PRIORITY TO PROMOTING BEACH TOURISM

Udupi is gifted with natural and beautiful landscape; and if we bring in a right balance of promoting it as a tourist destination as well as keep it Eco-friendly it should benifit the locals with the influx of more tourists and activities at these beautiful beaches. currently some these beaches mentioned below do attract tourists but not in large numbers, the effort is on bring in a change and also develop uncharted beaches...

Kaup Beach

A hamlet of Padu village about l2 kms south of Udupi Kaup is situated on the coastal belt, which passes through the West Coast National Highway. Marda Heggade, a chieftain, rose to power here during the Vijayanagara days. It has an old lighthouse, the guiding star of navigators who are warned of the presence of dangerous rocks in the sea. This Tower of light not only guides the ships but also has a monumental significance. Positioned all alone it spreads light on the shore of darkness. It was mostprobably begun in 1906 on the rocks and in about 1935 the tower was all set. The man made tower is at the height of about 34 meters and its light spreads over a distance of about 34 miles and can be seen from a distance of about 100 miles. The lantern has a burner of 55 meter P. V. burner comprising of 30 pieces, 5 panels and 3.6 diameter glass. The surrounding glass has a height of 1.83 meters. It has a spiral staircase. The fuel used for the lamp is kerosene Recently the electricity supply is also provided at the light tower.There is also an old ruined fort. The place is known for its temples of goddess Mariamma. The Jaina Basadi there is in ruins and so also an old Janardhana shrine.

Malpe Beach

About four kms to the west of Udupi, Malpe is an important port of the Karnataka coast. It is situated at the mouth of the Malpe/Udyavara River. The river is navigable to small cargo boats for about ten kms during high tide. The place has fascinating natural scenic view. It has been a centre of commercial activities for a long time, and one plus point is that it is a natural port.

There are three rocky islands to the west of it. The northern-most island is called Daria-Bahadurgad, the middle one Daria-Gadara-Kallu and the southern most Kari-Illada-Kallu. 

The Daria-Bahadurgad port is famous for its export of processed fish to foreign countries. The sea between the rocky islands and the shore is a safe anchorage for vessels during storms and rough weather. The oldest tile factory of the district set up by the Basel Mission exists here. Fishing and fish curing are the important industries of the place. There are temples of Balarama and Ananteshwara here. The image of Balarama has six faces. Perhaps this was originally a temple of Subramanya or Shanmukha, the six-faced deity who was named Balarama at a later date. 

It is said that Basavappa Nayaka of Bidanur built the Daria-Bahadurgad fort. Malpe is going to be developed into an important fisheries port. There is also a temple of Vadabhandeshwara here. At Kodavuru, a hamlet of Malpe situated one of the two well-known Shankaranarayana temples of the district. The deity here is in a double linga form. The sport is also known as Krodhashrama.

Brahmavar Beach

Is a village about 13 kms north of Udupi. It has been mentioned as Brahmaputr, Brahmavuar and Brahmara in the inscription, which means 'a settlement of Brahmins'. It is an ancient cultural centre of the region being adjacent to Barkur, which was the capital town; Brahmavar must have been a prosperous city. There are three main temples in Brahmavar (1) the Mahalinga temple (2) Gopinatha temple, (3) Janardhana shrine in the agrahara. 

It is believed that the Mahalinga temple was constructed in the 9th century AD. The wall of the temple is built on the laterite stones. There is an image of Gaja-Gowri, which has been kept in navaranga, which perhaps belongs to the Hoysala period. It is holding Ankusha and Pasha in the upper hand and Padma (lotus) in right lower, and the left lower hand in the abhaya pose. Handadi was the settlement of the Hande family. The Gopinatha temple is mentioned in an inscription that it is the third temple; the image of the presiding deity is of Hoysala workmanship.

Shankaranarayana Beach

About 32 kms to the east of Kundapur, is traditionally called also as Krodha Kshetra and is one of the seven places of pilgrimage in the region, referred to in the Skandha Purana. Shankaranarayana means Shiva and Vishnu. According to a legend, a sage named Krodha performed penance here and a spot with a cave here are shown as having been the site of his ashrama. The place is situated near the Western Ghats amidst fascinating surroundings. It is famous for its large Shankaranarayana temple, which has been recently renovated. Just in front of the temple there is a pond, which is called Koti Teertha.

A large bell bearing a Portuguese inscription, in the front yard of the temple is claimed to be a gift of Tipu Sultan. It is said that its chimes can be heard to a distance of about eight kms. There are a few inscriptions in the temple, one of which records that the temple was renovated in 1563 by the then Ikkeri ruler. The main deity of the temple (Shankaranaryana) is in the form of two Udbhava linga, but looks like one linga. The temple has a beautiful bronze image of Harihara and there are also some fine wood carvings here. There are other shrines of Mahaganapati, Gopalakrishna, Panchamukhi-veeranjaneya, Subrahmanya, Gowri-Lakshmi, Partheshwara, and Belli-Shankaranarayana, which is a life-size silver image, within the inner Prakara, and Basaveshwara, Gopinatha, Umamaheshwara, Mahalingeshwara, Nandikeshwara and Veera-Kallutike shrines 

Maravanthe Beach

a drive along the NH-17 towards the north, to Maravanthe proves to be truly memorable. The gurgle of the waves, the soft gentle breeze kissing your cheeks and a round ball of crimson in the horizon transforms Maravanthe into a breathtaking fairyland.

Maravanthe (Kundapura taluk), about nine kms east of Kundapura is one of the most beautiful spots of South Kanara along the east coast. It is an enchanting place, where on the western side, the Arabian Sea is stretching, while on the eastern side, runs the Saurpanika River and in between them passes the west coast road. Thus only a road divides the sea and the river. Though the river has come down very near to the sea as near as 40-50 feet, it does not join the sea there. It looks as though the sea is higher in level than the river, which joins the sea at Gangolli about eight kms south of this site

On the eastern side, is a fascinating panorama of coconut palm, green fields and evergreen forest of undulating countryside with the backward of the Kodachadri peak on the Western Ghat present itself with varied scenic beauty. There is a good scope and facility for boating both in sea and in river. Just on the bank of Saurpanika River,there is a Varahaswami temple with three cells which have Varaha, Narasimha, and Janardhana. The place has also a temple of Brahmalingeshwara. There is a proposal to develop Maravanthe as a major tourist spot.

Ottinane Beach

The Kshitija Nature Resort, a beach, sunset point are the favourite spots of travelers here. Forest guest house provides accommodation to visitors. 

 

 

Murdeshwar Beach

This picturesque place situated 16 km from Bhatkal has a gorgeous temple perched on a hillock by the shore. The temple, which embodies a Linga, is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the Atma linga at Gokarna while lifting it. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse. It is said that Tipu renovated the huge fort behind the temple. Bounded by the shimmering sea and rolling hills, this place is a favourite tourist spot.

PRIORITY TO PROMOTING BEACH TOURISM: SORAKE

THE HINDU

UDUPI, January 27, 2015

Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, said on Monday that an action plan of Rs. 9.13 crore had been drawn up to develop beaches in Udupi district. He was speaking at the Republic Day function here.

Mr. Sorake said that the objective of the plan is to exploit the potential of the district’s several pristine beaches and promote tourism.

As part of promoting pilgrim tourism in Karkala, Rs. 60 lakh had been released to construct a Yatri Nivas. To develop eight-link roads in the district, the Department of Tourism had released Rs. 10.55 crore.

A proposal to construct two multi-purpose shelters, three bridges and 29 connecting bridges, under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project, in Udupi district at an estimated Rs. 40 crore had been submitted to the government.

The multipurpose shelters would be constructed at Thekkatte in Kundapur taluk and at Padu village in Udupi taluk. The Union and State governments would contribute funds in a 75:25 ratio for the project.

Steps have been taken to expedite work on widening the Talapady-Kundapur stretch of National Highway 66. The government would speed up work on the Varahi Irrigation Project.

The government had given its approval to for establish ing a science centre in the district at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.66 lakh. A mini Vidhan Soudha had been sanctioned for Udupi taluk and its construction would begin shortly. The construction of the mini Vidhan Soudha in Kundapur was in the final stages, he said.