Best Photo Spots in Udupi
Udupi packs a lot into a short drive. In one day you can photograph a temple square with wooden chariots, a busy fishing harbour, a white lighthouse on black rocks and an island made of six-sided stone columns.
Whether you like temple streets, beaches, sunsets or unusual rock formations, these are some of the best photo spots in Udupi.
Entry Nominal (lighthouse)
Kaup Beach & Lighthouse
- Best timeLate afternoon for the lighthouse climb; sunset, when the sky glows behind the lighthouse and the rocks.
- ColorsWhiteRedAqua
High crowdEntry Free
Malpe Beach
- Best timeSunset, when the sand turns golden and the sky glows over the sea; early morning for the fishing boats at the harbour.
- ColorsWhiteCoralAqua
Medium crowdEntry Free
Manipal End Point
- Best timeLate afternoon to sunset, when warm light falls across the river valley and the fields.
- ColorsWhiteCoralGreen
High crowdEntry Free
Sri Krishna Matha
- Best timeEarly morning, when Car Street is quiet and the light falls softly on the chariots; evening, when lamps light up the temple square.
- ColorsSaffronWhiteGold
Medium crowdEntry Boat fare
St Mary's Islands
- Best timeMorning, on an early boat, for softer light on the rock columns and fewer people on the shore.
- ColorsWhiteCoralCobalt
Why Udupi Is Great for Photography
Udupi gives you two very different sides within a few kilometres. Car Street, around the Krishna Matha, is all old monastery fronts, carved chariots and pilgrims, while Malpe, Kaup and St Mary's Islands give you open sea, fishing boats and rocks.
The coast faces west, so the evenings are the main event. The sun sets over the Arabian Sea behind the Kaup lighthouse, the Malpe shore and the Swarna river valley at Manipal End Point.
Photography Tips for Udupi
- Shoot the temple from outside: Photography is restricted inside the Krishna Matha, so plan your shots of the chariots and gateways on Car Street.
- Go to the islands early: The first boats to St Mary's Islands are quieter, and the light on the basalt columns is softer before midday.
- Face the sunset: Kaup and Malpe both look west, so stay until the sun touches the sea.
- Mind the salt and sand: Sea spray and sand get into phones and lenses quickly, so carry a cloth and a zip bag.
- Watch your step on the rocks: The rocks at Kaup and St Mary's are wet and slippery near the water.
- Ask before photographing people: This includes pilgrims on Car Street and fishermen at Malpe harbour.
Best Time for Photography in Udupi
October to February usually gives clear skies, calm seas and the best sunsets. This is also the only time of year you can photograph St Mary's Islands, as boats usually stop from mid-May to mid-September. The monsoon turns the countryside a deep green, but heavy rain and rough seas make beach photography hard.
For festival photos, the lamps of Laksha Deepotsava in November and the Paryaya procession in January light up Car Street.
Questions
Udupi — FAQ
What are the best photo spots in Udupi?
The best photo spots in Udupi are Car Street and the Sri Krishna Matha, Malpe Beach, St Mary's Islands, Kaup Beach lighthouse and Manipal End Point. Together they cover temple life, the fishing coast, rocks and sunsets.
Can I take photos inside the Udupi Krishna temple?
Photography is restricted inside the Krishna Matha, and staff may stop you. Take your photos outside instead, of the temple chariots, the gateways and daily life on Car Street.
Where can I photograph the sunset in Udupi?
Kaup lighthouse and Malpe Beach are the best places to watch the sun set over the sea. Manipal End Point gives you a sunset over the Swarna river valley instead.
Is St Mary's Island good for photography?
Yes. Its six-sided basalt columns are unlike anything else on India's coast. Go on an early boat for softer light, and remember the boats usually do not run in the monsoon.
Is Udupi good for Instagram photos?
Yes. The basalt columns at St Mary's, the Kaup lighthouse and the colourful fishing boats at Malpe are some of the most recognisable backdrops on the Karnataka coast.