About four kms to the west of Udupi, Malpe is an important port of the Karnataka coast. It is situated at the mouth of the Malpe/Udyavara River. The river is navigable to small cargo boats for about ten kms during high tide. The place has fascinating natural scenic view. It has been a centre of commercial activities for a long time, and one plus point is that it is a natural port.
There are three rocky islands to the west of it. The northern-most island is called Daria-Bahadurgad, the middle one Daria-Gadara-Kallu and the southern most Kari-Illada-Kallu.
The Daria-Bahadurgad port is famous for its export of processed fish to foreign countries. The sea between the rocky islands and the shore is a safe anchorage for vessels during storms and rough weather. The oldest tile factory of the district set up by the Basel Mission exists here. Fishing and fish curing are the important industries of the place. There are temples of Balarama and Ananteshwara here. The image of Balarama has six faces. Perhaps this was originally a temple of Subramanya or Shanmukha, the six-faced deity who was named Balarama at a later date.
It is said that Basavappa Nayaka of Bidanur built the Daria-Bahadurgad fort. Malpe is going to be developed into an important fisheries port. There is also a temple of Vadabhandeshwara here. At Kodavuru, a hamlet of Malpe situated one of the two well-known Shankaranarayana temples of the district. The deity here is in a double linga form. The sport is also known as Krodhashrama.
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