Malpe: Saint Mary's Island reopens for tourists from today

Malpe: After a four-month monsoon ban, Saint Mary’s Island, a popular tourist destination off Malpe Beach, is reopening for visitors starting today, September 15.

The island, located about 5 km from the mainland, is considered unsafe for travel during the monsoon season, prompting an annual entry ban from May 15 to September 14 imposed by district authorities.

The island is accessible via large tourist boats from Malpe Beach, with speed boats also available for faster transit. After being closed for several months, a major cleanup operation is currently underway on the island, where weeds have grown tall, and waste has accumulated. As of Sunday, 12 cutting machines have been deployed to clear the island, said Pandurang Malpe, chairman of the Malpe Beach Development Committee.

Enhanced Facilities and Safety Measures

Ganesh Amin, manager of the tourist boat services, said that large tourist boats leaving from Sea Walk require a minimum of 30 passengers for each trip. Regular trips will be scheduled at 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM, with additional services available from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM if there is higher tourist demand.

The boats are equipped with modern amenities, including life jackets, life buoys, first aid kits, and trained lifeguards for safety, he added.

Boat Inspections

The Municipal Commissioner of Udupi and Secretary of the Malpe Development Committee, Rayappa, said that the four large boats from Sea Walk, ready for the island trips, have been inspected to ensure safety under varying weather and water conditions. However, inspections of the speed boats near the beach are still pending, he added.