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
Udupi to Karkala by Car or Tempo Traveller
Karkala — Gomateshwara and Chaturmukha Basadi · 38 km · about 1 hour one way · chauffeur-driven
How far is Karkala from Udupi?
Udupi to Karkala is 38 km, about an hour inland via Hiriyadka. Most families make it a half day for the Gomateshwara monolith and the Chaturmukha Basadi.
- Distance
- 38 km one way
- Drive time
- 1 hour
- Destination
- Karkala — Gomateshwara and Chaturmukha Basadi
- Suggested vehicle
- Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
- Driver
- Included — we do not offer self-drive
Why people make this trip
Karkala is the Jain heritage town of the district: a 42-foot Bahubali monolith carved in 1432 standing on a rock hill, with the four-faced Chaturmukha Basadi below it. It is a half day from Udupi, and it pairs naturally with a Dharmasthala or Kudremukh run if you are going further inland.
What the road is like
Inland through Hiriyadka on good two-lane road, climbing gently the whole way. Nothing difficult, and the paddy country either side is worth the window seat in the monsoon.
Worth stopping for on the way
- Karkala Gomateshwara
- Chaturmukha Basadi
- Attur Church
- Venkataramana Temple, Karkala
One thing worth knowing
The Gomateshwara statue is up a flight of rock-cut steps with no shade. Go before ten or after four — the middle of the day on that hill is punishing for elderly visitors.
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 We do not publish rates because they depend on the vehicle, the number of days and whether the trip is one way or return — call +91 94492 30083 or send the form and you will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 Udupi to Karkala
| Vehicle | Capacity | Suits this route for |
|---|---|---|
| Udupi to Karkala by Force Urbania 16+1 | 16+1 seater | Joint-family temple circuits, sangha yatras and corporate outstation trips |
| Udupi to Karkala by Tempo Traveller 11+1 | 11+1 seater | Groups of eight to eleven on temple circuits and picnic trips |
| Udupi to Karkala by Toyota Innova Crysta | 6+1 seater | Family temple tours, Kollur and Dharmasthala day trips, airport runs |
| Udupi to Karkala by Maruti Suzuki Ertiga | 6+1 seater | Day trips around Udupi, Karkala and Malpe with a small family |
| Udupi to Karkala by Toyota Etios | 4+1 seater | Mangaluru airport transfers and two-to-four passenger temple visits |
| Udupi 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.
Udupi to Karkala — common questions
38 km, about an hour by road via Hiriyadka. It is an easy half-day trip and a common first stop on the way to Dharmasthala.
Comfortably. Karkala is on the Dharmasthala road, so the usual plan is Gomateshwara in the morning and the Manjunatha darshan in the afternoon, with annadana at the temple for lunch.
Book Udupi 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 Udupi
Other popular routes
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Udupi to Mangalore | 60 km | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Udupi to Manipal | 6 km | 15 minutes |
| Udupi to Kundapura | 36 km | 50 minutes |
| Udupi to Kateel | 50 km | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Udupi to Moodbidri | 55 km | 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Udupi to Mulki | 35 km | 50 minutes |
| Udupi to Byndoor | 75 km | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Udupi to Kapu | 14 km | 25 minutes |
| Udupi to Padubidri | 22 km | 35 minutes |
| Udupi to Brahmavar | 13 km | 20 minutes |
| Udupi to Nitte | 45 km | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Udupi to Kollur | 78 km | 2 hours |
| Udupi to Dharmasthala | 102 km | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Udupi to Kukke Subrahmanya | 140 km | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Udupi to Murudeshwar | 96 km | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Udupi to Gokarna | 178 km | 4 hours 15 minutes |
| Udupi to Mangalore Airport | 60 km | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Udupi to Sringeri | 95 km | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Udupi to Horanadu | 120 km | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Udupi to Agumbe | 55 km | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Udupi to Jog Falls | 145 km | 3 hours 30 minutes |
Udupi 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.