St. Mary’s Island, Karnataka
A set of four small islands off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, the St. Mary’s Islands are home to one of the 26 geological monuments of India. Island displays the remnants of the columnar basaltic lava, created by the subvolcanic activity of Madagascar, a former part of the Indian peninsula, which separated almost 88 million years ago.
St. Mary’s Island is an island of white sand beaches, rock monoliths and great wildlife. Located just 4 miles off the coast of Karnataka in the Arabian Sea, St. Mary’s Island is a geological treasure and hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. It is a group of four individual islands namely Coconut Island, North Island, South Island and Daryabahadurgarh Island. One can find a shoreline made up full of crystalline rocks which were created at the time Madagascar Island got separated from India.
Best Time To Visit: The best time to visit the place is from October to January since the climate is pleasant at that time thereby making the stay comfortable. The most convenient and the only way of reaching the island is by means of a ferry.
How To Reach: A ferry from Malpe Beach to St. Mary’s Island costs around INR 150.
