Bangalore to Udupi Taxi

Choosing the ghat

All routes from Bangalore to Udupi have to descend from the Deccan plateau to the coast, and the choice of ghat shapes the trip.

Shiradi ghat via Mangalore

NH 75 runs from Bangalore through Kunigal, Channarayapatna, Hassan and Sakleshpur, then descends the Shiradi ghat to Gundya and Uppinangady. From BC Road, the route skirts Mangalore and heads north on NH 66 past Surathkal and Mulki to Udupi. It is the main highway route, but the Shiradi ghat has seen long repair works and occasional closures, particularly in the monsoon.

Charmadi ghat via Karkala

From Hassan, this route goes via Belur and Mudigere, descends the hairpin-filled Charmadi ghat to Ujire near Dharmasthala, then crosses Belthangady and Karkala to Udupi. It avoids Mangalore city entirely and passes the Jain monuments of Karkala, but the ghat is narrow and needs care.

Agumbe ghat via Shivamogga

A longer but beautiful option via Shivamogga, Thirthahalli and the Agumbe rainforest, then down to Hebri and Udupi. It suits travellers who want to see Agumbe's sunset point; larger vehicles may face restrictions on this ghat.

We check the status of the ghats before every departure and will recommend the best option for your date and vehicle.

Temple stops on the way

• Dharmasthala, just off the Charmadi route at Ujire, for the Manjunatha temple.
• Kukke Subramanya, a detour from Gundya on the Shiradi route.
• Karkala, with the Gommateshwara monolith and the Chaturmukha Basadi.
• Mulki and Padubidri on the coastal stretch, with small beaches and temples.

Udupi and Manipal

The Sri Krishna Matha, founded by Sri Madhvacharya, is the spiritual centre of Udupi; devotees view the idol through the Kanakana Kindi, a small latticed window. The matha is administered by eight monasteries in rotation, and the handover ceremony, the Paryaya, takes place every two years in January with huge celebrations. Udupi is also, of course, where the famous Udupi cuisine comes from.

Manipal, about 5 km away, is home to a large university and a major teaching hospital. On admission and convocation days the roads are busy with families. Drivers can take you directly to hostels, the hospital or hotels in Manipal.

Beaches and beyond

Malpe beach is a short drive from town, and from Malpe, ferries run in the fair-weather season to St. Mary's Island, known for its unusual hexagonal basalt rock formations. Kaup beach, with its lighthouse, lies south of Udupi. Further north, Kollur Mookambika temple, the Maravanthe beach where the highway runs between the sea and a river, and the giant Shiva statue at Murudeshwar make excellent day trips.

Monsoon on the coast

Udupi receives very heavy rainfall from June to September, ferries to St. Mary's Island stop, and swimming at the beaches is unsafe. The ghats are wet and slower, and landslides can occur. October to March is the best time for a coastal holiday.

Vehicle choice

A Dzire or Etios suits two to four travellers. Students moving into Manipal with luggage, or families going for treatment, are better off in an Ertiga, Innova or Innova Crysta. For temple groups and wedding parties, a Tempo Traveller 12+1, Force Urbania or mini bus is available; larger vehicles normally use the Shiradi ghat.

What the fare covers

Fuel and the driver's allowance are included. Tolls on NH 75 and NH 66, and any parking at temples or beaches, are usually extra. There is no interstate permit, since the trip stays within Karnataka.

Timing your departure

Leave Bangalore early, around 5 am, so you descend the ghat in daylight. Night descents are possible but slower, especially in rain or fog, and the scenery is half the pleasure of this route.