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Giant silver-and-gold Shiva statue at Murudeshwar against a pale sky

Home › Sacred places › Coastal Karnataka temple trail

Pilgrimage & heritage route · from Mangaluru or Gokarna

Coastal Karnataka temple trail route, cost & what to book

Karnataka's coastal strip, the Karavali, has a distinct temple culture from the inland Deccan — Gokarna's Mahabaleshwara, Murudeshwar's giant Shiva statue, Kateel's Durgaparameshwari on a river island, Udupi's Krishna Matha, and Subramanya's snake-worship temple in the Western Ghats foothills.

Photo: Thamarai Krishnamoorthi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Duration2–3 days
Starts fromMangaluru or Gokarna
Cost from₹3,200 each
Stops5
Best timeOctober to February
Good forFamilies, Solo, Couples

Karnataka's coastal strip, the Karavali, has a distinct temple culture from the inland Deccan — Gokarna's Mahabaleshwara, Murudeshwar's giant Shiva statue, Kateel's Durgaparameshwari on a river island, Udupi's Krishna Matha, and Subramanya's snake-worship temple in the Western Ghats foothills. Together they trace the length of Karnataka's coast and its distinct Konkan-Tulu religious traditions.

Step 2 of 6Next: Route
Your trip plan · PDF

Coastal Karnataka temple trail, planned for you

Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.

  1. Day 1 Gokarna — Mahabaleshwara Temple to Murudeshwar
    • TravelGokarna — Mahabaleshwara Temple₹400
    • TravelMurudeshwar₹100
  2. Day 2 Kateel — Durgaparameshwari Temple to Udupi — Krishna Matha
  3. Day 3 Subramanya

₹49 once, 6 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download

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The route, stop by stop

The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.

Route

Stops

Gokarna — Mahabaleshwara Temple → Murudeshwar → Kateel — Durgaparameshwari Temple → Udupi — Krishna Matha → Subramanya · Directions in Google Maps ↗

  1. 1
    Start — train or bus from Goa or Bengaluru Map ↗
  2. 2
    75 km south, bus or train Map ↗
  3. 3
    100 km further, on a Nethravathi river island Map ↗
  4. 4
    25 km from Kateel Map ↗
  5. 5
    75 km inland, in the Western Ghats foothills Map ↗

Travel legs add up to about ₹790 per person.

Step 3 of 6Next: Cost

What it costs

Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.

Your group₹6,400
Couple · from Mangaluru or Gokarna
Per person₹3,200

A do-it-yourself budget: trains and buses, simple lodges and temple meals. Paid darshan and donations are extra.

Step 4 of 6Next: What to book

What to book ahead

Step 5 of 6Next: Stay & food

Where to stay and eat

Stay

Udupi is the most practical central base, with Gokarna or Murudeshwar as alternative anchors depending on which end you start from.

Food

This coast has a completely different food culture from inland Karnataka — Udupi's own vegetarian tradition, and excellent coastal seafood elsewhere along the route.

Local tip: The Konkan Railway makes most of this route easy without a car — check train timings first and build the road stops (Kateel, Subramanya) around them.
Step 6 of 6Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How many days do you need for Coastal Karnataka temple trail?

2–3 days, starting from Mangaluru or Gokarna.

What is the best time for Coastal Karnataka temple trail?

October to February. The coast is very hot and humid April–May, and heavy monsoon rain (June–September) makes some of this route uncomfortable.

How much does Coastal Karnataka temple trail cost?

From about ₹3,200 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹790.

What needs to be booked in advance?

Nothing requires advance booking: All five are straightforward day visits with standard darshan. Udupi hotel: The most convenient central base for this route, with the widest choice of stays. Coastal trains: The Konkan Railway links most of these towns directly — check timings, as some routes have limited daily services.

Where do pilgrims stay?

Udupi is the most practical central base, with Gokarna or Murudeshwar as alternative anchors depending on which end you start from.

What about food?

This coast has a completely different food culture from inland Karnataka — Udupi's own vegetarian tradition, and excellent coastal seafood elsewhere along the route.

More sacred places and routes

Carved granite Vidyashankara Temple at Sringeri under a blue skySringeri, Horanadu & Kollur2–3 days · from Chikmagalur or UdupiFrom ₹3,500Sri Manjunatha Temple at Dharmasthala with pilgrims in the forecourtDharmasthala & Kukke Subramanya2 days · 1 night · from BengaluruFrom ₹1,800Bhutanatha temples reflected in Agastya Lake below red sandstone cliffs at BadamiBadami, Pattadakal & Aihole2 days · 1 night · from Vijayapura or HampiFrom ₹2,800

Underrated places near by

Palm-fringed rocky cove on the Paradise Beach trail, GokarnaGokarnaFive beaches strung along a cliff walk, a working temple town at one end, and rooms at half what…From ₹800/dayGiant Shiva statue on the green headland at Murudeshwar overlooking the Arabian SeaMurudeshwarA 37-metre Shiva statue looks out to sea from a rocky headland, with a working beach town around…From ₹900/dayJog Falls in full monsoon flow plunging into a misty forested gorgeJog FallsThe Sharavathi river falls 253 metres in four separate streams — Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani —…From ₹1,000/day

Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Thamarai Krishnamoorthi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Nvvchar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Ashok Prabhakaran from Chennai, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · Photo: Pragathi. BH · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

2–3 days · —
Route