Coastal tourism rush
Udupi
Coastal Karnataka witnessed a significant surge in tourist and pilgrim footfall during the holiday weekend, even as intense summer heat prevailed across the region. Popular destinations in Karnataka, especially the twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, saw heavy crowds as a long weekend brought together Labour Day holidays, summer vacations, and limited working days.
Tourists from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru and Kolar arrived in large numbers with families, leading to full occupancy in most hotels across Mangaluru and nearby areas. Key beaches such as Panambur, Tannirbhavi, Surathkal and Someshwar were packed with visitors throughout the day, despite the harsh sun. Traffic congestion was also reported on highways and within city limits due to the influx of private vehicles.
Religious and pilgrimage centres also experienced a sharp rise in devotees. Temples including Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala, Kateel, Bappanadu and Mangaladevi witnessed heavy crowds. In Udupi district, major attractions such as Sri Krishna Matha and beaches like Maravanthe saw continuous visitor flow.
At Malpe Beach alone, over 10,000 to 12,000 tourists were estimated to have visited in a single day. Visitors enjoyed water sports activities such as jet ski rides, banana boat rides and speed boating, with parking areas overflowing and vehicles parked along nearby roads.
A major crowd was also reported at Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple, where more than 35,000 devotees visited on May 1, causing long queues stretching beyond the main road. Temple authorities and staff worked to manage the unprecedented rush and ensure smooth darshan.
With the tourist season expected to continue until mid-May, the coastal belt is likely to remain busy in the coming weeks.
- Heavy weekend tourist rush
- Visitors from Bengaluru and Mysuru
- Beaches crowded despite summer heat
- Hotels and lodges fully occupied
- Major traffic congestion reported
