Done With Goa And Looking To Experiment? Here’s Your Guide To India’s Other Stunning Coastline
Written by Sonalika Debnath
Coastal Karnataka, a lesser-explored chapter of southern India, is a mosaic of jaw-dropping landscapes spread across ancient ruins and desolate beaches, sun-doused coves and undulating rolling hills. Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshin Kannada are the three districts that merge together to form this scenic stretch defined by the Western Ghats on the east, and Arabian Sea on the west.
So grab your camera, and your friends, hoard your car with chips and cola, and psych up for a journey through open roads, blue skies and a lingering sea breeze.
Of serene seascapes: Dakshin Kannada to Udupi
Route: Mangalore — Kundapur — Shiroor
One of the most scenic routes that southern India boasts of, the journey from Dakshin Kannada to Udupi is etched with small hills, dense jungles and pristine lakes. As you cruise down the quiet country roads running along the coastline, you will come across empty beaches, and witness some of the most glorious sunsets on the way that will evoke a sense of meditative silence.
Dakshin Kannada’s port city of Mangalore sitting off the sunny Konkan coast, will whet your appetite and satisfy your soul with its distinctive seafood fare and the sleepy coastal town of Kundapur will greet you with its treasure trove of the most florid temples, camouflaged almost entirely by the region’s thick forestation. Primarily a fishing village, Shiroor will stay with you long after your journey is over. It can be distinguished by the Swarna River ambling away through its lush terrains. A hypnotic hum of cicadas will be your constant companion as you make your way through these lesser-loved Karnataka districts.
Time on the road: 2 hours 30 minutes
Distance: 107 kilometres via NH75 and NH66
Pit stop: Gorge on the chicken ghee roast at Shetty’s Lunch Home in Kundapur.
Top experiences: In Dakshin Kannada, trek through the Western Ghats’ numerous forest trails that lead up to the hills of Amedikallu, Ettinabhuja, Gadaikallu and Kumara Parvata; go parasailing or surfing through Mangalore’s sweeping Panambur Beach; visit the vibrant temples of Polali, Dharmasthala, Thokuru and Kateel; sample a dish or four of the one-of-a-kind Mangalorean cuisine, of which the golibajje, patrode, the peculiar idli — kadubu and appa (fried jackfruit dumpling) are the most sought after; upon reaching Udupi, head to the Sri Krishna Temple and Mutt, a prismatic complex of temples and monasteries dating back to the 13th century; if you are looking for some solitude, go to the windswept beach of Kapu, off NH66, that boasts of a beautiful lighthouse.
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