best time: October till February.

Distance from Udupi: 174.5 km, through the NH66 (3 hours and 24 minutes).

Highlights:
-Yana Caves,
-Vibhuti falls,
-Kumta,
-Oyster Rock Lighthouse,
-Cola Beach,
-Sirsi,
-Devarahole, and
-Om Beach.

Sonda, or as it is locally called Sode, is a temple town of Vadiraj Mutt, which is a part of the Uttara Kannada district. Tucked at a higher altitude of 2000 meters, Sonda is the ideal city to peep into the historical setting of the Swadi Kings.

Moreover, this town is also a key headquarter of Sodhe Matha and features a Brindavan of Swami Vadiraja Tirtha. Blessed with scenic views and some mesmerizing landscapes, Sonda has a lot many tourist places to visit near Udupi during your off times.

Distance from Udupi: 2.0 km, through the NH169 A (7 minutes).

Highlights:
-Sodhe Vadiraj Mutt,
-Jain Mutt,
-Muttinakere Venkataramana Temple,
-Mundige Kere Bird Sanctuary,and
-Hunasehonda Venkataramana Temple.