St Mary's Island

1 dayBest: Oct–MarIslands#island#rock columns#boat

Basalt-column islands Vasco discovered

Why this weekend?

Columnar basaltIsland beachFerry ride

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The rock island
- Boat ride
- Column walk
- Lighthouse
- Beach edge
- Return

Geography & terrain

St Mary's Island lies in the Udupi district of Karnataka, 6 km from Malpe and 55 km from Mangaluru — the rock-column island of the region, its 2002-era national status, the columns and the boat set on the Arabian Sea.

History & culture

The island's story runs with the 1498 landing era — the rock-column island of the 1498 landing and the 2002-era national status of the geological life, with the island's modern role as the day stop of the Malpe circuit and the home of the rock columns and the 1498-era landing cross and the lighthouse; the island's history of the 2010s-era boardwalks and the coral studies, gives St Mary's its column character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–4,000/night

Mid-range

₹4,000–9,000/night

Comfort

₹9,000+/night

Things to do

Rock columns
Island boats
Lighthouse decks
Landing crosses
Beach edges

Eat & drink

Bisi bele bath
Ragi mudde
Mysore masala dosa
Coorg pandi curry
Mangalorean fish curry

Getting there

Fly: Bengaluru (BLR) / Mangaluru (IXE) / Hubballi (HBX)
Train: Bengaluru City / Mysuru / Mangaluru junctions
Road from Bengaluru: varies by district — 50–500 km
Getting around: Autos, metro in Bengaluru, KSRTC buses

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹5,000–14,000 (1 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,500–9,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities: ₹1,800–2,200

Month by month

Jan · Best: 20–31°C · None rain
Feb · Best: 21–33°C · None rain
Mar · Hot: 23–35°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 25–36°C · Moderate rain
May · Pre-monsoon: 26–35°C · Moderate rain
Jun · Monsoon: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Oct · Good: 24–33°C · Moderate rain
Nov · Best: 22–32°C · Light rain
Dec · Best: 20–31°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Kannada (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Oct–Mar
Connectivity: good 4G in towns
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The season (Oct–Mar) holds the island
The boats run on the tide hours
Pairs with Malpe for the circuit

Frequently asked questions

What is St Mary's Island?

The rock-column island of the Karnataka.

What is there to do?

The columns, the boat and the walks.

How long is the visit?

A full day.