Udupi district is an administrative district in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka, situated along the Arabian Sea coast in the Tulu Nadu region. It was carved out of the erstwhile Dakshina Kannada district on 25 August 1997, and takes its name from its headquarters town, Udupi, which is renowned for the Krishna Matha founded by the Vaishnava saint Madhvacharya in the 13th century.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Karnataka |
| Region | Tulu Nadu / Coastal Karnataka (Karavali) |
| Headquarters | Udupi |
| Formed | 25 August 1997 |
| Parent district | Dakshina Kannada |
| Languages | Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Beary |
| Coastline | Arabian Sea (west) |
Geography
The district lies between the Western Ghats to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west, occupying a narrow coastal plain that rises sharply into forested hills. It is bordered by Uttara Kannada to the north, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru to the east, and Dakshina Kannada to the south. Major rivers including the Sita, Swarna, Varahi and Chakra drain from the Ghats westward into the sea, and the district contains estuarine and backwater systems near Kundapura and Hangarakatte. The Kollur Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary and parts of the Someshwara range lie in the eastern uplands. Maravanthe, where the Souparnika river runs parallel to the sea, and St Mary's Islands, a geological monument of columnar basalt off Malpe, are notable physical features.
Administration
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner and is part of the Mangaluru revenue division. It has historically been organised into the taluks of Udupi, Kundapura and Karkala, with further subdivisions created in subsequent reorganisations including Kapu, Byndoor, Brahmavar and Hebri. The Udupi City Municipal Council governs the headquarters town, while Kundapura and Karkala have town municipalities. Zilla and taluk panchayats handle rural local government.
History
The region formed part of the Alupa kingdom for several centuries, and later came under the Vijayanagara Empire, the Keladi Nayakas, the Mysore Sultanate under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, and finally the British, who administered it as part of South Canara in the Madras Presidency. After the reorganisation of states in 1956, South Canara was incorporated into Karnataka (then Mysore State) as Dakshina Kannada district. Udupi district was constituted on 25 August 1997 by separating the northern taluks of Udupi, Kundapura and Karkala.
Economy
The district's economy combines fisheries, agriculture, banking and remittances. Malpe is one of the largest fishing harbours on the west coast of India, and Gangolli and Hangarakatte are also significant fishing centres. Paddy is the principal crop, supported by areca, coconut, cashew and banana cultivation. Udupi is historically associated with the founding of several Indian banks; Syndicate Bank (founded at Udupi in 1925 by T. M. A. Pai, Upendra Pai and Vaman Kudva) and Corporation Bank (founded at Udupi in 1906) originated in this region. Tourism, hospitality and the Udupi vegetarian restaurant tradition contribute substantially, and the Udupi Power Corporation thermal plant at Yellur–Padubidri is a major industrial installation.
Demographics and culture
Tulu is the most widely spoken mother tongue in the southern parts of the district, while Kannada predominates in the north around Kundapura, where the local Kundagannada dialect is used. Konkani-speaking communities, including the Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Roman Catholics, and Beary-speaking Muslims also form significant populations. The district is known for the Ashta Mathas of Udupi, the Paryaya festival held every two years at the Krishna Matha, and for Yakshagana, the traditional theatre form of coastal Karnataka. Pilgrim centres include the Krishna Matha at Udupi, the Mookambika temple at Kollur, the Anantheshwara temple, and the Jain basadis and Gomateshwara monolith at Karkala consecrated in 1432.
Education
Udupi is a major educational hub. Manipal, in Udupi taluk, is home to the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (originally founded in 1953 as Kasturba Medical College by T. M. A. Pai), which has grown into a deemed-to-be university with institutions in medicine, engineering, management and the arts. Other long-established institutions include the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College at Udupi and the Poornaprajna College.
Transport
National Highway 66 runs the length of the district along the coast, connecting it to Mangaluru in the south and Karwar–Goa in the north. The Konkan Railway, commissioned in 1998, passes through Udupi, Mulki, Innanje and Kundapura stations. The nearest airport is Mangaluru International Airport at Bajpe.
Related topics
- Karnataka
- Udupi
- Dakshina Kannada district
- Tulu Nadu
- Krishna Matha
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- Yakshagana
- Kollur Mookambika Temple
- Konkan Railway
References
- Wikidata entity: Q1483337
- Government of Karnataka, district administration portal for Udupi.
- Census of India, district handbooks for Udupi.