Overview
Karkala and Moodabidri are two sleepy towns situated around an hour’s drive from Mangalore in the South Indian state of Karnataka. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, this area became a great center of learning and pilgrimage for members of the Jain faith. In Karkala, the giant statue of Lord Bahubali attracts Jain pilgrims from far and wide. In Moodabidri, visit the famous 1000-pillared Jain Temple dedicated to Chandranatha. This is the largest Jain temple in coastal Karnataka with richly carved pillars and no two pillars in this temple are alike. End your trip with a visit to the local bazaar and a spice plantation in Moodabidri. Highlights • 40 feet tall statue of Lord Bahubali, Karkala • 1000-pillared Jain Temple, Moodabidri • 50 feet high, free-standing monolithic pillar • Spice plantation
Why travelers book this
What's Included
- Hotel pick-up & drop-off
- 02 bottles of mineral water per person
- Lunch (beverage excluded)
- Local English speaking guide
- Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
Meeting & Pickup
Meeting point, pickup options and start time are confirmed on Viator before checkout.
Itinerary
Stop 1
You will be picked up from your hotel in Mangalore and driven to Karkala which is located at an hour’s drive from Mangalore. Visit the giant monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali that was erected in 1432. Bahubali (One with strong arms) is a much revered God of the Jains. He is said to have meditated standing for a year and thereafter attained liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Stop 2
Next drive to Moodabidri, a 30-minute drive from Karkala. It is one of the major centers of Jainism in India and is often referred to as Jain Kashi. There are no less than 18 Jain temples in this little town. It took 31 years to complete the temple. After the temple visit a local bazaar in Moodabidri, which has visitors from the surrounding areas buying fruits, vegetables, spices, clothes, food items and other items of daily use. It is a nice way to see daily life in this part of the country. Your next stop will be at a fruit and spice plantation. You can walk through the plantation and learn about the various spices, fruits and other products grown here. You can also taste their famous pineapples if you wish. The farm also offers spices for sale if you would like to buy some (own expense). At the end of the visit take lunch (beverage excluded) at a local restaurant near Moodabidri. After lunch you will be driven back to Mangalore and dropped off at your hotel.
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Adult pricing applies to all travelers.
- A moderate amount of walking is involved.
- Not recommended for pregnant women and people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
- Dress code is smart casual.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult