Look beyond Sun, Water, and Sand with adventurous water sports in Malpe Beach
About 4 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. As per govt. reports 12 lacs travelers visiting Malpe every year and it is growing.
There are three rocky islands to the west of it. The northernmost island is called Daria-Bahadurgad, the middle one Daria-Gadara-Kallu and the southernmost is 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.
Water-Sports & Adventure Activities
If you’re looking for more than just sun and sand, Malpe Beach offers several water-based and adventure-style activities to spice up your visit:
Jet-skiing, banana-boat rides, speed-boats, bumper rides — Make a memorable vacation with adventurous water sports in Malpe Beach. All available on the beach-side paid activities, subject to weather and operator availability.
Parasailing and other aerial rides — a great way to get a panoramic view of the coastline and the Arabian Sea with adventurous flying.
Snorkeling / Light scuba diving in Udupi — Enjoy under the sea views with Scuba Diving in Kaup, Udupi. Thanks to relatively calm sea zones, rocky outcrops and reef patches near shore, you can get a chance to glimpse marine life like colourful coral, fish, and small reef dwellers.
St Marys Island Boat rides — experience the sea boat riding to popular St. Mary’s Island Malpe, a short boat trip away.
When you can Visit: The best time for water-based fun is generally October to March, when the sea is calmer and the skies are clear.
Distance from Major Cities & How to Reach Malpe Beach
Connect from Major cities in Karnataka. Here’s roughly how far Malpe Beach is from some major cities, and how you can get there:
From Udupi: about 5 – 6 km — it’s a quick 15–20 min ride by auto, taxi or City buses from Udupi town centre.
From Mangalore: around 60–66 km — roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by road depending on traffic Taxi or Private busses with good transport facility.
From Bengaluru: around 400–410 km (via NH routes) — travel by road is common; trains to Udupi + auto/taxi to Malpe is also an option, Flight to Mangalore and road travel from Mangalore.
Nearby Places to Visit from Malpe Beach
Malpe lies in a region that’s rich in coastal and cultural attractions — so you can easily extend your beach visit into a full holiday:
St. Mary’s Island — Just a short ferry ride from Malpe Harbour or Sea walk point, famous for its rare hexagonal basalt-rock formations and calm sea; a great spot for exploring, relaxing or photography.
Malpe Harbour: One of the popular fishing ports of Karnataka and goods transport from small vehicles.
Sea Walk — The harbour area and the sea-walk walkway at Malpe itself are worth a stroll: you can see fishing boats, enjoy coastal breeze, watch sunset, and get a sense of local sea-side life.
Udupi Sri Krishna Temple — Located in Udupi city (about 5–6 km from Malpe), it’s a must-visit for spiritual seekers and lovers of heritage architecture. Popular temple across coutry with 8 Mutt and famous Anantheshwara temple Udupi.
Other nearby beaches — If you want quieter or alternate beach vibes, there’s Kapu Beach (with its historic lighthouse, ~20 km from Malpe), Kadike Beach, Padukere Beach, and lesser-known coastline gems like Delta Beach.
Malpe beach is clean and calm beach beside Sea Walk and St Marrys Island 5 Kms distance. Malpe is known for its fishing harbor, St Mary’s Island and beaches.
October to January is the best time to visit Malpe. February to May hot weather and June to Septembe heavvy rainfal. The white sand, clear sky makes your vacation memorable.
visiting time from 9 am to 6 pm. and people can stay near beach till 9 pm
Malpe beach is a natural port in the Udupi District in Karnataka, India. Located about six kilometers to the west of Udupi, it is an important port and a major fishing harbor on the Karnataka coast.
