Udupi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Udupi
City
Udupi Sri Krishna Temple
Udupi Location in Karnataka
Country	India
State	Karnataka
Region	Tulu Nadu
District	Udupi
Member of the Parliament	Kota Srinivas Poojary
Member of Legislative Assembly	Yashpal Anand Suvarna
Area
• City	68.23 km2 (26.34 sq mi)
Elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Population  (2011)
• City	215,500
• Density	3,158.4/km2 (8,180.3/sq mi)
• Metro	436,208
Languages
• Administrative	Kannada
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	576101 – 576108
Telephone code	0820
Vehicle registration	KA-20

Udupi (also called Udipi or Odipu in Tulu) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is about 55 kilometers (34 miles) north of Mangalore. Udupi is also over 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of Bangalore, the state capital.

Udupi is the main city of the Udupi district. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Karnataka. Many people visit Udupi because it has famous temples and good schools. The city is well-known for the Krishna Temple. This is why it is often called the "temple city." Udupi is also famous for its special food, known as Udupi cuisine.

What Does the Name Udupi Mean?

The name Udupi comes from a Sanskrit word. Udupa means "Moon."

A Look Back at Udupi's History

In the 1200s, a wise saint named Madhvacharya started the Sri Krishna Temple. He also set up eight special centers called mathas (or Ashta Mathas) in Udupi. These centers helped spread his ideas about the Dvaita Vedanta philosophy.

Because of this, a strong temple culture grew in the area. Many Brahmins (a group of people) moved to Udupi. They made up about 10% of the population, which was much higher than in other parts of South India.

People and Languages in Udupi

Udupi is part of the Udupi district in Karnataka, India. In 2011, Udupi city had 33,987 homes. The total population was 144,960 people. Out of these, 71,614 were males and 73,346 were females. The city's population is growing by about 14% each year.

The most common language spoken in Udupi is Tulu. People also speak Kannada and Konkani. Muslims in the area speak Dakhini Urdu and Beary.

Udupi's Weather and Location

Udupi is located about 27 meters (89 feet) above sea level. The weather in Udupi is hot during summer. Winters are usually pleasant.

Summer and Winter Temperatures

In summer (March to May), the temperature can reach up to 38°C (100°F). In winter (December to February), it is usually between 20°C and 32°C (68°F and 90°F).

Beaches and Rainy Season

Since Udupi is near the coast, it has several beaches. These beaches are popular places for tourists to visit. Some famous beaches are Kaup beach and Malpe beach. The monsoon season, with heavy rains and strong winds, lasts from June to September. The area gets more than 4000 mm (157 inches) of rain every year.

Udupi's Culture and Traditions

A traditional dance called Yakshagana in Udupi

Nagapatri at Belle Brahmastana

Udupi has many interesting cultural traditions. These include Bhuta Kola, Aati kalenja, Karangolu, and Nagaradhane. People in Udupi celebrate many festivals. Some of these are Makara Sankranti, Nagara Panchami, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, and Deepavali. Traditional folk arts like Yakshagana are also very popular.

During the festival of Krishna Janmashtami, a special folk dance called "Pili Yesa" is performed on the streets. "Pili Yesa" means "Tiger Dance."

Delicious Udupi Cuisine

Masala dosa is a popular dish from Udupi cuisine.

The special food of Udupi is connected to the Krishna Matha temple. Different kinds of food are offered to Lord Krishna every day. During a four-month rainy season called Chaturmasa, there are rules about what ingredients can be used. These rules, along with the need for variety, led to new and creative dishes. These dishes often use fresh, local ingredients.

The Shivalli Madhwa Brahmins developed this cuisine. They cooked food for Lord Krishna and for people at the Krishna Matha. At the Matha, food is given for free. Udupi restaurants are now found in many big cities across India.

While Udupi is famous for its vegetarian food, it also has non-vegetarian dishes. These are similar to the food found in Mangalore. Some examples include Kori Roti, Kori Pulimunchi, Chicken Sukka, Fish Curry, and Fish Fry.

Udupi's Economy

Udupi is growing into an important town in Karnataka. It is the birthplace of major banks like Syndicate Bank and Corporation Bank. Harsha Retail, a big store chain in coastal Karnataka, also started here.

Main Industries

Udupi's economy also relies on farming and fishing. Small businesses like the cashew industry, other food businesses, and milk cooperatives are very important. Recently, the real estate (property) business in Udupi has also grown a lot. This growth is influenced by nearby Mangalore.

Power Plants and Other Businesses

The Karnataka government once planned to build a power plant in the district. This project faced strong opposition from citizens and environmental groups. Now, a power plant called Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has been built. It generates 1,200 megawatts of power. Adani Power took over this plant in 2014.

Manipal, a part of Udupi, is home to the main office of Syndicate Bank. It is also known as a center for education and medicine. Famous institutions like Kasturba Medical College and Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) are located here.

TEBMA Shipyards Ltd is in the Malpe harbor. This company builds different types of ships. These include supply vessels, research vessels, dredgers, and tugs for India and other countries.

Traditional Sari Industry

Udupi also has a local industry that makes handloom saris. These saris are made of pure cotton and are very light. They have art silk designs on their borders and patterns of art silk dots. However, this industry faces challenges. Hard work, low pay, and competition from machine-made saris have caused the number of weavers to drop by about 95% in thirty years. Efforts are being made to get a special "geographical indication" tag for Udupi sarees. This tag would protect their unique origin.

Getting Around Udupi

Udupi Sri Krishna Matha

National Highways NH 66 and NH 169A pass through Udupi. Other important roads connect Udupi to places like Karkala, Dharmastala, and Sringeri. NH 66 links Udupi to Mangalore and Karwar. NH 169A connects to Hebri, Agumbe, Thirthahalli, and Shivamogga.

Bus and Train Travel

Both private and government buses connect Udupi to all parts of Karnataka. Udupi has a railway station on the Konkan Railway line. This station is in Indrali, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the city bus stand.

You can find direct trains from Udupi to many major cities. These include Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Okha. Other cities like Mysore, Belgaum, Jodhpur, Agra, and Thiruvananthapuram are also connected by train.

Air and Sea Travel

The closest International Airport to Udupi is Mangalore International Airport. It is about 58.5 kilometers (36 miles) away. The nearest harbors or ports are Malpe, which is 5 kilometers (3 miles) away, and Gangolli (near Byndoor), which is 36 kilometers (22 miles) away. The New Mangalore Port is 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Udupi.

See also

In Spanish: Udupi para niños