Coastal Karnataka is bestowed with sandy beaches, lush greenery, lively culture, magnificent temples, and delicious cuisine. If you are looking for a much-needed break from the hustle-bustle of daily life, the towns in coastal Karnataka will never disappoint you. Here is a list of the most sought-after destinations that you must visit during your next trip to Karnataka. An ideal road trip will take you through these cities, offering you a vacation like no other.

Gokarna

One of the most popular coastal Karnataka places, Gokana is a nature’s paradise. It is a quaint beach town, blessed with peaceful surroundings and pristine beaches. You can enjoy a relaxing vacation or enjoy thrilling activities. Parasailing, snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing are some of the exciting water sports to try here. Kudle Beach, Om Beach and Half Moon Beach are popular beaches. Gokarna is also a sacred pilgrimage site, housing the majestic Mahabaleshwar temple.

Mangalore

Renowned for its rich history, magnificent temples, alluring beaches, and authentic Mangalorean cuisine, Mangalore is a must-visit destination in coastal Karnataka. Kudroli Gokarnath Temple is one of the most popular temples in the region, known for its vibrant Mangalore Dasara celebration. Besides this, Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park and Mangaladevi Temple are other tourist attractions.

Udupi

Home to some of the most iconic temples, Udupi is another coastal Karnataka city that you must visit. Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Maple Beach, St. Mary’s Beach, and The Corporation Bank Heritage Museum are top attractions in the city. So, whether you are a spiritual seeker or a nature lover, there is something for everyone in Udupi.

Murudeshwar

A beautiful beachside pilgrim town, Murudeshwar is home to the world’s second tallest statue of Lord Shiva. Murudeshwar Temple is among the most iconic temples of the state, beckoning thousands of devotees every year. Besides this, Mirjan Fort, The Statue Park, Netrani Island, and Murudeshwar Beach are the famous tourist places to visit in the town.

Karwar

This seaside city is a quaint paradise beckoning nature lovers and peace seekers. Here, you can enjoy boat rides on the Kali River, spend some time at the Kali River Garden, watch a mesmerising sunset at the Rabindranath Tagore Beach, and seek blessings at the Naganatha Temple. The authentic Karwar cuisine is a must-try too.

Coastal Karnataka has plenty to offer for the weary travellers. So, if you are planning a vacation, head to one of these cities for creating memories to last for a lifetime.

KOLLUR MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE

Mookambika Devi Temple in Kollur is about 130 km from Mangaluru and 440 km from state capital Bengaluru. It is located amidst the hills of Kodachadri in Western Ghats, next to river Souparnika. Mookambika Temple in Kollur is believed to be over 1200 years old. As per the legend, Parvathi came down to earth to eliminate a demon named Kamasura, who with his devil mischief was creating lots of trouble to the local people. Goddess made him dumb first to rein him (Mooka in Kannada) but when his trouble making habit didn’t stop, he was eventually killed. Thanking Goddess Parvathi for relieving them from the trouble of Kamasura, local people started worshipping Parvathi devi and the temple was formed in Kollur. Kollur temple celebrates its annual festival during Navarathri and attracts lakhs of devotees during this period. Temple complex offers free meals to all visitors. During special occasions when crowd is large, special queue for darshan is facilitated for those who can pay extra. Lots of budget accommodations are available in Kollur. KSRTC runs buses to Kollur from Bengaluru and other major cities. Kundapura is a nearby city. Private buses are also available in large numbers. However, after 8 pm it will be difficult to get public transportation.

KATEEL DURGAPARAMESHWARI TEMPLE

At a distance of just about 20 km from Mangaluru is the popular Durgaparameshwari Temple in Kateel. This holy temple is located in the middle of River Nandini. The name Kateel is derived from two words?’Kati’ meaning waist and ‘Ile’ meaning earth. Kateel means the central area of earth.

History: Arunasura was a demon growing strong with powers and was disrupting peace on earth. Gods were helpless as Arunasura had secured special powers from Brahma that he cannot be killed by any two or four legged creatures. When Arunasura’s bad deeds grew beyond control, Adhishakti came down on earth as a beautiful woman, lured him and teased Arunasura to agitate him. An angry Arunasura tried to kill Adhishakti, she turned herself into a rock. Arunasura tried to break open the rock, during which a series of big furious bees emerged and stung him repeatedly till his death, thus eliminating one more bad soul on earth. On this success, saints and sages performed abhishekam to lord Adhishakti who later took the form of a linga in the middle of river Nandini. Thus the Durga Parameshwari Temple is built around this. Kateel is well connected by public transportation and accommodation is available. Mangalore is the nearest town.

UDUPI SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE

Udupi is considered as the final resting place of Lord Krishna. Sri Krishna Temple and matha was set up in the 13th century by Madhvacharya. Legend has it that once Kanakadasa, a worshipper of Lord Krishna was denied entrance into the temple. Determined to see god, Kanakadasa kept praying hard from the outside itself. Impressed by his devotion, it is believed that Lord Krishna’s idol turned to face Kanakadasa and a small hole formed on the wall so that Kanakadasa can get a glimpse of Lord Krishna. This spot is now known as Kanakana kindi (window of Kanaka). Apart from Sri Krishna temple, there are two other temples in Udupi Chandreshwara and, Anantheshwara. Once in every two years, a grand festival named ‘Paryayotsava’ is held in Udupi. During this time, temple management changes hand from one of the 8 mathas (Asta matt) to another.