| Kundapra | |
| Official Name: | Kundapura |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Coordinates: | 13.6283°N 74.6889°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name1: | Karnataka |
| Subdivision Name2: | Udupi |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1912 |
| Named For: | Kundeshwara |
| Government Type: | Municipality |
| Governing Body: | Kundapura Town Municipal Council |
| Leader Title1: | Councillor |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 23.06 |
| Elevation M: | 80 |
| Population Total: | 30,444 |
| Population As Of: | 2011[1] |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Kundapurian |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 576 201 |
| Area Code: | 91-(0)8254 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Iso Code: | IN-KA |
| Registration Plate: | KA-20 |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Udupi, Byndoor, Mangalore |
| Blank Info: | Kannada[2] |
| Leader Title2: | Deputy Councillor |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Sex ratio |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | 1.09 ♂/♀ |
| Blank4 Name Sec1: | Lok Sabha Constituency |
| Blank4 Info Sec1: | Udupi Chikmagalur |
| Blank5 Name Sec1: | Vidhan Sabha Constituency |
| Blank5 Info Sec1: | Kundapura |
Kundapra, officially Kundapura, is a town in the Udupi district of Karnataka state in India. This town was known as Coondapoor when it was part of the erstwhile South Canara district (1862 - 1947) of the Madras Presidency of British India. Present-day Kundapur is administered by the Kundapur Town Municipal Council and serves as the headquarters of eponymous Kundapur taluk in Udupi district.[3]
The name Kundapura can be traced to the Kundeshwara Temple built by Kundavarma of the Alupa dynasty who ruled the region in the 10th - 11th century, in the vicinity of the Panchagangavalli River.[4] In Kundagannada language, the word "Kunda" also refers to the flower Jasmine. Where the Majority people of Kundapura grow flower Jasmine in this region which came to be called as kundapura (Land of Jasmine).
Kundapura town is surrounded by water from three sides. To the north lies the Panchagangavalli River. To the east lies the Kalaghar river. To the west lie the Kodi backwaters sea walk and the Arabian Sea, leaving the south side as the main connecting land mass. All connecting roads to Kundapura enter the city from the southern direction. North side of the town is vast backwaters of Panchagangavali river and a bridge has been constructed across it.Kundapur Taluk is bounded on the west by the Arabian Sea, on the south by Brahmavara Taluk, on the north by Byndoor Taluk, and the east by the Western Ghats.
Kundapur taluk has several rivers and experiences heavy rainfall. The main rivers are the Chakra, Souparnika, Varahi, Kubja, and Kheta.In fact, there are seven rivers or rivulets between Kundapur and Byndoor, a short distance of 36 km. They are Halady River, Kollur River, Chakra River, Rajadi, Nujadi, Yadamavina Hole and Uppunda Hole.[5]
Kundapur is connected to other parts of the country by NH66. SH52 is a State Highway that connects to Shimoga District. This Highway connects cities and towns of different states. Kundapur is also connected to the Konkan Railway, which runs from Mumbai to Mangaluru. The railway station is about 4km (02miles) from the town. The nearest airport is Mangaluru International Airport, at Bajpe around 87km (54miles) from Kundapur.
Kundapura railway station, along the Konkan Railway, is used by Kerala pilgrims who visit Kolluru Mookambika Temple
Kundapur is located at a distance of from Udupi, from Manipal, from Byndoor, Bhatkal, from Mangaluru and from Karwar, which are the other major cities/towns in Coastal Karnataka.
There are private local buses and some out of town is serviced by government owned buses. Buses can be found for Udupi and Mangaluru, and there are multiple bus stands. The main bus stand where the buses to Udupi and Mangaluru are available is called "New bus stand", is near the police station. Another frequently used mode of transportation is auto rikshaw.