Nature surprises us with wonderful locales carved, eroded, sculpted with added imaginary of vegetation blending in opposite colours – unimaginable formulae sometimes assemetric but, pleasing to all our five senses! Add to this the journey of sun and it’s light becomes a catalyst to it’s already existing beauty. A canvas of appreciated beauty changing every hour, to make any place simply divine and breathtaking. Nature left to itself makes places, Beautiful and Breathtaking! Enter man who tries to play God, messes everything!
Marvante Beach 450 Kms from Bangalore, 110 Kms from Mangalore, 50 Kms from Udupi and 15 Kms before Kundapura is one such mesmerising natural beautiful locales. This short stretch of 3-4 Kms on the highway has the roaring wild Arabian Sea on one side and the calm serene 64 medicinal plant carrying Sourpanaki River on the other. The river take a turn at this point and forms a 100 acre island called Kudru. Sourpanaki takes birth in the Kodachari hills at Kollur. The river as destined joins the Arabian Sea 10 Kms down the road at Gangoli along with 4 other rivers, Varahi, Kedaka, Chakra and Kubja, here it’s known as Pancha Gangavalli. The Village at Marvante has a Lord Vishnu Temple, the diety of the Village known as Maharajswami in the dense forest, now a days simply known as Maraswami. The history is sketchy, the period of construction of this temple is attributed to 10th Century Alupa Dynasty. Trasi Marvante is a popular name combining the Village and the Beach.
The Highway at Trasi Marvante is the best stretch of the road. Everyone gets down for a breather. There are no resorts or hotels or restaurants, simple tuck shops selling snacks, cool drinks, tea, tender coconuts. This seems to be a favourite stop zone of truckers. There are no resorts or hotels to stay, nearest place is Kundapura 15 Kms away. Incidentally this road takes you further to Baindur Beach further to Murdeshwara, Karwar and on to Goa! Great pitstop to recharge your senses! The Government is mulling on to develop this as a tourist destination. The construction of the modern highway has robbed the earlier beauty. A lot of trees are axed, the highway heightened, robbing the view. The Arabian Sea is rough here and it is advisable not to venture out into the sea! The rough sea erodes the beach and boulders are thrown to stop engulfing beach land. I guess it’s a catch 22 situation to maintain and preserve this beautiful locale.
Next time around here, spend a few minutes here and refresh yourself and recharge your senses! This place is beautiful at dusk. A photographer’s zone an artists inspired locale. Look and watch, never wade the waters.
-Jagdeesh Laxman Singh
aka Jugie Singh
Text & Photography
Pitstop on NH-66 Marvante !
