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
Sunrise6:20 am
Sunset6:42 pm
Golden hour best light5:42 pm–6:42 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:42 pm–7:07 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 64%
South-west monsoon. June to September is monsoon season: the sea gets rough, swimming is often unsafe and boat services can be suspended. Follow lifeguard and local warnings, and expect changeable conditions.
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
Stays, food & things to do near St Mary's Islands
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around St Mary's Islands — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
Verified inventory is being added here.
Verified places are being added. The category filters will fill in as approved stays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and nature listings go live.
List your placeRoampedia is commission-free — own or know a stay, eatery, guide or shop near St Mary's Islands? List it and it appears here once verified.
Add a nearby businessBefore you go
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
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and St Mary's Islands is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- 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
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
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
On 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, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
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.