Cool Breeze of the Southern Coast(Part 1 - Udupi, Malpe & Bappanadu)

Hello Guys,

This is my first post...I was searching for the right topic to get a right start. Any how I got 3 of my friends to have a day trip to Udupi on 28th December 2013. Our Theme was Relaxation or in simple words we can say “Keeping away from the daily stress and sharing our funny stories to get entertained”. So now I thought of sharing highlights of the trip with you all, especially about the places we visited and also the interesting story behind this historical place without which the story can not be completed.

As you all know Trip is possible only by using any mode of Transport and we started with Maruti Ritz, A Car comfortable for 5 pax including driver .We left Mangalore around 9.30 am towards Udupi Highway NH 66.Surprisingly we stopped our car very soon reason behind this is just to visit one temple which is well known for its "Big Musical Drum and and the famous person called Agoli Manjanna".

Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari temple is one of the main Shakti worshi Centre of the South Kanara district of Karnataka. This temple is situated in the bank of Shambhavi River at Bappanadu village of Mulki town. The main sanctum has been constructed in the 14th century architectural style. There are two inscriptions in the Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple. The place Bappanadu means Bappa's village. As per the legend Bappa a Muslim merchant is responsible for temple construction. One of the interesting features of this temple is Bappanadu Dolu or musical drum. Muslims are also allowed to visit and accept prasad from the temple.Annual festival (Brahma Rathotsava) of the temple falls in the month of April.

Bappanadu Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple

Agoli Manjanna:He used to eat one ‘Agoli’ of rice (a measurement which is equal to 20 K.G. rice) from which he got that super power. Therefore he was rightly called Agoli Manjanna.

Manjanna, once had been to Yermal festival. There was a challenge for him in the bundle of sugar cane stalks an iron rod was kept and it was declared that if any one who broke the stalks would get a good reward. They did it with a specific purpose to test the strength of Manjanna. They were of the opinion that Manjanna would not be able to perform the task and it would be an insult to him in front of a large gathering. But Manjanna knew the conspiracy hatched against him. He was strong and brave. He came forward with full confidence. He was aware of his strength. He lifted the stalks and without any difficulty broke them into two including the strong iron rod in it. Those who had challenged him quietly vacated the place without giving any reward to him.
Manjanna was not that sort of man to take revenge. Instead he wanted to exhibit his strength to general public in Yernal. He lifted a slab of granite piece on his right hand, and on the left hand he lifted another slab of granite piece, which was being used as the bridge to cross the stream in Yermal. He brought both the pieces to Bappanadu temple and kept it across the stream as a bridge in front of the temple. This was done only to prove his strength to people at Yermal who cheated him. These two granite slabs are found even today in front of Shri Durga Parameshwari Temple at Bappanadu, Mulki. You may wonder at the breadth and length of these slabs – 4 feet wide and 15 feet long. If it is to be lifted today no less 50 strong persons are required.

Granite Slabs

 We spent nearly 20 minutes in Temple, we continued our trip and reached Udupi Sri Krishna Temple at 11.15 am there was long line of Devotees waiting to get God Krishnas Darshan. We were not having any option other than waiting. That’s why people say its not easy to see God, after 15 minutes we entered temple
and also this temple is our must visit place.

Udupi an important Vaishnavite coastal town in Karnataka famous for its Matts & Beaches.

Udupi is also known for its Vegetarian food, best example for this is Udupi hotels that are to be found in every part of the country.

Sri Krishna Temple:There are 2 reasons for its fame are the statue of Sri Krishna installed by the great saint Sri Madhvacharya in the 13th century. Another attraction of this temple is the 'Kanakana Kindi' -a small window through which Krishna is believed to have given darshan to his ardent devotee, Kanakadasa.

Udupi Sri Krishna Temple

So story begins here, It is said that Kanakadasa had come to Udupi as a pilgrim. The great saint Vadiraja, who knew about Kanakadasa's devotion, made arrangements for his stay in a hut in the roadside in front of the temple. But Kanakadasa could not get into the temple. There was a barrier in the form of a wall between him and Lord Krishna, to whom he was totally devoted to.Kanakadasa used to play on his tambuura and sing in the hut.Few days passed One night, there was a tremor and this led to a small crack appeared in the wall of the shrine. Sri Vadiraja Tirtha became aware of this crack and of the fact that Kanaka Dasa was using it to have darshana of Sri Krishna. Instead of having the crack plastered over, Sri Vadiraja enlarged it and turned it into a window. To commemorate Lord Krishna's darshana to Kanaka Dasa, the window has been designated as 'Kanaka's window'. Lord sent a message to all devotees that it was only devotion that mattered and not the status or class or caste of the devotees.

Udupi Sri Krishna Temple

The Saptosava or the seven Utsavas can be considered to be the annual festival in Sri Krishna Math. It commences 5 days prior, to, Makara Sankramanam and carries on daily. The sixth Utsavam takes place on the night of Makara Sankramana and on the next day, the Utsava takes place during day time.These Utsavas take place about the middle of January every year. During festival time you can find 3 Chariots. 7,000 small yellow flags and 1,500 small red flags were required for the “Brahma Ratha”. The “Garuda Ratha” requires 6,000 yellow flags and 1,200 red flags.The Mahapuja Ratha requires 2,500 yellow flags and 700 red flags. These chariot is drawn round the Car Street and the deity is taken to the Vasantha Mahal and a puja is performed.

Chariots

Our plan was to visit temples before noon and spent nearly 1 hour then to search the beaches in the late afternoon so that we can have a great view of sunset and we followed this strictly, We reached Malpe beach at 1.30 pm after lunch.

What to Shop in Udupi?

Shopping in Temple Street

Malpe Beach:An important port and fishing harbor on the Karnataka coast, Malpe is situated at the mouth of the Udyavara river. Decent crowd, clean beach with white sand is one of the best features of this beach. It’s advisable to have lunch in city and enter beach because you can not find any restaurant near beach surroundings.

Malpe Beach

Activities:You can do many activities to spend your time.

Visit to St Mary’s Island:You need to take paid boat service from Malpe beach to reach here. One can find vast varieties of the shells around the place and get them for personal collections. Lot of different shaped rocks and surrounded by Coconut trees. Island boundaries are very deep, so it is advised not to get into water.

Water sports:You can enjoy and experience Jet ski, desert bike, banana ride and para sailing. Price rate starts from INR 250 to 800 per person.

Beach food:Here you can taste different varieties of fish fry in small shops.
All the activities can be done if Weather permits. So it’s not advised to visit during Manson season.

Activities in Malpe Beach

We were on track next plan to watch sunset from Surathkal, So we left Malpe at 4.15 pm and reached Surathkal around 5 pm.

Surathkal Beach: Lonely Beach with a lighthouse and trees flanking it. Beach is also very clean and neat, Few rock in the beaches make it more beautiful too. Great place to be alone, the view from the top of the light house is breathtaking. the sea and the shore, and the land around can be watched from the top.You can enjoy the crest and tides of the beach, beautiful place to watch the sunsets. very serene. very scenic. Waves are dangerous therefore not advised to swim . You need to pay INR 10 to enter Light House and camera charge is INR 25.

Light House

View from Light House

Sunset view from Light House

Sunset view from Beach

Our Trip Routings:

Mangalore(23km)Bappanad(35km)Udupi(7km)Malpe(46km)Surathkal(17km)Mangalore

Day Trip Can be possible from Udupi to any one of the Pilgrimage sites mentioned below

Towards South of Udupi

Udpui(55)Moodabidri(52)Dharmasthala(54)Kukke Shree Subrahmanya Temple.

Towards North of Udupi

Udupi(103)Murudeshwara(76) Gokarn

Connectivity:
Trains from Udupi Railway station

Udupi-Mumbai
Train No -Train Name
16346 NETRAVATHI EXP
16336 GANDHIDHAM EXP Only on Wednesday
12134 MUMBAI EXP
12620 MATSYAGANDA EXP
12617 MANGALA LDWEEP
22630 TEN DR EXPRES Only on Wednesday

Udupi- Ernakulam/Cochin-Trivandrum

Train No -Train Name
16345 NETRAVATI EXP
12618 MNGLA LKSDP EXP
22113 LTT KCVL EXPRES only on Wednesday and Sunday

Udupi-Bangalore

Train No -Train Name 

16524 YESVANTPUR EXP
Udupi-Delhi

Train No -Train Name 

12617 MANGALA LDWEEP

Nearest Airport
Mangalore, Bajpe International Airport(52km)

Thank you