What to expect
Highlights
- The hexagonal columnar-basalt rock formations.
- Tide pools, shells and palm-fringed sand.
- The short scenic boat ride from Malpe.
St Mary's Islands
St Mary’s Islands, a short boat ride off Malpe, are a small cluster of islands famous for their columnar basalt — dramatic hexagonal rock pillars formed by an ancient volcanic lava flow, a rare geological feature declared a National Geological Monument.
Practical guide
Plan St Mary's Islands
Who's going?Tailor St Mary's Islands to your trip
Typeisland
Nearest baseMalpe
DistrictUdupi
Best timeOctober to February when the sea is calm…
Time neededHalf a day including the boat trips
EntryBoat ticket from Malpe
Places to visit2→The main island (Coconut Island) has the rock formations, tide pools, shells and palms; legend also links the islands to Vasco da Gama’s voyage.
Getting there
How to visit
- Reached only by boat from Malpe (~30–40 minutes each way); boats run in season and in daylight.
- There is no food or shade on the island — carry water and a hat; check the last return boat, and do not remove rocks or shells (it is a protected monument).
Distance by road
- Mangaluru60 km
- Shivamogga145 km
- Chikkamagaluru145 km
- Karwar175 km
- Bengaluru400 km
Road km to Udupi; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February when the sea is calm and boats run; avoid the monsoon, when boats stop.
Weather in St Mary's IslandsSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at St Mary's Islands
Sunrise6:22 am
Sunset6:11 pm
Golden hour best light5:11 pm–6:11 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:11 pm–6:36 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌓 First quarter · 45%
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- A protected geological monument with no facilities — carry water, do not take rocks, wear the boat life jacket, and mind the last return.
Photos
St Mary's Islands in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
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Top experiences around Malpe
One more place around Malpe worth a day of its own.
beachMalpe Beach
3.3 km · ~8 min by auto
A clean, lively beach and fishing harbour ~5 km from Udupi — the boarding point for boats to St Mary’s Islands and a hub for water sports and seafood.
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St Mary's Islands — at a glance
TimingsDaylight, in-season boats only
Best timeOctober to February; boats stop in the monsoon
Entry: Boat ticket from Malpe
Getting here
How to reach St Mary's Islands
By boat from Malpe (~30–40 min each way)
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around St Mary's Islands
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at St Mary's Islands
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near St Mary's Islands
beachMalpe Beach
A clean, lively beach and fishing harbour ~5 km from Udupi — the boarding point for boats to St Mary’s Islands and a hub for water sports and seafood.
3.3 km · ~8 min by auto · straight lineK
Kemmannu Hanging Bridge
Place
heritageKemmannu Hanging Bridge
A 280-foot pedestrian suspension bridge built in 1991 between Padukudru and Timmanakudru near Kemmannu. The last verified status report recorded it closed as unsafe; confirm locally before travelling and do not plan on crossing.
4.6 km · ~11 min by auto · straight line
templeSri Krishna Matha, Udupi
The 13th-century Krishna temple founded by the saint Madhvacharya, where the deity is worshipped through a silver-plated nine-holed window (the Navagraha Kitiki); it is the seat of the eight Udupi mathas and the origin of the famed Udupi vegetarian cuisine.
9.6 km · ~16 min by cab · straight line
templeAnantheshwara Temple, Udupi
An ancient Shiva temple (Anantheshwara/Chandramouleeshwara) beside the Krishna Matha on Udupi’s Car Street, older than the Krishna temple and closely linked to Madhvacharya, who is said to have given his last discourse here.
9.6 km · ~16 min by cab · straight line
viewpointManipal End Point
A landscaped viewpoint on the edge of the Manipal plateau overlooking the Swarna river valley and the Western Ghats — a popular garden-and-sunset spot in the university town.
12.1 km · ~20 min by cab · straight line
heritageBarkur
A historic temple town north of Udupi, once a medieval capital of the Tulu country, dotted with old temples such as the Panchalingeshwara and Kalikamba and scattered ruins.
12.9 km · ~22 min by cab · straight line
templePajaka Kshetra
The birthplace of the 13th-century philosopher Madhvacharya, about 12 km from Udupi — a quiet pilgrimage site with shrines and sacred tanks at the foot of a hill.
17.6 km · ~29 min by cab · straight line
beachKaup Beach
A beach south of Udupi at Kapu, dominated by a 19th-century lighthouse on a rocky headland that can be climbed for sweeping coast views — known for its sunsets and rock pools.
18.6 km · ~31 min by cab · straight lineK
Kundeshwara Temple
Place
templeKundeshwara Temple
Kundapura’s namesake Shiva temple near the Panchagangavalli estuary, a living town shrine traditionally associated with the Alupa ruler Kundavarma.
27.3 km · ~46 min by cab · straight line
beachKodi Beach, Kundapura
The town-side beach west of Kundapura near the Panchagangavalli river mouth, with a long sandy shore and an active estuary landscape.
27.9 km · ~46 min by cab · straight line
beachMaravanthe Beach
A striking beach on NH-66 where the road runs on a narrow strip with the Arabian Sea on one side and the Souparnika river, backed by the Kodachadri hills, on the other.
36.8 km · ~61 min by cab · straight line
templeKollur Mookambika Temple
A revered temple to the goddess Mookambika (a form of Adi Shakti) at Kollur in the Western Ghats foothills on the Souparnika river — a major pilgrimage centre and the base for the Kodachadri trek.
56.0 km · ~93 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where St Mary's Islands is
Good to know
St Mary's Islands — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit St Mary's Islands?
October to February when the sea is calm and boats run; avoid the monsoon, when boats stop.
What are the entry fee and timings at St Mary's Islands?
Entry: Boat ticket from Malpe. Timings: Daylight, in-season boats only.
How do I reach St Mary's Islands?
Reached only by boat from Malpe (~30–40 minutes each way); boats run in season and in daylight. There is no food or shade on the island — carry water and a hat; check the last return boat, and do not remove rocks or shells (it is a protected monument).
How much time do I need for St Mary's Islands?
Half a day including the boat trips.
What else is near St Mary's Islands?
Nearby you can pair Malpe Beach (3.3 km), Kemmannu Hanging Bridge (4.6 km), Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi (9.6 km), Anantheshwara Temple, Udupi (9.6 km).
Read before you go
St Mary's Islands guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about St Mary's Islands itself yet. These cover Malpe and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
Story
The Coastal Karnataka Road Trip: Gokarna to Mangaluru
9 min read · Read →
Story
How Kundapura got its name
5 min read · Read →
Story
Yakshagana nights on the Udupi coast
5 min read · Read →
Story
Kodi beyond the sunset
5 min read · Read →
Itinerary
One day in Kundapura
5 min read · Read →
Itinerary
Two days on the Kundapura coast
5 min read · Read →
Image credits
Photographs: Rupak Sarkar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Subhashish Panigrahi (CC BY-SA 3.0). Wikimedia Commons.