Today’s blog post discusses 5 must-do day trips from Udupi. All five of the day trips are less than 5 hours from Udupi and can be explored in a day. In this post, learn which day trips to combine for convenience.

A few months back, when I took a road trip to Udupi, I hadn’t expected to be mind-blown by this underrated beach town. I hadn’t expected spend more than 4 days here, but I ended up staying a week. This secluded destination has something for everyone, whether it is pristine beaches, enormous statues, hikes to ancient caves, beautiful temples, nature and more.

Planning a road trip to Udupi, but don’t have time to plan? I have you covered. Refer to my blog posts on the 8 must-visit places in Udupi and my 6-day itinerary for Udupi.

Without further random talk, here are the 5 must-do day trips from Udupi.

• Prasanna Anjaneya Temple
• Murudeshwar
• Maravanthe Beach
• Honnavar
• Yana Caves.

The post seems lengthy, and you don’t want to read the whole thing? Simply, save my Instagram post (below) for later. However, if you do keep reading, be on the lookout for travel tips and tricks, so you’ll enjoy a hassle-free vacation.

PRASANNA ANJANEYA TEMPLE

PRASANNA ANJANEYA TEMPLE

The closest day trip from Udupi is to the Prasanna Anjaneya Temple, a  Hanuman temple.

On the outside, the temple is small and simple, but the main feature is the enormous Hanuman statue.

I hadn’t even heard about this temple until I researched Udupi and the surrounding places of interest. Not many blogs and vlogs suggest this place, but it’s worth a quick pit stop.

Prasanna Anjaneya Temple is slightly off the main road. To get here, you can walk from the main road or drive there, but the road is narrow with potholes. I was going to drive, but someone had parked their car on the path. So, I ended up walking the last 50 or 60 metres.

Walk on the path canopied by trees. Follow the road till you reach the end. Once you’ve arrived at the open field, you’ll see the 80-foot Hanuman statue.

Rationally, I  know 80 feet is huge, but actually seeing it in real life is very intimidating.

The Prasanna Anjaneya Temple in Kundapura is a marvel and worth a visit. However, driving 35 km from Udupi just to visit the temple isn’t worth it. It’s best to combine this with any of the other day trips. You can make a quick pit stop en route to Murudeshwar, Honnavar or Yana Caves.

TIMINGS:- Prasanna Anjaneya temple is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

MURUDESHWAR

The next place on the list of day trips from Udupi is the lovely beach town of Murudeshwar. Over the last 4 or 5 years, Murudeshwar has rapidly emerged as a must-visit destination in Karnataka.

When it became popular, I,of course, had to see what all the hype was all about. A couple of years ago, I travelled to Murudeshwar for a short vacation. I loved it.

My uncle hadn’t been to Murudeshwar, so we decided to add it to our itinerary. This was my second time travelling to Murudeshwar, and it was just as memorable.

I didn’t visit Murudeshwar as a day trip, since I’d planned on staying in Kumta before heading home. You, however, can do it as a day trip. It is a 2-hour drive only from Udupi.

For those undertaking this day trip, I recommend getting on the road early, so that you’ll have ample time to explore everything. En route to Murudeshwar, you can make a quick pit stop at the Prasanna Anjaneya Temple. Upon reaching Murudeshwar, first head to the gopura.

NOTE:- The temple is free, but you’ll have to buy a ticket to reach the top of the gopura.

Afterwards, head to the temple, pray and then head over to the enormous Shiva statue rising above the Arabian Sea. Explore the museum at the base of the statue. It’s now time for the beach. Here, you can swim, eat at the shacks, and indulge in the various activities. Spend the day relaxing before heading back to Udupi.

For those who want to visit for a few days, I have designed the perfect Murudeshwar travel guide.

MARAVANTHE BEACH

When you search for Udupi on the internet, images of Maravanthe Beach pop up. It’s images of a road with a long stretch of shoreline divided by water breakers creating small beaches.

It’s this long, beautiful coastline that put Udupi on the travel map. Ever since I saw images of Maravanthe Beach, I wanted to go there. So, imagine my surprise when researching Udupi, I learned Maravanthe Beach is not in Udupi, but an hour’s drive away.

Of course, I visited Maravanthe Beach. I wasn’t going to skip this place just because it was an hour away.

The drive there was scenic, with the sea keeping us company. The blue water glittering under the afternoon sun and the golden sandy shores were a soothing sight.

While the drive along this long coastline was beautiful and serene, I was slightly disappointed. That’s because there is now a fence running the entire length of the beach. There are a couple of places where the fence has broken or taken down, from there you can access the beach.

I wanted to capture the image of the endless small beaches tucked between the water breakers, but was unsuccessful.

TRAVEL TIP:- All the beautiful photos you see online are captured by drones. Unless you have a drone, it will be just like any other beach pic.

If you’re travelling to Maravanthe Beach with the hope of taking instagrammable shots, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Having said that, does it mean you shouldn’t travel to Maravanthe Beach? No. You should definitely visit Maravanthe Beach, because it is one of the scenic drives in India, especially at sunset.

HONNAVAR

Another beautiful day trip from Udupi is Honnavar, home to the backwaters of the Sharavati River, mangrove forests, a boardwalk and more.

Honnavar was my route to Pune, so I made a quick pit stop on the way. Or you could visit Honnavar as a day trip from Udupi. It is only 2.5 hours away.

Since Honnavar is widespread, set your navigation for the Mangrove Forest boardwalk. That’s what I did. Upon arriving there, a few locals told us that if we wanted to go boating, we had to set off immediately, because once the high tide set in, all boats would be docked. So, that’s where we headed.

The boat ride was 1.5 hours. We floated down the Sharavati River, bordered by mangroves on each side, saw the Kokan railway passing on the bridge overhead, and even stopped on a small island for some snacks and photos.

I liked the boat ride; it was picturesque and charming. It would have been better if only the boat engines hadn’t been thundering in the background.

TRAVEL TIP:- Various operators provide boating services around the backwaters. You can choose any one, but ensure that the boat ride includes all the scenic spots, such as the railway bridge, the island, and especially the channel bordered with coconut trees.

Later, we returned to the Mangrove Boardwalk. I spent about 45 minutes walking, exploring and taking photos. It is one of the instagrammable places in Honnavar. I especially liked the circular boardwalk section.

TICKETS:- There is an entry fee of Rs. 20 to walk the Mangrove Boardwalk, and Rs. 1000 for pre-wedding photoshoots.

YANA CAVES

The last destination on the list of day trips from Udupi is the Yana Caves, 3½ hours away.

Yana Caves are a group of naturally formed black limestone rock formations. The caves have religious importance and are a natural wonder.

Two rock formations make up the Yana Caves. The biggest one is the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara, and the smaller one is the Mohini Shikhara.

To get to the caves, you’ll have to hike through the forest for 30-45 minutes. That’s when you’ll arrive at the Mohini Shikhara. Further ahead is the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara, where you’ll see a Shiva temple.

The trail to the caves is quiet, serene, uneven and steep in some places. Also, be ready to climb numerous steps.

I was glad I had arrived early in the morning, because the afternoon heat was unforgiving. I’d begun my hike at 9:15 a.m. and returned around 11:30 a.m.

TRAVEL TIP:- Carry lots of water, caps and wear shoes with a good grip when visiting Yana Caves. Also, be aware of the monkeys.

CONCLUSION OF THE 5 MUST-DO DAY TRIPS FROM UDUPI

That concludes the list of must-do day trips from Udupi.

When my parents had planned this road trip to Udupi, I hadn’t expected to be blown away by the beauty of this underrated destination.

I had seen photos on Instagram, but they don’t do justice to the reality.

Here’s a summary of the 5 must-do day trips from Udupi.

• Prasanna Anjaneya temple
• Murudeshwar
• Maravanthe Beach
• Honnavar
• Yana Caves

I hope that this blog post was helpful and inspiring. If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know in the comments.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

Travel, it starts as a hobby, then it becomes a lifestyle.

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