VANAMCOVE
St Mary's Island

St Mary's Island

1 dayBest: Oct–MarIslands#island#rock columns#boat
1 day Oct–Mar

Basalt-column islands Vasco discovered

Why this weekend?

Columnar basaltIsland beachFerry ride
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The day-by-day plan

Day 1Day 1 · The rock island
  1. Boat ride
  2. Column walk
  3. Lighthouse
  4. Beach edge
  5. Return

Geography & terrain

St Mary's Island lies in the Udupi district of Karnataka, 6 km from Malpe and 55 km from Mangaluru — the rock-column island of the region, its 2002-era national status, the columns and the boat set on the Arabian Sea.

History & culture

The island's story runs with the 1498 landing era — the rock-column island of the 1498 landing and the 2002-era national status of the geological life, with the island's modern role as the day stop of the Malpe circuit and the home of the rock columns and the 1498-era landing cross and the lighthouse; the island's history of the 2010s-era boardwalks and the coral studies, gives St Mary's its column character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–4,000/night

Mid-range

₹4,000–9,000/night

Comfort

₹9,000+/night

Things to do

Rock columns
🌟

Rock columns

Island boats
🌟

Island boats

Lighthouse decks
🌟

Lighthouse decks

Landing crosses
🌟

Landing crosses

Beach edges
🏖️

Beach edges

Eat & drink

  • Bisi bele bath
  • Ragi mudde
  • Mysore masala dosa
  • Coorg pandi curry
  • Mangalorean fish curry

Getting there

Fly
Bengaluru (BLR) / Mangaluru (IXE) / Hubballi (HBX)
Train
Bengaluru City / Mysuru / Mangaluru junctions
Road from Bengaluru
varies by district — 50–500 km
Getting around
Autos, metro in Bengaluru, KSRTC buses

Budget snapshot

Total
₹5,000–14,000 (1 days)
Per day · Stay
₹1,500–9,000/night
Per day · Food
₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport
₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities
₹1,800–2,200

Month by month

Jan—
Feb—
Mar—
Apr—
May—
Jun—
Jul—
Aug—
Sep—
Oct—
Nov—
Dec—

Practical info

  • Language: Kannada (English understood in tourist spots)
  • Best window: Oct–Mar
  • Connectivity: good 4G in towns
  • UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

  • The season (Oct–Mar) holds the island
  • The boats run on the tide hours
  • Pairs with Malpe for the circuit

Frequently asked questions

The rock-column island of the Karnataka.

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The columns, the boat and the walks.

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A full day.

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Basalt-column islands Vasco discovered

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