Mangaluru/Udupi: Tourist destinations and religious centres across coastal Karnataka witnessed heavy crowds over the weekend, driven by school holidays, a two-day break, and the coincidence of auspicious occasions.
With Sunday marking Akshaya Tritiya and Monday declared a government holiday for Basava Jayanti, many people extended their leave to create a three-day long weekend. This led to a surge in travel, with families heading to temples and beaches across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
Heavy rush at temples
Religious centres across the region reported an overwhelming turnout of devotees. Prominent pilgrimage destinations such as Kukke Subrahmanya Temple, Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple, and Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple witnessed long queues for darshan.
Other temples, including Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple, Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple, Kaup Anantheshwara Temple, Uchila Mahalakshmi Temple, Udupi Sri Krishna Matha, Mandarthi Durga Parameshwari Temple, Anegudde Vinayaka Temple, and Kollur Mookambika Temple also saw a significant rise in footfall.
At Kateel, which is currently hosting its annual fair, the crowd was particularly dense. Devotees were required to wait for extended periods to complete their darshan, and authorities anticipate a similar rush on Monday.
Beaches packed in the evening
While temples saw peak crowds during the morning hours, beaches across the coastline became the focal point of activity in the evening. From Ullal to Byndoor and Someshwara Beach, large numbers of tourists gathered to spend time along the الساحل.
Popular beaches such as Panambur Beach, Kaup Beach, and Malpe Beach were particularly crowded, with police personnel deployed to manage the heavy influx of visitors.
Traffic congestion and parking issues
The surge in visitors, most of whom travelled in private vehicles, led to traffic congestion at several key نقاط across the region. Authorities reported slow-moving traffic near major temple towns and beach access roads.
Tourists also faced difficulties due to inadequate parking facilities, especially at popular beaches and pilgrimage centres. In some locations, vehicles were seen parked along roadsides, further aggravating congestion.
Police officials said managing both traffic and crowd control proved challenging due to the sudden spike in visitors. Additional personnel were deployed at sensitive نقاط to ensure public safety and maintain order.
Extended holiday fuels travel plans
The combination of school holidays and consecutive public holidays encouraged many families to plan short trips. The extended weekend allowed travellers to visit multiple destinations, contributing to the widespread crowding across districts.
Travel operators and local businesses reported increased activity, with hotels, eateries, and roadside vendors benefiting from the influx of tourists.
Conclusion
The holiday rush across Mangaluru and Udupi highlights the region’s popularity as both a pilgrimage and leisure destination. While the surge brought economic activity, it also exposed challenges related to infrastructure, traffic management, and crowd control.
With another day of holiday remaining, authorities expect the influx to continue and have urged visitors to plan their travel carefully and follow safety guidelines to avoid inconvenience.