Bangalore to Udupi Distance: 3 Ghat Roads and Vehicles

The Bangalore to Udupi distance is about 400 km, 8 to 9 hours by road, and most temple groups we send go in a mini bus on rent in Bangalore. Udupi is the temple town of the Krishna Matha, with Malpe beach and St Mary's Island next door. The plains end at Hassan or Shivamogga, and every road to the coast then goes down a ghat.

Which ghat you take changes the drive more than anything else, so we start there. Then the temple, every place around, a 2-day plan and the fares.

Our 25 seater mini bus with a family group on a 5-day Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Jog Falls and Udupi tour.

Bangalore to Udupi: quick facts

Bangalore to Udupi distance by three ghat roads

Udupi route map from Bangalore: about 400 km via Hassan, Sakleshpur, the Shiradi ghat and Mangalore.

The distance between Bangalore and Udupi is close to 400 km on all three ghat roads; what changes is the climb. The Udupi to Bangalore distance is the same on the way back, by whichever ghat is open.

Road 1: via Shiradi ghat and Mangalore (our usual)

Road 2: via Charmadi ghat and Karkala

Road 3: via Shivamogga and Agumbe ghat

When the Shiradi road is under repair, we switch to Charmadi or Agumbe. Our drivers check the ghat status the evening before.

The hills seen from the Charmadi ghat road. Photo: Glany Saldanha, CC BY 3.0

Udupi Krishna temple: timings and tips

• Timings: open from early morning (about 5 am) to night, with a break for puja around noon. Check the day's timings at the Matha, as festival days change them.

• Kanakana Kindi: the Lord is seen through a small nine-hole window, the Kanakana Kindi.

• Dress: wear traditional clothes. The rules for each seva are shown at the gate.

• Food: free prasada meal at the Matha at lunch, and many old-style Udupi hotels on Car Street.

• Parking: buses park outside the Car Street area; it is a short walk.

Best time to visit Udupi

October to March is the best time: the sea is calm and the boats to St Mary's Island run. April and May are hot and humid. From June to September the monsoon closes the sea for boats, but the ghat roads are at their greenest. Krishna Janmashtami in August or September brings huge crowds.

Udupi tourist places with distance

Fishing boats at Malpe harbour, 6 km from Udupi, where the St Mary's Island boats start. Photo: Rudolph A. Furtado, public domain

Udupi 2-day trip plan from Bangalore

• Day 1: leave at 5 am, reach Udupi by 2 pm, Krishna Matha darshan, Malpe beach for sunset.

• Day 2: boat to St Mary's Island in the morning (October to May), Kaup beach, then back to Bangalore by night.

• 3 to 4 days: add Kollur, Maravanthe and Murudeshwar to the north, or Karkala, Kateel and Dharmasthala on the way back by Charmadi.

The lighthouse on the rocks at Kaup beach, about 15 km from Udupi. Photo: Arun Keerthi K. Barboza, CC BY 2.0

Which vehicle suits Udupi

• Families of 5 to 7: Innova Crysta (₹20/km), or a Mercedes-Benz E-Class (₹140/km) for a luxury temple trip. Innova Hycross on request.

• Friends, up to 13: 13 seater tempo traveller (₹24/km).

• Families, more comfort: 12 seater Urbania (₹40/km).

• Temple groups: 25 seater mini bus (₹36/km), which we run on our own coastal temple tours.

• Big groups: 40 seater bus (₹60/km), 45 seater BharatBenz (₹70/km) or 49 seater bus (₹54/km).

Our 16 seater mini bus with a group on a 4-day coast trip to Gokarna.

Bangalore to Udupi vehicle options

Outstation trips are billed at 300 km per day minimum (400 km for Volvo and BharatBenz buses), or the actual km if more. A 2-day Udupi trip comes to about 850 km with local driving.

Driver allowance per day, tolls and parking are added in the written quote (no state permit inside Karnataka). See the full route pages for the Bangalore to Udupi tempo traveller, cab, Urbania, mini bus and bus.

See Bangalore to Udupi Urbania rates →

Bangalore to Udupi by train, bus or flight

By train

Overnight trains run from Bangalore to Udupi and Mangalore through the Sakleshpur ghat, about 10 to 12 hours.

By KSRTC bus

KSRTC and private sleeper buses run every night from Bangalore to Udupi, about 9 hours.

By flight

Fly to Mangalore, 60 km from Udupi. We can pick you up at the airport and do the coastal trip from there.

Tips from our drivers

• Cross the ghat in daylight; in the monsoon, mist on Charmadi and Agumbe can be thick.

• Reach the Krishna Matha before 10 am on weekends to avoid the long queue.

• The return drive is long; leave Udupi by 2 pm to be home the same night.

Planning an Udupi trip

Send your dates, pickup area and the number of people to +91 9980277773 on call or WhatsApp. We reply with a written quote within 2 hours and confirm after a 15 to 20% advance.

See all sizes and rates: tempo traveller on rent in Bangalore, mini bus on rent in Bangalore, bus on rent in Bangalore, cab rental in Bangalore.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Udupi from Bangalore?

About 400 km, 8 to 9 hours by road via Hassan, the Shiradi ghat and Mangalore.

Which is the best road from Bangalore to Udupi?

The Shiradi ghat road via Mangalore suits every vehicle. Charmadi and Agumbe are good for cars and small groups when Shiradi is under repair.

What are the timings of the Udupi Krishna temple?

It opens early in the morning, about 5 am, and stays open till night, with a break around noon. Festival days change the timings.

Which vehicle is best for a temple group of 25 to Udupi?

A 25 seater mini bus at ₹36/km. It is the size we run on our own coastal temple tours. For 8 to 13 people, a 13 seater tempo traveller at ₹24/km. All sizes are on our mini bus on rent in Bangalore page.

What is the Udupi to Bangalore distance?

About 400 km by the Shiradi ghat road, 8 to 9 hours. By the Charmadi ghat it is about 390 km.

How far is Kateel from Udupi?

The Kateel Durgaparameshwari temple is about 55 km from Udupi, around 1.5 hours by road. Many temple groups add it on the way to or from Mangalore.