{"id":233,"date":"2025-07-21T07:40:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T07:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/?page_id=233"},"modified":"2025-07-28T04:10:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T04:10:46","slug":"st-marys-island","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/st-marys-island\/","title":{"rendered":"ST. MARY’S ISLAND"},"content":{"rendered":"
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St. Mary\u2019s Island\u2014also known as Coconut Island or Thonsepar\u2014is a stunning group of four small uninhabited islands<\/strong> located in the Arabian Sea, just off Malpe Beach near Udupi, Karnataka<\/strong>,India<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf0b What Makes It Special<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • Striking geology<\/strong>: The islands are famous for unique hexagonal basalt rock formations<\/strong>\u2014columnar lava rocks that resemble those at the Giant\u2019s Causeway in Ireland. These formed around 80\u2013100 million years ago during the rifting of Madagascar from India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • National Geoheritage Monument<\/strong>: Recognized and protected for their geological significance by the Geological Survey of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Pristine coastline<\/strong>: The western shores are lined with seashells instead of sand<\/strong>, offering a unique beach experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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    \ud83d\udccd Geographic & Historical Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    • Located approximately 5\u20136\u202fkm off Udupi<\/strong>, accessible via a 30-minute ferry from Malpe Harbour<\/strong>\u2014about 4\u20136\u202fkm away depending on the ferry route.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Local legend says Vasco da Gama landed here in 1498<\/strong>, naming it El Padron de Santa Maria<\/em> after Mother Mary; the name stuck.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      \ud83d\udea4 Planning Your Visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      \ud83d\udd52 Timings & Costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      • Ferry hours<\/strong>: 9:00\u20139:30\u202fAM to 5:00\u20135:30\u202fPM; return boats until ~6:00\u20136:30\u202fPM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Ferry fare<\/strong>: \u20b9250\u2013400 per person (round trip); camera charges may apply (<\/del>\u20b9200), depending on the operator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Minimum group size<\/strong>: Some boats depart only if filled (usually ~12\u201330 people).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        \u2705 Best Time to Visit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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        • Open months<\/strong>: October to January is ideal\u2014with clear skies, calm seas, and pleasant temperatures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Closed during monsoon<\/strong>: Rough seas during June to late September, and the island is off-limits for safety reasons .<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          \ud83c\udf92 What to Pack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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          • Light, quick-dry clothing; sandals or slip-ons that are easy to remove (you may wade into the water to board the ferry).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Sun protection<\/strong>: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water bottles\u2014there are no shops on the island.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Note that plastic, food items, and shell collection are prohibited<\/strong> to preserve the ecosystem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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            \ud83e\udded Things You Can Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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            • Explore rock formations<\/strong>: Walk over the hexagonal basalt columns and shallow pools\u2014perfect for photography.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Shell spotting<\/strong>: One side of the coastline is covered entirely by shells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Bird-watching<\/strong>: Look out for brahminy kites, egrets, sandpipers, seagulls, and green bee-eaters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Relax or picnic<\/strong>: Bring snacks and unwind\u2014scenic views and coconut groves make it tranquil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Sunset views<\/strong>: The west-facing coastline offers memorable sunsets if timed right (consider last ferry times).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Please note<\/strong>: Swimming and diving are generally not allowed due to strong currents and safety regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              \ud83e\uddf3 Where to Stay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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              • No overnight facilities on the island.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Stay options available in Udupi or nearby Malpe<\/strong>, which is only 5\u20136\u202fkm away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Udupi offers a variety of accommodation choices along with delicious local cuisine\u2014you can enjoy Udupi specialties like spiced rice, tambuli, menaskai, and bakshya.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                \ud83d\udccb Quick Guide at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                Aspect<\/th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
                Location<\/td>~6\u202fkm off Udupi coast; reachable from Malpe Beach by ferry<\/td><\/tr>
                Main Attractions<\/td>Hexagonal basalt columns, shell beaches, coconut palms<\/td><\/tr>
                Best Time<\/td>October \u2013 January<\/td><\/tr>
                Operational Hours<\/td>Ferry: ~9:00\u202fAM to 5:30\u202fPM; return ideally by ~6:00\u202fPM<\/td><\/tr>
                Costs<\/td>\u20b9250\u2013400 per person (return ferry); camera fees extra<\/td><\/tr>
                Amenities<\/td>No shops; basic toilets; environmental restrictions in place<\/td><\/tr>
                Safety Tips<\/td>Wear water-friendly footwear, carry sun protection and water<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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                <\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                St. Mary\u2019s Island\u2014also known as Coconut Island or Thonsepar\u2014is a stunning group of four small uninhabited islands located in the Arabian Sea, just off Malpe Beach near Udupi, Karnataka,India \ud83c\udf0b…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-233","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/233\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":809,"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/233\/revisions\/809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alivekodi.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}