This summer, take your pick of gorgeous islands and glorious beaches in Karnataka, says Sumana B Jayanth
This summer, take your pick of gorgeous islands and glorious beaches in Karnataka, says Sumana B Jayanth1) Maravanthe
District: Udupi
Distance: 360 km from Bangalore
Nearest railway station: Kundapur
Nearest airport: Mangalore
Maravanthe is situated 50 km from Udupi and 15 km from Kundapur. The Kodachadri Hills form an impressive backdrop. The drive along the West Coast Road is spectacular. At Maravanthe, you get to laze on the sands, and watch the waves break near your feet. The beach, though secluded, is safe. Many adventurous folk pitch a tent and camp out when the weather's good.u00a0
2) Byndoor
District: Udupi
Distance: 445 km from Bangalore
A mere 45 km from Maravanthe beach is Byndoor, a small town in Kundapur. Sandpipers crest the waves as the sun dips in the horizon. Byndoor, with its snaking shores and spectacular sunsets, is also home to the Someshwara and the Shaneshwara shrines.
3) Sultan Batteri
District: South Kanara
Distance: 350 km from Bangalore
Sultan Batteri is a gun emplacement built by Tipu Sultan, to guard the Gurpur estuary. The silent ruins are testimony to the conflict that raged in this area between the British, the Portuguese and the Indians, which culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Mangalore between the British and Tipu. The Archaeological Survey of India's restoration of the site hasn't been something to crow about. Hardly 3 km from Mangalore city is a small lake, which has to be crossed in a ferry to reach the shores of Sultan Batteri. The white sand and the wild sea can take your breath away. Enjoy the picturesque scene during the day; night visits are not advised.
4) Murudeshwar
District: North Kanara
Distance: 500 km from Bangalore
The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple at Murudeshwar. It surrounds the temple that rises out of a hill called Kanduka Giri. Once a secluded beach with a small shrine atop the hill, Murudeshwar now boasts the tallest Shiva statue in the world! Two massive stone elephants flank the entrance to the temple. For a true whiff of Murudeshwar, go for a walk on the beach before daybreak.
