Top 8 Things To Do In Manipal, Karnataka

1. Step back in time at Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village

Located about a five-minute drive away from the town, Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village Museum is one of the remaining landmarks of Manipal, which has rich cultural architecture and design. It is maintained well, with clean environment and freshly mowed lawns. The museum is an open complex, where you can walk into the different traditional buildings and explore the beautiful art and craft. Every building has its own design inspired by the culture and tradition in order to attract visitors. This heritage museum is especially beautiful at night, when it is attractively lit up.

Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village

Address: Opposite Hotel Lake View, Near Christ Church, Alevoor road, Udupi District, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5:30pm; Sun: 10am - 8:30pm (closed on Mon)

Price: From 2 USD

2. Get lost in the stars at Dr. TMA Pai Planetarium

Dr. TMA Pai Planetarium is an ideal model to represent activities related to science and to inspire young learners to explore every bit of knowledge and challenges. One of the highlights of the planetarium is the approachable group of enthusiastic and professional scientists who are ready to answer all your questions regarding science. The planetarium has a mirror dome projection system for the sky-theatre, telescopes and binoculars for observing the sky, amateur astronomy and natural history. It serves as a platform for all the learners and aspiring researchers.

Dr. TMA Pai Planetarium

Address: Eshwar Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: Dr. TMA Pai Planetarium

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 9am - 7pm (closed on Tue)

Price: Less than 1 USD

3. Discover yourself and the world around you at Museum of Anatomy and Pathology

Museum of Anatomy and Pathology is one of the must-visit places in Manipal during your visit. The museum is one of the largest in Asia and consists of more than 3000 specimens and anatomical samples, from skeletons of animals to the whale. It also has specimens of human bodies from head to toe. Under the section of Pathology Museum, it showcases different parts of a human body and organs affected by diseases. The museum is an epitome of exceptional work and minds of Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

Museum of Anatomy and Pathology

Address: Manipal Dr, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: Museum of Anatomy and Pathology

Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)

Price: Less than 1 USD

4. Spend a quiet time by the lake

Manipal Lake is one of the most visited places in Manipal due to its quiet atmosphere and scenic view of the lake. Most people visit the lake to spend time amidst nature and witness the sunrise or the sunset. This lake is also a perfect location for an early morning exercise or evening walk or run.

Manipal Lake

Address: Lake, Manipal, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: Manipal Lake

Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)

5. Visit the magnificent Venugopal Temple

Venugopal Temple is a holy shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna of the Hindu religion. Also, the temple features other Gods and Goddesses of the religion, such as Lord Hanuman, Lord Shani, Goddess Durga and Lord Mahadeva. It is one of the important temples in Manipal. The temple is designed with South Indian architecture and boasts beautiful garden and lawn. It is often crowded with locals, students and visitors.

Venugopal Temple

Address: MIT Campus, Eshwar Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: Venugopal Temple

6. Delve into the life of Father of Manipal at Smriti Bhavan

Smriti Bhavan was the home of Late Dr. T. M. A. Pai, who is known as the ‘Father of Manipal.’ He is the person who helped Manipal and put it on the map. And, he transformed the town completely from a forest to a cosmopolitan town. Currently, Smriti Bhavan is officially a museum dedicated to Late Dr. T. M. A. Pai’s life and his extraordinary works. The museum showcases photographs, paintings, records, articles and models representing his work. Ideally, the museum provides a glimpse of his lifestyle, which was quite simple yet inspiring.

Smriti Bhavan

Address: Madhav Nagar, Eshwar Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: Smriti Bhavan

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9:30am - 1pm, 2:30pm - 6pm (closed on Sun)

Price: Free

7. A perfect place for a perfect sunset

End Point is one of the places to visit in Manipal, and it is frequently visited by the locals. It is a cliff overlooking Swarna river. Also, it is a great place to take pictures, witness a lovely scenic view of the town, and spend time with nature and your loved ones. People also go for trekking, walking along the trails and jogging around the End Point. The best time to be at the End Point is before the sunrise and sunset, so you won’t miss out the spectacular view.

End Point

Address: End Point-Cricket Ground Rd, Saralebettu, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: End Point

Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 6am - 6:30pm; Sat: 5am - 7pm

8. Fall in love with nature at Arbi Falls

One of the best things to do in Manipal is visiting Arbi Falls during the monsoon season. Arbi Falls is a cascading waterfall, located at Dasharath Nagar. The falls has a charm of its own, as it appears from rocks above the hills and flows down the stream and trees. It is magical to watch the falls glisten and flow down the stream. It is a great place to be, where you can hike into the forest and discover the beauty of nature.

Arbi Falls

Address: Dasharath Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India

Website: Arbi Falls

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Don't miss out the fun in Manipal

From temples and historical places to research centres and museums, Manipal has a lot to offer. It is one of the places you must definitely visit in Karnataka, India. It has progressed over the years rapidly in education, development and nature conservation. So, if you are in Manipal or planning to visit, you have to check out this list of the top things to do in Manipal, Karnataka.