Winding Roads & Never Ending TalesFamily trips, wrong turns and the places we still talk about.
Seven Days Along the Coast: Our Bengaluru Road Trip
We had done plenty of weekend outings from Bengaluru, but this time we wanted to keep going for a whole week. Not one beach and a return drive: a journey with a monastery, a sea-facing fort, temple towns, an island and several very different stretches of coast. With our little traveller coming along, we broke up the driving instead of heading straight for the sea. Kushalnagar came first, Bekal added a Kerala detour, and then we worked our way towards Karwar. This is the route, with each stop's story linked below.
The day-wise route is below. Each stop has its own story and photographs.
In this article
A note on this archive story
From the travel archive, first published 18 Feb 2017. This is our experience at the time, not a current price or booking guide. Check opening hours, access, fares and services before making your own plans.
Seven days from the hills to the coast
Our Bengaluru road trip began inland at Kushalnagar before heading to Bekal in Kerala and then north along the Karnataka coast. That mix is what gives the route its character: it is not a straight run through interchangeable beach stops.
Day 1: Kushalnagar
Kushalnagar broke up the long drive for our little traveller. We visited the monastery and Nisargadhama, then had Christmas dinner around the fire at the resort.
Day 2: Bekal
We crossed into Kerala for Bekal. My wife had found the fort while browsing, and the Tu Hi Re connection made us keen to see it.
Days 3-4: Malpe and Udupi
We kept two nights at Malpe, with one day for St Mary's Island. There was time for Udupi and plenty of beach time too.
Days 5-6: Gokarna and Murudeshwar
We managed to miss the resort turn at Gokarna and had a difficult U-turn in the dark. Not a great arrival. Next morning, though, my daughter and I spent hours on Kudle beach and did not feel like leaving.
That is the Gokarna part of this trip: a bit of trouble getting there, then some of our happiest beach time. The detailed post has both. I would keep the beach time exactly as it was and reach the resort earlier.
Day 7: Karwar
Karwar was our last stop: good food, an island outing and a sunset before we turned back towards Bengaluru.
What I would keep in mind: This is the seven-day route we took, not a minimum time requirement. Check current roads and boat operations separately; old drive estimates cannot account for your stops or conditions.
There are times when the work gets the best out of you and you just want to unwind completely. Just as food is for your body travelling is for your soul. It cleanses you from inside and takes you to a state where you start seeing yourself and people near you in a different light. It's time to look for inner peace within.
We have travelled always on weekend breaks but this time we wanted to go on a long road trip and experience places up and close. The plan that came into the picture was to cover the western coastline till Karwar. So find the links to the day wise itinerary of the place as it was not possible to put so much on a single page. You can plan for the entire trip or break it up into short ones depending upon your plans and leave.
Day 1: Coastal Karnataka- Kushalnagar
This could well be covered as 2 day trip from Bangalore.
Day 2: Coastal Karnataka- Bekal
The direct drive time to Bekal is around 8 hours and so if you are up for the drive or are a group of people who can share the driving responsibility this could be your ideal 3-day trip.
Day 3 & 4: Coastal Karnataka- Malpe, Udupi and St Mary Island
The Bangalore Udupi drive is around 7 hours and that makes it ideal 3-day trip from Bangalore and 1-day buffer if you are planning to relax a bit more in sun and sand.
Day 5 and 6: Coastal Karnataka- Gokarna and Murudeshwar
Murudeshwar is normally covered as part of your 3-4 day Udupi trip as it completes the major temples of the area. Gokarna, on the other hand, is your custom holiday where 2 days are for driving and then beside that how many days you allow yourself to be pampered with is upon you. Hidden Paradise undoubtedly.
Day 7: Coastal Karnataka- Karwar the Sleeping beauty
Karwar is a beach destination that gets to maintain its old world charm even when dwarfed by its mighty neighbours Gokarna and Goa. Drive time from Bangalore is 7-8 hours making it a good long weekend getaway.
Read the blogs and then see yourself.
What I would keep in mind
- Use the day-wise stories below to build a shorter trip if you have fewer days.
- Treat our driving times as memories, not promises for today's traffic.
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