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Voykit pocket guide · India
Puttur
ಪುಟ್ಟೂರು
Spend a half‑day in Puttur to see the Mahalingeshwara Temple and Bendru Theertha hot spring; add a night if you want local food and budget lodging.
Puttur is a small town in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka. Its main attractions – the historic Mahalingeshwara Temple and the rare Bendru Theertha hot spring – are close to the centre and can be visited in a few hours. Budget hotels and auto‑rickshaw transport make an overnight stay easy, but a day‑trip is enough for most travellers.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- ಪುಟ್ಟೂರು
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · High ₹2,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire/ambulance 101 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Auto‑rickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹100–₹150 |
| Meal at Town Kitchen (rice, fish curry, chicken kebab) | ₹50 |
| Arecanut (supari) per kg | ₹200–₹300 |
| Bendru Theertha entry | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXE · Mangalore International Airport
- About 50 km (31 mi), 1 h by busAbout 31 mi (50 km), 1 h by bus
Typical fares
- Puttur ↔ Mangalore bus
- ≈₹250, 1 h 15 min (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈₹120 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto‑rickshaws are the main local transport; hire by the kilometre or negotiate a round‑trip fare from the bus stand.
See and do
Known for
- Mahalingeshwara Temple
- Bendru Theertha hot spring
- Arecanut markets
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mangalore | KSRTC bus from Puttur bus stand, about 1 h 15 min | ≈2 h round trip |
| Dharmasthala | Bus to Sullia then local bus, ~2 h total | ≈4 h round trip |
Sleep
- Hotel Hari Prasad
- Budget hotel near Mahalingeshwara Temple, rooms ~₹1,200–₹1,800 per night
- Town Kitchen
- Very cheap meals (~₹50 lunch) and simple rooms ~₹800–₹1,200
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿkshamisi |
| Thank you | ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುdhanyavaadagalu |
| How much is this? | ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು?idu eshtu? |
| Where is the bus stand? | ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?bus nildana ellide? |
| Can I pay by card? | ಕಾರ್ಡ್ ಮೂಲಕ ಪಾವತಿಸಬಹುದೇ?card moolaka paavatisa bahude? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads can be slippery during monsoon; check local forecasts.
- Bendru Theertha hot spring water is very hot – follow posted safety signs.
Puttur is generally safe for day visitors; stay alert during monsoon floods and keep valuables secure in crowded buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Puttur yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mahalingeshwara Temple
- Bendru Theertha hot spring
- Arecanut markets
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Puttur, revision 5316107 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5316107
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/puttur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.