Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 9: The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) has announced a special six-day pilgrimage tour package covering major religious and tourist destinations across southern and coastal Karnataka, aimed at promoting tourism at an affordable cost.
The package includes visits to prominent pilgrimage centres such as Dharmasthala, Kukke Subrahmanya, Mangaluru, Udupi, Kollur, Murudeshwar and Gokarna, offering pilgrims an opportunity to explore the state’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage. The initiative comes as part of the state government’s continued emphasis on tourism development, following increased focus on the sector in the recent Union Budget.
Southern Karnataka districts, including Mangaluru and Udupi, are home to several well-known pilgrimage and tourist destinations. In line with efforts to improve tourist footfall and infrastructure, the State government has introduced special travel packages through KSTDC to make travel more accessible and economical. Officials said the six-day package provides all essential facilities, enabling pilgrims to visit multiple historic temples and coastal locations at a comparatively low cost.
The tour will commence from Bengaluru, with departure scheduled at 9.00 pm from the KSTDC booking counter at the BMTC Bus Stand, Yeshwanthpur. On the second day, travellers will freshen up in the early hours before visiting the Annapoorneshwari Temple, followed by Kalaseshwara darshan and breakfast. The itinerary includes a visit to the Sringeri Sharadamba Temple, after which the group will proceed towards the coastal belt. Later in the day, pilgrims will have Mookambika Devi darshan, followed by dinner and an overnight stay at Byndoor.
On the third day, the tour will resume early from Byndoor, with visits to Idugunji Ganapathi Temple and Shambulinga Temple at Gunavante, followed by breakfast. By evening, the group will reach Gokarna, where pilgrims will visit the Mahabaleshwara Temple and Om Beach, and later the Dhareshwara Temple, before halting for the night at Honnavara.
The fourth day’s schedule includes an early departure for Murudeshwar, where pilgrims will visit the famous Murudeshwar Temple and have breakfast. The journey will then continue to the Anegudde Vinayaka Temple, followed by Sri Krishna Temple darshan in Udupi and lunch. In the afternoon, the group will visit the Manjula Temple, before reaching Kateel by evening for Durgaparameshwari Temple darshan and an overnight stay.
On the fifth day, the pilgrims will proceed to Dharmasthala, where they will have Manjunatheshwara Temple darshan along with breakfast. After lunch, the itinerary includes a visit to the Sowthadka Vinayaka Temple, followed by evening darshan at Adi Subrahmanya and Kukke Subrahmanya temples. The group will depart from Kukke later in the day.
The six-day pilgrimage tour will conclude with the group’s arrival back in Bengaluru at 5.30 am on the final day.
KSTDC officials said the package has been designed to provide a comfortable and spiritually enriching experience, while allowing pilgrims to explore multiple destinations across Karnataka in a single journey.