St. Mary’s Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka, India. They are known for their distinctive geological formation of columnar rhyolitic lava. It is a known to spot of “Geo Tourism” in Karnataka. There is a ferry service to reach the island from Malpe.

The blue sea waters and the white sand beaches are a hotspot for the sprawling number of tourists that visit here. All links to the island are only through the mainland town of Malpe, which is a major fishing harbor.

The only way of getting to the islands is by boat. For advanced boating service visit malpe beach which is 5.8 km from town Udupi. However, the frequency of the boats will be every 20 min. Or regular ferry service ply the 6 km distance from the Malpe fishing harbor to the islands.

The Islands are bereft of buildings, fences, shops. There are no domestic animals either. There are only covered pavilions with park benches on the shore and further inland. Visitors can wander around freely and enjoy the hexagonal formations from vantage locations. The north-south-aligned islands form a non-continuous chain. The four largest islands are Coconut Island, North Island, Daryabahadurgarh Island, and South Island. It’s a must-visit spot for all lovers of pristine unexplored beaches of India.