Maravanthe is a small coastal village famed for its golden beaches and the 1,800-year-old Varaha-Vishnu-Narasimha temple. The Varaha-Vishnu-Narasimha temple is claimed to be one of the few temples in the country where Varaha (the avatar of Vishnu as Boar) is worshiped. Sauparnika River becomes a wide basin here, before joining the sea.

Boats ply to the other side of the river, ferrying villagers to the nearby village, and boat rides are an interesting experience.

During monsoon months, the sea can be quite rough with waves pounding the beach and it is risky to swim or even walk on the beach.

The temple is open from 6.30 am to 12:30 pm in the mornings and from 6 pm to 8.30 pm in the evenings. A day-long festival is celebrated in the temple in July/ August, coinciding with Bheemana Amavasya.

Maravanthe is on NH-17, 30 km west of Kollur and 13 km north of Kundapur. There are frequent buses from Kundapur and Kollur that pass through this temple town.

However, a taxi would be more convenient to visit various places, including Maravanthe, from Kundapur. There are no lodges or hotels to stay in this small town, except for the rather expensive beach-resort. It is better to stay in Kundapur, pay a day's visit to this unique temple and enjoy the scenic beauty of the river and the surf and sand of the mighty Arabian Sea nearby. Absolute care should be taken while bathing or swimming in the beach as it can prove to be risky.

Postal address: Sri Vishnu-Narasimha Temple, Maravanthe, Kundapur Taluk, Udupi District, Dakshina Kannada - 576261. Ph: (08254) 255 555.