Sri Manjunatha Temple
The great Shaiva kshetra administered by the Heggade family, famous for its free annapoorna meals, its Bahubali statue at Ratnagiri…
Lord ManjunathaRead more
Karkala to Dharmasthala by Car or Tempo Traveller
Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala · 65 km · about 1 hour 45 minutes one way · chauffeur-driven
How far is Dharmasthala from Karkala?
Dharmasthala is 65 km from Karkala — about 1 hour 45 minutes via Moodbidri and Belthangady. A comfortable half-day.
- Distance
- 65 km one way
- Drive time
- 1 hour 45 minutes
- Destination
- Sri Manjunatha Temple, Dharmasthala
- Suggested vehicle
- Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
- Driver
- Included — we do not offer self-drive
Why people make this trip
Karkala sits closer to Dharmasthala than Udupi does, so this is one of the shortest temple runs we do. It leaves enough of the day free to add Southadka or the Karkala monuments on the way back.
What the road is like
South-east through Moodbidri and Venoor to Belthangady. A quiet inland road through areca and paddy country, with the Ghats on the left the whole way.
Worth stopping for on the way
- Moodbidri Thousand Pillar Basadi
- Venoor Bahubali
- Southadka Mahaganapathi Temple
One thing worth knowing
Venoor has its own Bahubali monolith, far quieter than the one at Karkala, and it is barely off this route. Worth twenty minutes.
Which vehicle suits this route
For most groups on this route we suggest the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga — light, frugal and perfect for narrow temple streets. Every vehicle in the fleet is available for this trip, though: 4 cars from the Glanza up to the Innova Crysta, and the 11+1 and Force Urbania 16+1 tempo travellers for a group. Tell us your headcount and we will tell you honestly what travels best.
What a quote includes
Vehicle, driver, driver bata and fuel. Toll, parking and any permit charges are billed at actuals. We do not publish rates because they depend on the vehicle, the number of days and whether the trip is one way or return — call +91 94492 30083 or send the form and you will have a firm all-inclusive figure the same day.
Vehicles for Karkala to Dharmasthala
| Vehicle | Capacity | Suits this route for |
|---|---|---|
| Karkala to Dharmasthala by Force Urbania 16+1 | 16+1 seater | Joint-family temple circuits, sangha yatras and corporate outstation trips |
| Karkala to Dharmasthala by Tempo Traveller 11+1 | 11+1 seater | Groups of eight to eleven on temple circuits and picnic trips |
| Karkala to Dharmasthala by Toyota Innova Crysta | 6+1 seater | Family temple tours, Kollur and Dharmasthala day trips, airport runs |
| Karkala to Dharmasthala by Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | 6+1 seater | Day trips around Udupi, Karkala and Malpe with a small family |
| Karkala to Dharmasthala by Toyota Etios | 4+1 seater | Mangaluru airport transfers and two-to-four passenger temple visits |
| Karkala to Dharmasthala by Toyota Glanza | 4+1 seater | Couples, local Udupi sightseeing and short station or airport hops |
Every vehicle is chauffeur-driven and quoted per trip — we do not publish rates.
Karkala to Dharmasthala — common questions
65 km, about an hour and forty-five minutes via Moodbidri and Belthangady.
Yes — Kukke is a further 55 km beyond Dharmasthala. Both in one day from Karkala is a comfortable 240 km round trip if you start by 6 AM.
Book Karkala to Dharmasthala
Tell us the dates and the route. We reply with an all-inclusive figure — driver, fuel and taxes included.
On this route
Temples you can add
Bahubali Gomateshwara Statue
A 42-foot monolithic Bahubali carved in 1432, standing on a rocky hill above Karkala town with sweeping views of the Western Ghats.
Bhagawan BahubaliRead more
Southadka Sri Mahaganapathi Temple
A remarkable open-air temple with no roof and no walls — just the idol in a field, where devotees offer bells and tender coconut. U…
Lord GaneshaRead more
Also from Karkala
Other popular routes
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Karkala to Mangalore Airport | 60 km | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Karkala to Kudremukh | 70 km | 2 hours |
| Karkala to Sringeri | 90 km | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Karkala to Dharmasthala — shall we quote it?
Send us the date and how many are travelling. All-inclusive figure the same day, with a driver who has done this road hundreds of times.