Beaches beckon tourists to coastal Karnataka as tourism season begins Premium

With the Southwest Monsoon coming to an end, the 180-km shoreline of Karnataka comprising spectacular beaches beckons tourists. The government had completely barred the entry of general public/ tourists into beaches between June-August as the Arabian Sea was rough due to the Monsoon.

With the Southwest Monsoon coming to an end, the 180-km shoreline of Karnataka comprising spectacular beaches beckons tourists. The government had completely barred the entry of general public/ tourists into beaches between June-August as the Arabian Sea was rough due to the Monsoon.

Beaches along the western coast of India, including those on the Karnataka coast, are known for their serenity and calm waters of the Arabian Sea thereby attracting thousands of tourists. The government over the years has attempted to provide certain basic amenities to tourists in these beaches while attempts are on to elevate some of them to International standards by developing such beaches as Blue Flag Beaches. Padubidri beach in Udupi district and Tannirbhavi beach near Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district are two such places getting the Blue Flag tag.

The twin districts, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, have at least 28 beaches that are worth a visit by tourists. Sadly, some beaches that once thrived, have almost vanished due to sea erosion, said to have been triggered by indiscriminate construction of breakwaters for major and minor ports along the shoreline.

Starting from the southern end of Karnataka, there existed spectacular Batpady beach, now almost extinct. Other beaches that are still thriving are Uchhila, Someshwara, Ullal, Bengre, Tannirbhavi, Panambur, Kulai, Surathkal, NITK, Mukka and Sasihithlu in Dakshina Kannada. In Udupi, there were Hejmady, Padubidri, Kaup, Malpe, Malpe-Padukare, Kemmannu-Hoode, Delta Point, Kota-Padukare, Kodi, Trasi, Maravanthe, Kirimanjeshwara, Koderi, Byndoor Someshwara and Shiroor beaches.

Udupi district that was carved out of Dakshina Kannada in 1997 appears to be striding ahead of its predecessor in exploiting the tourism potential in the district in general and beach tourism in particular. The administration has got a sea walk constructed at Malpe beach in Udupi taluk while the breakwaters of Gangolli fishing harbour on the banks of Panchagangavali River at Kodi and Gangolli in Kundapura taluk act as sea-walks. Similarly, the district has also developed the Someshwara beach in Bydnoor at the foothills of Ottinene hillock on the northern tip of the district into a major tourist attraction.

Panambur is an important beach in and around Mangaluru. It is a prominent centre for commercial, healthcare, educational and religious activities. Located about 6 km North of Mangaluru adjacent to New Mangalore Port and along National Highway 66, the beach came to have various tourist attractions and facilities in the last couple of years. Adventure water sports, including jet ski, parasailing, ATV rides, horse and camel rides etc., are available at the beach even as various independent surveys have rated Panambur as one of the cleanest beaches in India.

The shoreline from Panambur till Sasihithlu in the North is said to be the safest one because of the shallow waters. The Tannirbhavi beach on the road to Bengre delta point too is attaining prominence, particularly among local residents and it is being developed as a Blue Flag Beach by the administration.