What to expect
Highlights
- Worship of Krishna through the silver Navagraha Kitiki window.
- The eight mathas and the biennial Paryaya festival.
- The home of Udupi cuisine, with free meals in the temple.
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
The Sri Krishna Matha at Udupi was founded in the 13th century by the great Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya, who installed an idol of Krishna as a butter-thief child holding a churning rod. Uniquely, the deity is worshipped through a silver-plated, nine-holed window called the Navagraha Kitiki.
Practical guide
Plan Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Typetemple
Nearest baseUdupi
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed1 to 1
EntryFree (free meals; donations welcome)
Nearest town/baseUdupi
DistrictUdupi
Place typetemple
Time needed1 to 1.5 hours.
The Sri Krishna Matha at Udupi was founded in the 13th century by the great Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya, who installed an idol of Krishna as a butter-thief child holding a churning rod. Uniquely, the deity is worshipped through a silver-plated, nine-holed window called the Navagraha Kitiki.
The temple is the heart of Udupi — the seat of the eight mathas that take turns managing it, the birthplace of the celebrated Udupi vegetarian cuisine, and the setting for the biennial Paryaya handover and the great Krishna Janmashtami festival.
Visiting
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi — at a glance
Timings~5:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 - 9:00 PM (confirm)
Best timeOctober to February; Janmashtami (Aug–Sep) & Paryaya (Jan) crowded
Entry: Free (free meals; donations welcome)
Getting here
How to reach Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Car Street, central Udupi; walkable from the bus stand
A strict living temple — modest dress, footwear off; note the temple dress conventions.
Getting there
How to visit
- On Car Street in the centre of Udupi town; walkable from the bus stand, or a short auto ride.
- A living temple with a dress code — men often remove shirts in the inner area, modest dress for all, footwear off; free meals (annadana) are served at set times.
Distance by road
- Mangaluru60 km
- Shivamogga145 km
- Chikkamagaluru145 km
- Karwar175 km
- Bengaluru400 km
Road km to Udupi; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; Krishna Janmashtami (Aug–Sep) and the Paryaya (Jan, every two years) are the great events but very crowded.
Weather in Sri Krishna Matha, UdupiSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Visitor notes
- A strict living temple — modest dress, footwear off, follow the queue rules, and note the temple dress conventions.
Safety
Good to know
On the map
Where Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi is
Photos
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi in pictures
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
Verified inventory is being added here.
Verified places are being added. The category filters will fill in as approved stays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and nature listings go live.
List your placeRoampedia is commission-free — own or know a stay, eatery, guide or shop near Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi? List it and it appears here once verified.
Add a nearby businessNearby
What’s near Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Good to know
Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
October to February; Krishna Janmashtami (Aug–Sep) and the Paryaya (Jan, every two years) are the great events but very crowded.
What are the entry fee and timings at Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
Entry: Free (free meals; donations welcome). Timings: ~5:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 - 9:00 PM (confirm). Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
How do I reach Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
On Car Street in the centre of Udupi town; walkable from the bus stand, or a short auto ride. A living temple with a dress code — men often remove shirts in the inner area, modest dress for all, footwear off; free meals (annadana) are served at set times.
How much time do I need for Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
1 to 1.5 hours.
What else is near Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi?
Nearby you can pair Anantheshwara Temple, Udupi (50 m), Manipal End Point (4.8 km), Malpe Beach (6.3 km), Pajaka Kshetra (8.9 km).
Read next
Stories, legends & history of Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi
Image credits
- Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi:Ashok Prabhakaran from Chennai, India, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0