Located
about 60km from Mangalore, the pilgrimage town of Udupi was the abode of
Madhavacharya, the renowned Sanskrit philosopher and scholar. Besides
the famous Krishna Temple and a cluster of mutts, Udupi is also well
known for its delectable vegetarian delicacies.The Krishna Temple, founded by the famous 13th-century Vaishnava teacher Madhava, is the major sacred site in Udupi. A unique feature of temple is the 'Kanakana Kindi' - a small window through which Krishna is believed to have given darshan to his ardent devotee, Kanakadasa, a saint-minstrel. The Paryaya festival, when incumbent priests hand over their responsibilities to other pontiff, attracts thousands of devotees from all over the country every alternate year.
Udupi has been made famous by the eponymous eateries that serve delicious vegetarian food. The popular masala dosas and idlis figure prominently in the menu mainly comprising traditional South Indian vegetation food. These restaurants, with their affordable rates, quick turnover and simple but good food, have rapidly proliferated all over India.
