Road trip to west coast of Karnataka

A Coastal & Malnad Temple Road Trip from Bengaluru

This road trip blends the misty Western Ghats, historic temple towns, waterfalls, and the calming rhythm of the Karnataka coast. It is designed as a slow but efficient roadtrip itinerary.

We leave Bengaluru in the afternoon instead of our usual early morning travel schedule. This schedule makes it ideal for a short trip packed with Karnataka tourism bucket-list.

Route Overview

Bengaluru → Shivamogga → Keladi → Ikkeri → Jog Falls → Idagunji → Murdeshwar → Kollur → Anegudde → Udupi → Sringeri → Shravanabelagola → Bengaluru

This route balances forest roads, coastal highways, and temple towns, with natural breaks built in.

Day 1 – Drive to Shivamogga

Bengaluru → Shivamogga → Keladi → Ikkeri

Approx. drive time: 7–8 hours total (with breaks)

The journey began with a drive toward the Malnad region. We planned overnight stay in Shivamogga at Royal Orchid Central. On our way we stopped at Kudali – which is where the 2 rivers -Tunga and Bhadra meet. There are 2 temples in this area – Tunga Bhadra Sangamehswara Devasthana and the Ancient Hoysala Shri Rameshwara Temple – they are both beautiful in their own regard. We were there when it was pouring so we did not go down the stairs to the Sangama but one can go down to the river and play in the water.

The next morning, we had breakfast at Sri Meenakshi Bhavan, the best paddu I have eaten outside of home. A very clean and well-kept restaurant. The restaurant also has a store that one can buy snacks and masala powders from.

Day 2 – Shivamogga to Murdeshwara

Shivamogga → Sakkare bylu → Keladi → Ikkeri → Jog Falls → Idagunji → Murdeshwar → Kollur

Approx. drive time: 6–7 hours total

Started early after breakfast at the Royal Orchid and headed toward Sakkare Bylu to spend time with elephants and for the kids to get a chance to touch , bathe and feed them . It was definitely an experience , i would recommend getting there as soon as it opens so there are no lines for the experience. After the kids enjoyed their time , we headed to Keladi – Keladi Rameshwara Temple. This is a Hoysala-Dravida style architecture with intricate designs in the temple. This temple is believed to have been built during the Keladi Nayaka period and the town of Keladi was possibly the capital city during the times.

Our next stop was right across the road , Ikkeri – Ikkeri Aghoreshwara Temple dedicated to an avatar of Shiva. Even though across the street, the temple architecture is different than the one in Keladi. Both of the temples are in a very quiet space and provides enough time to soak in the beauty.

Our next stop for the day was Jog Falls. Even though this was an early monsoon trip, there was enough water to see all the magnificent falls. The entrance was under construction and there is an entry fees to see the falls. The street parking and the roads were still messy and the rain added to the messi-ness too. Nevertheless, once we entered to see the falls , there is viewing and photography areas , it was just SPECTACULAR!!! Allow time to walk viewpoints slowly—this is not a rushed stop.

We continued our journey towards the coast for a deeply spiritual stretch of the journey, the powerful Ganapathi temple in Idugunji. Shri Idagunji Mahaganapathi Temple has one of a kind standing Ganapathi idol. We got there just in time with the temple opening time. There is quite a bit of walk to get to the temple since there are no cars allowed close to the temple.

After a long rainy day with lots of driving , our last stop for the day was Murdeshwar for overnight stay at RNS Residency. I had pre-booked this hotel through a booking website. This was the hardest accommodation to work with in all my travel diaries from the time of booking to getting a room once we arrived. (I provided feedback about this to their management as well!)

Day 3 – Murdeshwar to Sringeri

Murdeshwar → Kollur → Anegudde → Udupi → Sringeri

Approx. drive time: 7–8 hours total

We were warned of long lines in the Shiva temple the previous night, so we were out early in the morning as it continued to pour . The lines were short to enter the Shri Murudeshwara Shiva Temple, so it was a very pleasant visit with plenty of time to spend inside the temple. We then walked over to the museum and a short walk to view the statue of Lord Shiva. We then returned to RNS for breakfast and then to make our way out of Murudeshwara. I definitely missed the beach action on this trip since I have fond memories of this beach from my previous trips.

As we left the town in the heavy rains, we headed towards Kollur to visit the famous Mukambika temple. This temple has one of the most beautiful Goddess vigraha and beautifully decorated at all times of the year. The temple follows very strict dress code for everyone including little people. We stood in line without proper dresscode for the littles and were sent back, so plan ahead. We then continued our travel to Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple based on a recommendation from a travel group. It is one of the simplest Ganapathi temple I have ever visited. There is something about the temple that brings peace as you walk in the dwara. As it continued to rain through our visits and lunch stops, it was still a very accomplished day with all the temple runs and our next stop was Udupi Shri Krishna Matha. As we drove further south, the rain god graced us with some respite. We were in Udupi by early evening after a quick coffee break. We bought the tickets to support the Goshala and visit the Goshala in the Matha premises. I had forgotten the beauty of this temple and the kanakana kindi – JUST BEAUTIFUL mesmerizing Krishna – no other words to describe the experience. We spent time at the Goshala and then our plan was to head to Sringeri .

Something to note in Sringeri is the accommodation options in general is subpar, not very many options like any of the other towns/cities. I had prebooked the hotel through a website ahead of time- this is probably my second experience where the pictures did not match the reality. But, there aren’t many other options out there either so this time we stayed for overnight at Kalkuli Comforts.

The Sringeri Matha is extremely strict with their dress code including for younger people. Check their website and dress appropriately for the Matha visit. The temple premise is always busy; it is considered to be auspicious to start Aksharabhyasa (babies writing their first letters)

Day 4 – Return Day

Sringeri → Shravanabelagola → Bengaluru

Approx. drive time: 7–8 hours

We departed Sringeri early in the morning and made our way toward Shravanabelagola. On our way, I was looking forward to picking up some fresh coffee at Vasavi Coffee works in Chikmaglur town. The store sells Masala chai, coffee, wine , chocolate covered coffee and the plus they also ship through amazon. The owner is very welcoming and patiently explained all the varieties of coffee they sell at the store. I highly recommend their 80-20 filter coffee special Arabica.

From here, I wanted to really check out one of the earliest Hoysala temples -Lakshmi Devi temple at Doddagaddvalli . It is in a village setup, you wouldn’t know till you research and find this gem. The magnificent architecture, the calm surroundings and there was a rep from archaeological survey that explained the significance of the temple.

The Gomateshwara statue hill is in center of the town and needs quite a bit of driving into the town. Another destination where the clothing restrictions are heavily enforced- check details before you plan to climb the hill. It was hot since it was almost noon and there was no shade, so some of us decided to climb the hill by stairs while others stayed back. But once we were on top of the hill , it is quiet and peaceful. We spent a long time just enjoying the quietness and the view from top of the hill. On our way down we even caught the tail of a snake which google lens said it is king cobra(if you think it isn’t leave a comment). This stop offers a slower, contemplative pause before the final drive back to Bengaluru. On our way back it was raining endlessly and it felt like a icky long drive home.

Arrive in Bengaluru late night, closing the loop on a journey that balances devotion, nature, and steady pacing.

Weather, Temperature & Rainy‑Day Tips (Late May)

Temperatures: Expect warm days (28–34°C) with cooler mornings and evenings in Malnad regions
Humidity: Higher near the coast—light cotton clothing is essential
Pre‑monsoon showers: Rain can be sudden and intense

What to prepare:

Lightweight rain jackets or ponchos or umbrellas
Non‑slip footwear for temples and waterfalls
Extra buffer time—roads maybe slow during rain
Start early every day
Electrolytes + water bottles for each person
Seniors: plan darshan before 10 AM
Kids: hats, sunscreen, light cotton clothing

Rain often adds to the beauty of this route. It brings lush greenery, fuller waterfalls, and quieter temple towns. This beauty reveals itself when you allow the journey to unfold gently.

Why This Route Works

This itinerary isn’t about covering everything—it’s about choosing flow over force. By combining Malnad, coastal Karnataka, and sacred temple towns, the journey stays varied yet balanced.

Adventure , Food & Fun!