What to expect
Highlights
- Worship of Krishna through the silver Navagraha Kitiki window.
- The eight mathas and the biennial Paryaya festival.
- The home of Udupi cuisine, with free meals in the temple.
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
The Sri Krishna Matha at Udupi was founded in the 13th century by the great Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya, who installed an idol of Krishna as a butter-thief child holding a churning rod. Uniquely, the deity is worshipped through a silver-plated, nine-holed window called the Navagraha Kitiki.
Practical guide
Plan Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Who's going?Tailor Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi to your trip
Before you go to Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Check entry arrangements. Ask temple staff about visitor entry, dress requirements and access to the inner shrine before you travel, especially if you are visiting as a non-Hindu.
Dress respectfully and follow the institution’s admission and photography rules.
Typetemple
Nearest baseUdupi
DistrictUdupi
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed1 to 1.5 hours
EntryFree
Places to visit5→The temple is the heart of Udupi — the seat of the eight mathas that take turns managing it, the birthplace of the celebrated Udupi vegetarian cuisine, and the setting for the biennial Paryaya handover and the great Krishna Janmashtami festival.
Getting there
How to visit
- On Car Street in the centre of Udupi town; walkable from the bus stand, or a short auto ride.
- A living temple with a dress code — men often remove shirts in the inner area, modest dress for all, footwear off; free meals (annadana) are served at set times.
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; Krishna Janmashtami (Aug–Sep) and the Paryaya (Jan, every two years) are the great events but very crowded.
Weather in Sri Krishna Matha, UdupiSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Sunrise6:20 am
Sunset6:29 pm
Golden hour best light5:29 pm–6:29 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:29 pm–6:54 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 271°
Moon tonight🌔 Waxing gibbous · 66%
South-west monsoon. June to September is the south-west monsoon in Karnataka. Expect heavy showers, mostly in bursts rather than all day — carry rain cover, allow extra time for getting around, and note that ferries and open-air sites are the first things affected.
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 strict living temple — modest dress, footwear off, follow the queue rules, and note the temple dress conventions.
Photos
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi in pictures
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Top experiences around Udupi
4 more places around Udupi. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.
templeAnantheshwara Temple, Udupi
50 m · 1 min walk
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.
viewpointManipal End Point
4.8 km · ~12 min by auto
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.
templePajaka Kshetra
8.9 km · ~15 min by cab
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.
beachKaup Beach
13.1 km · ~22 min by cab
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.
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Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi — at a glance
Timings~5:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 - 9:00 PM (confirm)
Best timeOctober to February; Janmashtami (Aug–Sep) & Paryaya (Jan) crowded
Entry: Free (free meals; donations welcome)
Getting here
How to reach Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Car Street, central Udupi; walkable from the bus stand
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 Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
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 Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
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 Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
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.
50 m · 1 min walk · straight lineviewpointManipal 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.
4.8 km · ~12 min by auto · straight line
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.
6.3 km · ~16 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.
8.1 km · ~13 min by cab · straight linetemplePajaka 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.
8.9 km · ~15 min by cab · straight line
islandSt Mary's Islands
A cluster of small islands off Malpe famous for their columnar basalt — hexagonal rock pillars formed by ancient volcanic activity — reached by a short boat ride and declared a National Geological Monument.
9.6 km · ~16 min by cab · straight linebeachKaup 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.
13.1 km · ~22 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.
14.0 km · ~23 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.
32.3 km · ~54 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.
33.5 km · ~56 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.
42.6 km · ~71 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.
58.5 km · ~98 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi is
Good to know
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
October to February; Krishna Janmashtami (Aug–Sep) and the Paryaya (Jan, every two years) are the great events but very crowded.
What are the entry fee and timings at Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
Entry: Free (free meals; donations welcome). Timings: ~5:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 - 9:00 PM (confirm).
How do I reach Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
On Car Street in the centre of Udupi town; walkable from the bus stand, or a short auto ride. A living temple with a dress code — men often remove shirts in the inner area, modest dress for all, footwear off; free meals (annadana) are served at set times.
How much time do I need for Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
1 to 1.5 hours.
What else is near Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
Nearby you can pair Anantheshwara Temple, Udupi (50 m), Manipal End Point (4.8 km), Malpe Beach (6.3 km), Kemmannu Hanging Bridge (8.1 km).
Read before you go
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi itself yet. These cover Udupi and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Around Udupi
These guides explore Udupi and the surrounding area. Choose a visit that fits your interests, allowing separately for travel between stops.
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 →
In-depth guides to Udupi
Written about Udupi as a whole rather than about Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi — its history, its streets, and how to spend a day in it.
Pillar guide
Places to Visit in Udupi
8 min read · Read →
Itinerary
One day in Kundapura
5 min read · Read →
Itinerary
Two days on the Kundapura coast
5 min read · Read →
Itinerary
A lower-step Kundapura plan
5 min read · Read →
Guide
Maravanthe’s sea–road–river strip
4 min read · Read →
Guide
Barkur’s scattered capital landscape
4 min read · Read →
Guide
Kodi and the Panchagangavalli mouth
4 min read · Read →
Guide
Coastal Karnataka’s performance nights
4 min read · Read →
Guide
Karnataka’s estuary towns
4 min read · Read →
Image credits
Photographs: Ashok Prabhakaran from Chennai, India, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0), Outlander07 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ashok Prabhakaran from Chennai, India (CC BY-SA 2.0), Ms Sarah Welch (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.