St. Mary's Islands
ತೋನ್ಸೆಪಾರ್
A small island off Malpe, covered in hexagonal columnar basalt. It is one of India's national geological monuments.
St. Mary's Islands lie about 6 km off the coast of Malpe. They were formed by volcanic activity about 88 million years ago. The neatly arranged hexagonal columnar basalt is extremely rare in India and is listed as a national geological monument. Legend says Vasco da Gama landed here in 1498. The boat ride from Malpe Jetty takes about 20–30 minutes, and a round-trip ticket costs about 300–400 rupees. The island has no shops or accommodation, so you must return before the afternoon. The reefs are slippery, and swimming is prohibited.
Opening hours
About 09:30–17:00 (boat schedule)
Nearby sights
- Malpe Beach
- Delta Beach (Kodi Bengre)
- Udupi Sri Krishna Matha
- Anantheshwara & Chandramouleshwara Temples
- Manipal End Point
- Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village
- Kaup Beach Lighthouse
- Padubidri Blue Flag Beach