Marvanthe – A Serene Drive

The Karnataka coastline never stops to surprise all those who long to get away from the hustle bustle of the urban lifestyle. The stretch of mesmerising beaches from Mangalore all the way till Karwar are not just a delight for those who want to go for a dip but also for those who long for a blissful time. Among the many beaches that one could halt at along the Edapally-Panvel  highway is the Maravanthe beach. It’s about 55kms north of Udupi and has been considered as one of the scenic beaches by various travel magazines.

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However, what makes this place special is not the beach but the drive to the beach. The NH 66( formerly known as NH17) gives the traveller a jaw-dropping sight as they get to experience two different natural terrains at one place. The highway runs next to the beach (Arabian sea) and the Suparnika River flows on the other side of the road, creating the perfect illustration of living in harmony. This spectacular scenery is considered a one of its kind occurrence in India and is also one of the few adventures across the globe. Surprisingly, the Suparnika, which almost touches  the Arabian Sea here, makes an about-turn and joins the sea after a cruising westward for about 10 km.

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The lush greenery filled with coconut trees along the riverside captures the best of the Indian countryside one can hope to experience. On the other hand, the rocky beach gives one the space to let go of their troubles and just unwind. The best of both worlds would be plucking a coconut on your own and heading to the beach to relish the sweetness. So if the folks in a group have a dilemma while choosing between a beach and a countryside, then this is the place to head to. After all, it’s not always about the destination, but the journey one takes to get there.

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Since this location is quite happening, a number of inns and homestays have established around this area to help the tourists enjoy the drive peacefully. Eateries including mini dhabas have grown over the years serving the best of Malnad cuisine until late night. The best season to travel  would be between September and March. Even though a monsoon drive sounds quite fascinating in this scenario, it’s not suggested as there are some parts of the road that have the Arabian sea flowing onto it. However, if you are looking for some water sports at the end of the journey, then post monsoon season is just perfect.

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