Co-Author: Soumyadip Ray
When we hear about backwaters and scenic sea beaches in India, we think of Kerala and Goa. Well, Karnataka also has a few hidden treasures and, in this article, we will talk about them and also suggest a great place to stay.
Udupi, in the North Western Karnataka is a treasure trove of some amazing destinations and has a great resort where you can stay.
Paradise Lagoon Resort is where we stayed when we visited Udupi in March 2021. This resort is located just outside the town of Udupi and situated in an island and right across the backwaters of the Arabian Sea. This is where 3 small rivers, the Suvarna River, the Sita River and the Swarna River converge before flowing into the Arabian Sea. This resort is maintained really well. The lagoon on both sides, coconut trees and well-maintained gardens provide the relaxing atmosphere that we always crave. There is ample parking available and parking is free. The food is decent, however, the options are limited. The breakfast spread is very limited and can certainly be improved.
Hoode Beach: Just 5 minutes drive from the Paradise Lagoon Resort is the Hoode Beach. This beach is not crowded and is a great place to spend some time in the water. This beach is pretty long and is good for a walk by the Sea.
St. Mary’s Island: St Mary’s Island is undoubtedly a wonderful island. What makes this island special is the Columnar Jointed Volcanic Rocks that look like natural pillars. The beach here is white and is mainly made from sea shells. The island is well protected, and plastics are not allowed inside the island. There is only one shop and a coconut water seller in this island, so the natural atmosphere is well preserved. The clean beach and the surroundings make this small island really beautiful. This island also has a historic significance as Vasco da Gama landed on this island on his journey towards Kerala and he planted a Cross here dedicated to Mother Mary and hence the name of this island.
Even the journey to this island is unique, as a bigger boat from Malpe Sea Walk jetty takes passengers close to the island and then everyone needs to board a smaller boat which goes closer to the beach and passengers need to get down in knee deep water to get to the island.
Malpe Sea Walk: This is relatively a newer attraction in Udupi and is a must visit. This place is about 2 Kilometres from the Malpe Beach. It has a nice well-maintained park in the entrance and then the Sea Walk juts into the sea. It has a well-laid pathway and walking through the Sea Walk provides a nice experience. Also, the jetty for boats to the St Mary’s Island is here.
Malpe Beach: Malpe beach is a popular beach in Udupi and gets crowded in the evening. It has quite a few water sports options here like Paragliding, Zorbing, Banana Rides and Jet Skis. There are a few beach front restaurants as well. There is a resort near the beach called Paradise Isle Beach Resort where we stayed a few years back, however, we didn’t like it much.
Kapu Beach: Another nice Beach to visit in Udupi would be the Kapu Beach. This beach is far less crowded than the Malpe Beach. The main attraction of this beach is the Lighthouse. We did not visit Kapu Beach this year. When we visited Kapu Beach, a few years back, we could get to the top of the Lighthouse and that was a really wonderful experience.
Udupi is about 400 Kilometres from Bangalore and has a drive time of 8 – 9 hours. If you are planning to drive, the roads are decent in most of the parts, however, since the road is through the Western Ghats, be prepared for hairpin bends and climb and decent for a considerable portion of the drive. Also, there are overnight buses from Bangalore. Udupi is about 60 Kilometres from Mangalore and the nearest airport is also in Mangalore. Udupi also has a railway station and there are plenty of trains reaching here from different states of India.
If you are looking for a great destination in India which is not overtly touristy, well, Udupi can be a great choice.
