An entire island stay for Rs 5,000 a night, just 400 km from Bengaluru. Anand Mahindra shares a hidden Karnataka getaway

Can you imagine staying in a serene island, away from the crowd without checking into an expensive private resort, and instead having an entire island almost to yourself, but just for Rs 5,000? That is the unusual travel experience highlighted by business tycoon Anand Mahindra, who recently shared a post about the Jumadi Islands in Karnataka. It is located just a quick boat ride away from Udupi, the islands offer a striking contrast to busy city life. The experience was shared by Siddharth Dialani of BharatAgri, who said he stayed on an entire island through a homestay for just Rs 5,000 a night, making the getaway particularly intriguing for travellers seeking solitude.

Anand Mahindra shares a different kind of luxury

Taking to X, Anand Mahindra began his post by recalling the famous words of poet John Donne: “No man is an island…” Mahindra explained that Donne’s message was about how people are connected to a larger whole, whether that means a continent or a community. However, he noted that despite this interconnectedness, people can still crave moments away from everyone else. As Mahindra put it, most of us occasionally seek “a little isolation and individual reflection”, just as much as we enjoy being around others. That thought led to an unusual travel discovery in Karnataka.

The island getaway near Udupi

Mahindra highlighted the experience of Founder and CEO, Siddharth Dialani of BharatAgri, who had shared details of his stay at the Jumadi Islands. The islands are located near Udupi, Karnataka, and according to the experience shared by Dialani, the destination was only a five-minute boat ride away from Udupi. What made his stay particularly unusual was not simply the location, but the amount of privacy it offered.


Through a homestay, Dialani said he was able to have an entire island to himself. At the time he posted about the experience, the stay reportedly cost just Rs 5,000 a night. For those who want to avoid crowded spots, affordable stays and tranquility, the idea of waking up with just an island and sea around, offers a different vibe to the holiday.

Rs 5,000 a night for complete solitude

The price is another detail that caught Mahindra's attention. He noted that the cost may not remain the same today as when Dialani had posted about. Instead of choosing a 5-star hotel, a luxury resort or family suite, the possibility of 'having an island to yourself' is far more precious, as it offers solitudeness. His post ended with the thought that in a country of 1.4 billion people getting to live in an island in solitary could perhaps be the “ultimate luxury”.

According to Karnataka Maritime Board, the state's coastline is home to a little-known network of 106 islands, ranging from inhabited settlements to remote, untouched landforms. Of these, 46 can be accessed easily, while many others remain isolated and largely unexplored. Recognising their tourism and economic potential, the state has plans for possible future development of many islands.

The Karnataka Maritime Board has recently proposed plans to develop island-based tourism in the state, with the shortlisting 10 islands for potential projects, according to the Hindu. The initiative focuses on creating tourism infrastructure through future development opportunities along the state's coastline. Three of the selected islands are located in Udupi district — Dariya Bahadurgad, Malpe, and Ayaba. The remaining seven are in Uttara Kannada district.

According to Karnataka Maritime Board, the state's coastline is home to a little-known network of 106 islands, ranging from inhabited settlements to remote, untouched landforms. Of these, 46 can be accessed easily, while many others remain isolated and largely unexplored. Recognising their tourism and economic potential, the state has plans for possible future development of many islands.

The Karnataka Maritime Board has recently proposed plans to develop island-based tourism in the state, with the shortlisting 10 islands for potential projects, according to the Hindu. The initiative focuses on creating tourism infrastructure through future development opportunities along the state's coastline. Three of the selected islands are located in Udupi district — Dariya Bahadurgad, Malpe, and Ayaba. The remaining seven are in Uttara Kannada district.