Pilgrimage & Yatra
Kollur Mookambika and Udupi yatra from Bangalore
Kollur is 400 km from Bangalore and there are two ways to get there, which is the first decision to make. The inland route through Shivamogga and Hosanagara is shorter and rougher. The coastal route through Mangalore and Udupi is longer but faster, better surfaced, and lets you fold in Udupi Krishna, Malpe beach and St Mary's Island without a detour. For a group in a large vehicle, the coastal route is almost always the better call. Most groups combine Kollur with Udupi and Murudeshwar and make it a three-day circuit rather than a single-temple trip.
What this trip actually involves
- Interstate permitNone. Entire circuit is within Karnataka
- Two route optionsInland via Shivamogga and Hosanagara, 400 km, rougher hill road. Coastal via Mangalore and Udupi, 460 km, faster and better surfaced. We recommend coastal for large vehicles
- Temple timingsMookambika opens early for abhisheka and closes in the afternoon before reopening. Udupi Krishna darshan is through the Kanakana Kindi window
- Dress codeTraditional at both. Men remove shirts at the Udupi Krishna sanctum
- KudajadriThe trek and jeep track above Kollur is done in local 4x4 jeeps only. No touring vehicle goes up. Budget half a day if the group wants it
- On the same circuitUdupi Krishna, Malpe beach, St Mary's Island, Murudeshwar, Maravanthe coastal road, Anegudde Ganapathi
Cost per person
Round-trip fare divided by the vehicle's seat count. Fill fewer seats and each person pays proportionally more.
Bangalore to Kollur Mookambika — 400 km, 8 – 9 hours
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip | Per head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ertiga | 6 | ₹13,100 | ₹2,183 |
| Tempo Traveller 12 | 12 | ₹18,100 | ₹1,508 |
| Urbania 13 | 13 | ₹36,700 | ₹2,823 |
No interstate permit — the route stays within Karnataka. Driver allowance included; tolls and parking at actuals. Minimum running 300 km per day for round trips out of Bengaluru. Point-to-point fare for this route: sara.cab.
Itinerary options
Day 1
Bangalore → Udupi
Early departure via Hassan and Mangalore. Long driving day on good road. Evening Udupi Krishna darshan and the Ashta Mathas. Overnight Udupi.
Day 2
Udupi → Kollur → Murudeshwar
Morning drive to Kollur, 80 km, for Mookambika darshan. Kudajadri by local jeep if the group wants it. Afternoon along the Maravanthe coastal road to Murudeshwar. Overnight Murudeshwar.
Day 3
Return via Malpe
Murudeshwar temple and the Shiva statue, then back south with a stop at Malpe and St Mary's Island if time allows. Return to Bangalore, arriving late.
Recommended vehicles
Ertiga
The smallest vehicle on this site, and the entry point for group travel. Below six people a sedan is cheaper; at six the Ertiga is the only vehicle where nobody sits sideways.
Tempo Traveller 12
The best cost per person of anything on this site. If the group is eight or more and the budget matters more than recliner seats, this is the answer.
Urbania 13
The most-booked Urbania. Thirteen recliners, standing headroom and a real boot — the default choice for corporate offsites and wedding-party transport.
Questions we get asked
Which route should a Tempo Traveller take to Kollur?
The coastal route via Mangalore and Udupi. It is 60 km longer but on far better road, and the inland Hosanagara stretch is narrow and rough enough to slow a large vehicle considerably. The coastal route also gives you Udupi and Murudeshwar on the way.
Can our vehicle take us up to Kudajadri?
No. The Kudajadri track above Kollur is served by local 4x4 jeeps only, and no touring vehicle of any size goes up. Your driver will drop you at the jeep stand and wait.
Is one day enough for Kollur from Bangalore?
No. It is 400 to 460 km one way. A single-day attempt means about eighteen hours on the road for a short darshan. Two days minimum, three if you want Udupi and Murudeshwar properly.
What is the per-head cost for 12 people?
See the table above for the vehicle cost on this route. At twelve people a Tempo Traveller is the lowest per head; the 13 seater Urbania costs more per head but has the boot space that a three-day coastal circuit with luggage actually needs.
One last thing
The coastal stretch between Kundapura and Murudeshwar, where the road runs with the Arabian Sea on one side and the Souparnika backwater on the other, is the best half hour of driving in coastal Karnataka. Ask the driver to take it slowly rather than making up time.