Udupi, implies ‘Lord of the Stars’, i.e, the ‘Moon’. As a story goes, King Dakshya cursed the moon, causing it to loose its shine. The Moon God practiced renunciation hereafter, impressing Lord Shiva. This gave rise to a lingam, which is seen at Chandramouleeshwar Temple even today.
Uduipi is also famously known as ‘Abode of Lord Krishna’. Madhava, a Sanskrit philosopher, founded ‘Krishna Mutt’ in 13th century. Tourists and devotees get darshan of Lord Krishna from ‘Kanaka Kindi’, a window through which Lord Krishna is known to have given darshan to his devotee, Kanakadasa. The temples of Vadabhandeshwara, Chandramouleeshwara and Ananteeshwara are worth visiting. Udupi also has a scenic atmosphere created by many beaches bordering its coastline, including St. Mary’s Island, Malpe and Kaup. Malpe beach is a famous port and fishing centre. It is known for its distinct rock formations, rich in basalt.
One must not miss ‘Udupi Cuisine’ which is famous all over India and some foreign countries. It was the initiation of Shivali Madhawa Brahmins who prepared food for the Lord. Today, the food service is free, offering delicacies to all visitors. Manipal and Brahmavar are nearby places of tourist interest. Udupi is at a distance of 60 km from Mangalore, 415 km from Bangalore and the best time to visit is between October and March.
