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
Mangalore to Karkala by Car or Tempo Traveller
Karkala — Gomateshwara and Chaturmukha Basadi · 50 km · about 1 hour 15 minutes one way · chauffeur-driven
How far is Karkala from Mangalore?
Mangalore to Karkala is 50 km inland via Moodbidri, about an hour and fifteen minutes. The Bahubali monolith and the Chaturmukha Basadi are the draw.
- Distance
- 50 km one way
- Drive time
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Destination
- Karkala — Gomateshwara and Chaturmukha Basadi
- Suggested vehicle
- Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
- Driver
- Included — we do not offer self-drive
Why people make this trip
The Jain heritage circuit of the district runs Moodbidri to Karkala to Venoor, and Mangaluru is the natural base for it. The 42-foot Gomateshwara of 1432 stands on a rock hill above the town, with the four-faced basadi below.
What the road is like
Inland through Moodbidri on good two-lane road. Quiet once you are past the city outskirts, and the Ghats stay ahead of you the whole way.
Worth stopping for on the way
- Moodbidri Thousand Pillar Basadi
- Venoor Bahubali
- Karkala Gomateshwara
- Attur Church
One thing worth knowing
Do Moodbidri on the way out and Karkala at the top — that order puts the rock-cut steps of Gomateshwara in the cooler part of the day rather than at noon.
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 We do not publish rates because they depend on the vehicle, the number of days and whether the trip is one way or return — call +91 94492 30083 or send the form and you will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 Mangalore to Karkala
| Vehicle | Capacity | Suits this route for |
|---|---|---|
| Mangalore to Karkala by Force Urbania 16+1 | 16+1 seater | Joint-family temple circuits, sangha yatras and corporate outstation trips |
| Mangalore to Karkala by Tempo Traveller 11+1 | 11+1 seater | Groups of eight to eleven on temple circuits and picnic trips |
| Mangalore to Karkala by Toyota Innova Crysta | 6+1 seater | Family temple tours, Kollur and Dharmasthala day trips, airport runs |
| Mangalore to Karkala by Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | 6+1 seater | Day trips around Udupi, Karkala and Malpe with a small family |
| Mangalore to Karkala by Toyota Etios | 4+1 seater | Mangaluru airport transfers and two-to-four passenger temple visits |
| Mangalore to Karkala 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.
Mangalore to Karkala — common questions
50 km via Moodbidri, about an hour and fifteen minutes. It makes an easy half day.
They are 20 km apart and both are Jain heritage towns — doing them as one circuit is the obvious plan and fits comfortably in a day.
Book Mangalore to Karkala
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
Chaturmukha Basadi
A striking four-faced Jain basadi built entirely of granite, with identical doorways on all four sides and idols of three Tirthanka…
Jain TirthankarasRead more
Sri Venkataramana Temple
The principal Vaishnava temple of Karkala town, with a richly carved wooden interior and a much-loved annual rathotsava.
Lord VenkataramanaRead more
Also from Mangalore
Other popular routes
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Mangalore to Udupi | 60 km | 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Mangalore to Dharmasthala | 75 km | 2 hours |
| Mangalore to Kukke Subrahmanya | 105 km | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Mangalore to Murudeshwar | 155 km | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Mangalore to Coorg | 135 km | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Mangalore to Manipal | 65 km | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Mangalore to Kollur | 135 km | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Mangalore to Kundapura | 95 km | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Mangalore to Moodbidri | 35 km | 1 hour |
| Mangalore to Mulki | 30 km | 45 minutes |
| Mangalore to Nitte | 60 km | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Mangalore to Surathkal | 18 km | 30 minutes |
| Mangalore to Byndoor | 135 km | 3 hours |
| Mangalore to Gokarna | 240 km | 5 hours 30 minutes |
| Mangalore to Sringeri | 105 km | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Mangalore to Agumbe | 105 km | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Mangalore to Kateel | 26 km | 45 minutes |
Mangalore to Karkala — 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.