Udupi is a city and the headquarters of Udupi district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Arabian Sea coast in the Tulu Nadu region, it is widely known as a temple town centred around the Sri Krishna Matha founded by the 13th-century Vaishnava saint Madhvacharya. The city has also lent its name to the popular Udupi cuisine, a vegetarian culinary tradition that has spread across India and abroad.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Udupi |
| Region | Tulu Nadu, Coastal Karnataka |
| Languages | Tulu, Kannada, Konkani |
| Known for | Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi cuisine, Ashta Mathas |
Udupi lies on the western coast of India, between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats to the east. The town is situated north of Mangalore along National Highway 66, which runs along the Konkan and Karnataka coastline. The Swarna and Papanashini rivers flow near the town, and beaches such as Malpe and Kaup are located in its vicinity. St. Mary's Islands, a group of small islands known for their columnar basaltic rock formations, lie off the coast at Malpe.
Udupi's recorded history is closely tied to the religious activity of Madhvacharya, who established the Sri Krishna Matha in the 13th century and propagated the Dvaita school of Vedanta. He is also credited with organising the Ashta Mathas (eight monasteries) of Udupi, which take turns conducting the worship of the Krishna idol through the biennial Paryaya ceremony.
Over the centuries, the region was part of several political units, including the Alupa dynasty, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Keladi Nayakas, the realm of Tipu Sultan, and subsequently British-administered South Canara under the Madras Presidency. After Indian independence, the area became part of the Madras State and, following the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, of Mysore State (later renamed Karnataka). Udupi district was carved out of Dakshina Kannada district on 25 August 1997.
The Sri Krishna Matha is the principal religious landmark of the town. Devotees view the deity through the Navagraha Kindi, a nine-holed window, a tradition associated with the saint Kanakadasa. The eight matha clusters — Pejavara, Palimaru, Adamaru, Puttige, Sodhe, Kaniyooru, Shirur, and Krishnapura — administer the temple in rotation under the Paryaya system.
Other notable temples in the area include the Anantheshwara and Chandramouleeshwara temples adjacent to the Krishna Matha, and the Mahalakshmi temple at Manipal. The Yakshagana folk theatre tradition is widely practised in the region, and Tulu, Kannada and Konkani cultural traditions coexist in the city.
Udupi is closely associated with the township of Manipal, located on its eastern outskirts, which hosts the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Kasturba Medical College, and Manipal Institute of Technology. The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) College and Poornaprajna College are among the older educational institutions within Udupi town itself.
The local economy combines agriculture, fisheries, banking, education, tourism, and remittances from a substantial diaspora in the Gulf region and elsewhere. Malpe is one of the major fishing harbours on the Karnataka coast. The coastal belt around Udupi has historically been a cradle of Indian banking, with several major banks — including Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank and Corporation Bank — having been founded in the broader undivided South Canara region.
Udupi cuisine is a vegetarian tradition rooted in the cooking practices of the temple and the Ashta Mathas. Dishes such as masala dosa, idli, sambar, rasam and various forms of saaru and palya are associated with this style. The "Udupi hotel" or "Udupi restaurant" became a widespread format for affordable vegetarian eateries across India during the 20th century.
Udupi is served by National Highway 66 and by the Konkan Railway, with Udupi railway station located on the Mangalore–Mumbai route. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport, to the south. State and private bus services connect Udupi with Mangalore, Bengaluru, and other cities in Karnataka and neighbouring states.