By the Education Karnataka Editorial Team · Last updated: November 2026

Quick answer: Udupi district, including Manipal, Kundapura and Karkala, is an established education region on Karnataka’s coast. It offers CBSE, ICSE and State Board schools, some with residential facilities, along with a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya for eligible district students. Manipal’s universities and hospitals add to the area’s educational and medical infrastructure.

Key takeaways

• Udupi has a strong education culture and a well-known university town in Manipal.
• Medical facilities in Manipal and Udupi city are an advantage for boarding families.
• The district is connected by the Konkan Railway and is close to Mangaluru airport.
• Like the rest of the coast, the region has a heavy monsoon from June to September.

Why consider Udupi and Manipal?

• Education ecosystem: Universities, colleges and long-established schools.
• Health care: Major hospitals in Manipal and Udupi.
• Safe, small-city environment compared with large metros.
• Connectivity: The Konkan Railway, national highway links, and Mangaluru airport roughly an hour away.

Some schools listed in our Udupi directory

Listed in no particular order. This is not a ranking:

• Sharada Residential School, Udupi
• Madhava Kripa School, Manipal
• Vidyodaya Public School, Udupi
• PM SHRI School, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Udupi (admission through JNVST, mainly for eligible students from the district)

Check current boarding availability, classes and fees directly with each school.

What to check

Area	Questions
Residential facilities	Is the school fully residential or day-boarding? From which class?
Supervision	Are there separate hostels and resident wardens?
Academics	Which board? Is evening study supervised?
Medical	How quickly can a child reach a hospital?
Travel	What are the holiday travel arrangements for distant students?

Frequently asked questions

Is Manipal only for higher education? Manipal is best known for its universities, but the area also has schools, including some listed in our directory.

Can students from other districts join the Navodaya school in Udupi? Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya admissions at Class 6 are mainly for children studying in that district, as per NVS eligibility rules. Check the current prospectus.

How far is Udupi from Mangaluru? It is roughly 60 km by road, usually about an hour’s drive depending on traffic.

Which language do schools use? Most private schools teach in English, and Kannada is taught as a language.

Is Udupi good for PU colleges? Yes, the district has many PU colleges. See our guide on PU colleges in Udupi with hostel facilities.

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Need help shortlisting schools? Browse our directory of boarding schools in Karnataka and residential PU colleges in Karnataka, or message us on WhatsApp for guidance.

About Education Karnataka: a directory of residential schools and PU colleges across Karnataka, helping parents compare their options.