The name is "Udupi", and it comes from the Sanskrit word "Udupa," which means "Moon" and is connected with the construction of the historic Chandramouleshwara temple.
Geographically, the Western Ghats, which rise to incredible heights, divide this region from the remaining portion of the south interior peninsula. In 1997, the district of Udupi was separated from the former Dakshina Kannada district .
Udupi serves as the district's administrative centre, and the district bears its name. Udupi is the location where Udupa (Chandra or Moon) undertook penance to escape the Daksha Prajapati curse and attained favour.
The Lord Krishna temple in Udupi is well-known. The area is at the base of the Western Ghats, which extend along Karnataka's west coast. Other significant temples in the district include Kollur Mookambika, Hattiyangadi Ganapathi, etc., in addition to Udupi Sri Krishna Temple.
In the district, Dravidian-style worship of the Cobra, ghost, and tree are common. From its spiritual hubs in Sravanabelagola, Karkal, Koppala, etc., Jainism spread. Particularly appealing were its teachings on cosmic consciousness and Ahimsa. The 4.5-foot-tall Gomateshwara statue, along with other jain temples, are in the Karkal neighbourhood of the Udupi district.
Madhwa was one of the "three great Acharyas", and he was born near Udupi in 1238 (Pajaka Kshethra). He propagated the unconditional idealism and dedication to Lord Vishnu that defined the Dwaita doctrine. For the adoration of Lord Krishna, he established eight pontifical seats in Udupi, where he also built the temple known as the "Udupi Sri Krishna temple.
From the 17th century onward, Christianity began to have a significant impact, which accelerated in the 19th century. According to legend, a Christian bishop once lived in Kalyanpur, which is close to Udupi, during the time of the oldest known Christian settlement. There were numerous churches close to Udupi. The churches in the areas of Kalyanpur, Brahmavar, Shirva, and Belman stand out among them. Sometimes the churches and their actions are to blame for the development of contemporary education in this field.
Formerly, known as "Tuluva" or "Tulunadu," the district's name was then changed to "South Kanara" and then "Dakshina Kannada." It is now divided into the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The district, along with the remainder of the region between Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) in the south and Thane in Maharashtra in the north, attributes its founding to Parashurama, one of Vishnu's ten avatars, who restored the area by hurling a hatchet from the western ghats' heights to the Arabian Sea.
According to legend, Parashurama transported Brahmins from Aryavartha to reside in this region. On the Kunjaragiri hill in Udupi, there is a temple dedicated to Renuka. Parashurama himself constructed it as a tribute to his mother.
The Chutus were the oldest known kings of this area, based on the records (Tulus). The Chalukya ruler Kirtivarma overthrew the Kadambas, the Brahmin monarchs of Banavasi, who governed over this territory between 200 and 600 AD. However, the Kadambas' power as feudatory princes under the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, and Vijayanagar rulers persisted for a while. The Alupas ruled the area as their feudatories when the Western Chalukyas' reign began around 575 A.D.
However, the Alupas, who were strong, proclaimed their independence and defended their own rights. Pulikeshi II of the Western Chalukyas, however, defeated them. Between 642 and 653 A.D., the Pallavas ruled the area. Thereafter, the country returned to the western Chalukyas, who had the Alupas as their feudatories until 757 A.D.
According to legend, Alupas remained the feudatories of the new overlords up until 770 A.D. After that, for almost a century, up until the first three quarters of the 10th century A.D., little is remembered about the Alupas' past. Throughout this time, the Alupas headquarters moved from Udyawara to Barakuru (Barkur).
The Hoysalas ruled this region for a while before being ruled by the Vijayanagaras. This region has been controlled by Keladi Nayakas for around 200 years as of 1554 A.D. They constructed the fort at Barkur during this time period. Hyder Ali of Srirangapatna captured this region in 1763 and began to rule there; his son Tipu Sultan thereafter ruled there till 1799.
The region was annexed to the Madras province by the British government following Tipu Sultan's surrender in 1799 until 1947, when India attained freedom. After that, it was kept in the Madras Province until 1956, when it was included into Mysore State as a portion of the country's rearrangement of the linguistic states.
The district's climate is similar to that of India's other West Coast districts overall. The majority of the year is marked by extreme humidity (78%) in this region.
June through September is the district's four wettest months, bringing with them strong winds, high humidity, torrential downpours, and a modest drop in temperature.
October and November are two humid, warm months when the south-west monsoon retreats.
Usually dry conditions take precedence during the three cool months of December, January, and February. Temperatures rise during the three hot months of March, April, and May. The district typically has an evenly balanced climate. Therefore, the inland is cooler than the coast.
Masala Dosa, Kaddubu or Moode, Bajjari Dosa or Neer Dosa, Goli Baje (aka) Mangalore Bonda are famous dishes in Udupi.
Agriculture and port-related industries, such as significant timber imports from South Asian nations to meet the need for furniture and all other necessities on the Indian market, are the two main economic drivers of Udupi. This region exports 75% of its coffee. Near Puttur is the primary cashew research facility. India is known for the high grade of Mangalore roof tiles. They serve as roof tiles for homes and are primarily constructed of red clay.
A few examples include Malpe Beach, Kodi Beach, Kaup Beach, Sri Krishna Temple, Pajaka, Daria Bahadurgad Fort, St. Mary's Island, Kallianpur, Karkala, Barkur, St. Lawrence Church, Chaturmukha Basadi, Achakanya Falls, and Anegudde Vinayaka Temple.
Kannada and Tulu are the two main languages used in Udupi. Celebrations and rhythm are hallmarks of Udupi culture and society. In Udupi, there are many residents of many religions and regions of India, all of whom take part in the various religious and community festivals. All participants appreciate the events.
Some of the most important cultural traditions in Udupi are recognised to be Aati Kalenja, Bhuta Kola, and Nagaradhane.
