Visit to Udupi and Malpe, Karnataka

Malpe, a coastal Village of Udupi

Today, on May 26, 2023, we visited the coastal Village of Malpe, situated a few kms away from the pilgrimage center of Udupi in Karnataka.
The village dominated by the fishing communities, has in it's periphery four islands, one among it has been known as the St. Mary island after the famous Voyager, Vasco Da Gama, during his visit to Calicut in the Malabar region landed in the island and had installed the holy cross in the memory of the virgin Mary, in 1498.

However, the island of St. Mary was known to the villagers as the coconut island. This island has the unique rock formations of the basaltic lava columnar. The Geological Society of India, in 2006, declared it as the geological heritage site, as it has the rock formations having linkages with more than 80 million years, when the greater India was connected with Madagascar.
Malpe, is one of the major fishing harbors in Karnataka, however during the bygone days it was known since the second century C. E. mentioned by the famous Greek geographer, Ptolemy.
Udupi, from the hoary past was known as the shaivite pilgrimage centre for the temple of Chandramouleshwar. During the 14 th century one of the greatest spiritual leader of Dwaita philosophy Madhvacharya established Udupi as the pilgrimage centre for Vaishnavism with the temple of Lord Shrikrishna.

By doing the sea walk, we from the harbour of Malpe reached the view point from where we could enjoy the glimpses of geological heritage of all the four islands nestled in the Arabian sea.

Malpe beach is one the coastal tourism attraction, established by Karnataka, where local as well the Indian tourists are coming to enjoy the weekend. Though, from the September to May, the ferryboat service is available, this year, however it has been closed before the onset of the monsoon and due to this, the tourists could not get the opportunity to visit the site of the geological heritage of Malpe. However, one can get the excellent view of the glimpses of it during the sea walk, in broad daylight.

Staying in the home stay of Malpe, one can get the experience of the local hospitality as well as the cuisine of coastal Karnataka. Malpe, alongwith Udupi, was once the part of the Tuluva Kingdom, where one can see the remnants of the rich history and heritage of the great empire of the Vijaynagar. Shrikrishna temple along with the temples of Ananteshwar and Chandramoulishwar, showcases the varied facets of the cultural and religious heritage of the coastal lands of Karnataka.

Goa, has been indebted to Udupi, as the spiritual leader Madhvacharya visited Goa, and preached the Dwaita philosophy and popularized the Vaishwanism in the land that was once dominated by the Shaivism. When, he came to Mapusa, it is said that he was offered thousands of sweet and nutritious Mayandoli bananas brought from Moira village known during the past for the cultivation of this unique species of the indigenous bananas of the land. The wrestler, ate and satisfied by relishing on the tasty Mayandoli bananas of Moira or Mayade.
The chain of the vegetarian restaurants spread in various parts of Goa and country and abroad is hailed from Udupi and the taste of it, we could enjoy in Udupi, district headquarter.

We got opportunity to cross the Seetha river while coming from Udupi to Kundapur. Seetha river, also spelled Sita and Sitha river, is a west flowing river located in Karnataka state, India, which flows mainly in Udupi district.
The river originates near Narasimha Parvatha and passes through Agumbe forests and flows near Hebri, Barkur and joins Suvarna river, before joining Arabian sea. Water flows in the river rises to high levels during monsoon rains. The river and its smaller tributaries have made several water falls like Kudlu falls, Barkana falls, Jomlu Thirtha falls. River rafting is undertaken by adventure lovers during June to October, with the coordination of Government agencies.

While going to Kollure for seeing the heritage site of the Petroglyphs, we visited Ashok and Mounesh Acharya in Nempu village, followers of Vishwakarma who have acquired immense skills in the art of stone carvings. Sculptures made by them, pleased us by their art and craft. Stone used for the carving is krishnashila, that is being brought from Karkal.
In Kollur, we entered the sacred grove, where the wooden sculptures of the deity Mookambika are worshipped. The devotees throng in a big number for tying the cradles to the twigs of the trees after, their wishes are fulfilled of the child blessing. The flowers of the areca nut are used in worshipping the deities.
We reached in the village of Marankatte, where demon who was killed by the goddess Mookambika, is being worshipped as Brahmalingeshwar alongwith Yakshini. Near to the temple, at the left side a shrine of Sri Haiguli and Huli devaru are there, where two wooden effigies and one more big effigy of tigers are worshipped as the folkdeities.