19+ Daytrip ideas & destinations from Mangalore

If you are visiting Mangaluru and have a day to spare or if you are Mangalurian and wondering where to visit for a day, here is a list of all the places you can explore within one day. Most of these places are within about 200-300 kms and just a few exceeding 350 kms- can be explored within the same day by starting very early and returning late evening. Of course you can start late & skip a few spots or plan an overnight stay and make it a relaxed 2 day trip.

Mangaluru is blessed with beaches on one side, western ghats on the other side and a host of rivers, temples in between. I have offered a few trails focused exclusively on a theme (beach, temple, waterfalls, trekking etc) and few focused on a destination or a mix of them that can be explored in a day.

#	Route	Map link	Key attractions	Total Kms
1	Adventure trail: Jamalabad fort, Didupe falls, Ermayi, Karinjeshwara	Link	Falls, trekking, viewpoint	200
2	Beach trail- Batapady Beach- Someshwara beach-Ullal Delta- Tannirbhavi tree park- Panambur beach-Surathkal beach-Sasihitlu beach-Padubidri beach-Kapu beach-Malpe beach	Link	Beaches Lighthouse Treepark Backwater Watersports Boating	200
3	Waterfalls trail: Koodlu Theertha falls-Varanga-Jomlu Falls, Karkala, Moodubidire	Link	Waterfalls Parks Temples	250
4	Temple trail- Mangaluru- Polali- Kateel- Bappanadu-Udupi	Link	Popular temples	170
5	Rani Jhari-Ballalarayana Durga-Devaramane (Trekking)	Link	Trekking	320
6	Kollur-Kodachadri-Belkal Theertha (Adventure trail)	Link	Temple, falls, hill	350
7	Kalladka KT tea-Narahari hills-Karinjeshwara temple (Leisure trip)	Link	Temples	150
8	Mangaluru Local-Pilikula theme parks, Temples, Beaches, Bonda factory (weekday only)	Link	Temple, beaches,	120
9	Kodi Bengre, Maravanthe-Ottinene-Barkuru	Link	Beaches	300
10	Moodubidire-Karkala-Varanga	Link	Temples, Garden, historic places	180
11	Udupi-Manipal (Add more beaches if interested)	Link	Museums, temples, parks	160
12	Sringeri-Horanadu-Sirimane, Hanumana Gundi	Link	Temple, falls, hills	300
13	Kasargod-Bekal side (Extend further south if interested)	Link	Fort, Beaches	200
14	Tombattu falls, Metkalgudde, Haladi	Link	Falls, Hills nature , watersports	275
15	Beluru-Halebeedu (Extend to explore more with overnight stay)	Link	Historic places	350
16	Agumbe-Kundadri-Kavaledurga-Sringeri	Link	Fort, hills, temple	350
17	Bhatkal-Murudeshwara-Mini Maldives-Ottinene viewpoint	Link	Lighthouse, beach, temple	340
18	Church Trail	Link	Churches	140
19	Adventure trail- Surfing, Houseboat stay, beach activities, boat ride	Link	Watersports	190
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Let me give you some more details into these options, if you are interested.

1 Adventure trail: Jamalabad fort, Didupe falls and Karinjeshwara: 

Didupe falls visit is best undertaken during monsoon season, August till December or even January. Jamalabad fort is best visited between October and March. Start early, hike the hill, head to waterfalls and stop by the hill top temple on your way back. If not keen to trek or have people who can’t climb the hill, skip Jamalabad. The two waterfalls (Didupe and small part of Ermayi) and Karinjeshwara temple can be explored in about half a day (if you can start very early). Belthangady has good restaurants for breakfast.

 

2. Beach trail

A dozen different beaches exist on coastal Karnataka. Some of them have adventure activities (like Malpe beach, seawalk), few of them have light house, tree park, ride to nearby islands or a boat ride in mangrove forest. One of them in blu flag certified (Padubidri) and few often scenic drive (Mattu beach). Explore the charm of these beaches- best done early morning (6 to 10 AM and evening (4 to 7 PM). Mid day visit a temple/museum or other attractions enroute.

Things to try at beaches:

1. Batapady beach- Mangrove forest boat ride
2. Malpe Beach- Boat to St Mary's Island, watersports, sea walk
3. Mattu Beach- scenic drive
4. Kapu Beach- lighthouse
5. Padubidri Blu Flag beach- boat ride to Kamini island, kayaking, kids play area etc
6. Kodi Bengre Delta point- watch river entering sea
7. Taneerbhavi - tree park
8. Someshwara Beach- temple
9. Mulki- Surfing lessons, Kayaking
10. Kodi Beach Kundapura- sea walk, boat rides
11. Sasihitlu Beach- drone view and boats entering sea

Here is a list of Udupi's top 15 beaches

3.  Waterfalls trail: Koodlu Theertha falls-Varanga-Jomlu Falls, Karkala, Moodubidire

Kudlu theertha takes half a day. Best visited between December & Jan. November & Feb you might be lucky. Jomlu, Varanga and if time permits you can extend towards Agumbe/Kundadri or Karkala/Moodubidire.

4. Temple trail- Mangaluru- Polali- Kateel- Bappanadu-Udupi

Invoke the divine spirits by visiting major temples in the area. I’ve listed the top 4-5 in the map but there are much more, depending on how much time you have and if you have any preferences. Of course, club this trail with a few beaches or other attractions if you wish.

5. Rani Jhari-Ballalarayana Durga-Devaramane (Trekking)

If you are into trekking, head to Mudigere in Chikmagalur, trek Ballalarayana Durga and Devaramane. Govt will charge 250 INR per person as entry fee and it is 4-5 kms trek overall. Can be a leisure one day trip from Mangaluru. You may find some waterfalls worth visiting till December or can extend to Sakaleshpura/Chikmagalur side and make it a weekend trip

I am yet to try this trail though

6. Kollur-Kodachadri-Belkal Theertha:

Another adventure tail beckons- visit Belkal theertha(best between October and January), head to Kollur, temple visit, lunch and proceed to Kodachadri (jeep rental or trek), enjoy sunset and return to Mangaluru by night.

7. Kalladka KT tea-Narahari hills-Karinjeshwara temple 

A leisure half day trip to enjoy Kalladka’s KT tea, visit Narahari parvatha and Karinjeshwara temple. You may extend to explore either Belthangady side or Puttur side (Bendre theertha, Balavana etc) or return early to Mangaluru.

8. Mangaluru Local-Pilikula theme parks, Temples, Beaches, Bonda factory 

Don’t want to go too far? There are a dozen places of interest within 10 kms from Mangaluru city. Beaches, temples, Sulthan Bathery, Pilikula Nisarga Dhama with amusement park, zoo, museum, Bonda factory (open on weekdays only) where you can buy tender coconut water for low price etc. Even Adyar falls is worth visiting during Monsoon.

9. Kodi Bengre, Maravanthe-Ottinene-Barkuru

Long highway drive, few scenic beaches, viewpoints and stop at historic town of Barkuru on your way back. 

10. Moodubidire-Karkala-Varanga

Mudubidire has 1000 pillar basadi, a nice nature park (Kadalakere nisagra dhama), Karkala has a dozen places worth visiting. Would be nice day trip for family- not too far.

11. Udupi-Manipal

Manipal is home to 3 museums, a tree park, a falls. Udupi has the popular temple, coin museums and many offbeat places

12. Sringeri-Horanadu-Sirimane, Hanumana Gundi

Popular temple trail, with a few waterfalls included (Sirimane falls) 

13. Kasargod-Bekal side

 Short trip to Kerala. (Extend further south if interested)

14. Tombattu falls, Metkalgudde, Haladi

 A few offbeat places - Tombattu falls, Metkalgudde, Bharathkal Haladi etc

15. Beluru-Halebeedu 

 The two popular historic temples can be visited in a day (Extend to explore more with overnight stay)

16. Agumbe-Kundadri-Kavaledurga-Sringeri

 Viewpoints, temples, trekking adventure [18+ spots to explore in Agumbe]

17. Bhatkal-Murudeshwara-Mini Maldives-Ottinene viewpoint

Highway drive, temples, lighthouse, viewpoints [Bhatkal 10+ places to visit ]

18. Church Trail

 Visit popular churches in the region 

19. Adventure trail- Surfing, Houseboat stay, beach activities, boat ride

Most of these are best achieved with your own vehicle or a taxi. However they are also doable with public transportation as the region has a good bus network. But then, you might have to skip a few places as more time will be spent traveling, finding a local auto/taxi or waiting for the next bus. Bike and car rentals are available in Mangaluru. [Royal Bothers Activa rental experience]

Did I miss anything? Let me know your thoughts. I will have a few more options overtime and try to ensure the list touches 25.

If we are looking at a two day/weekend trip then there are more options - We can plan Coorg, Karwar/Goa/Jog Falls/Kannur/Wayanad and many more places with an overnight stay. I will write a separate post on that.