Paradigm@hue: Unfulfilled Journey to Udupi

Place Name: Udupi

Distance from Bangalore: approx 400 KM from Majestic

Route: Via Dharmastala or via Mangalore

Duration: 2 day Trip

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: October to Feb

places nearby to visit: Dharmastala, Mangalore

It was a pleasant surprise to receive the call from my long time buddy. His voice seemed excited as he revealed that he was to get married and the venue was in Udupi, his hometown. This invite brought the much awaited trip to Udupi. We started our journey on a Saturday, with the plans roadmap of the places to explore, along with the marriage celebrations of my friend.

As we reached our destination in the wee hours of morning, we checked in the hotel nearby and freshened up to greet the dawn. We set out to the very popular shrine – Udupi Krishna Matt. The overwhelming devotion of the devotees and the mesmerizing idol of Sri Krishna held us spell bound. The Pooja is offered to the lord which is placed opposite to the entrance which is called the Kanakana Kindi, which goes after the story of the ardent devotee – Bhakta Kanaka Dasa. Finishing our prayers, we headed straight to the Manipal University. The vast campus, with lush greenery and well maintained gardens, the famous “End Point” was the key highlights of this place. It is definitely a respite from the blazing sun. We next set out to the famous Kapu Beach, the place where sea speaks. The roaring waves and the beauty of the beach is enchanting to the eyes of the beholder. There is a lighthouse around which was built in 1901. However, we could not manage to get atop the lighthouse. Enjoying there for a while and with the intention of capturing the sunset at its best, we travelled to the Malpe beach which is 7 Km from Udupi. We reached there by 5 pm and visited the Malpe harbor and saw steamer boats and variety of fishes, which added on the fishy odour of this place. Strikingly this beach is opposite to the roaring Kapu beach, with silent waves hitting the shores. I was filled with nostalgic memories of the Kite festival, as I saw Many people flying kites on this beach. One can spot the St. Mary’s island from the coast of Malpe Beach. But unfortunately, it was closed during the time of June-October. As we waited for the sun to set, to capture the scenic beauty, the clouds played havoc, dampening our spirits. With the dusk setting in, we started to join the celebrations of my friend’s wedding. Relishing the best Udupi food and enjoying the function, we started our way back to Bangalore the next day.

Udupi was a refreshing journey, but the contentment of my soul was yet to be satiated, because of the pending visit to the St. Mary’s Island, and the Annegudde Ganesha Temple. I am eagerly looking forward to the next journey to Udupi.