Udupi district (Tulu/kannada/konkani:ಉಡುಪಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ), ಉಡುಪಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ) in the Karnataka state of India was created in August 1997. The three northern taluks, Udupi, Kundapur and Karkal, were separated from Dakshina Kannada District to form Udupi district. Udupi district is surrounded by Uttara Kannada district in north, Dakshina Kannada district in southern direction. Shivamogga district borders on north east side and chikamagalur district on east. Arabian sea is on west of Udupi district. Udupi is famous for Udupi cuisine originated at Ashta Matha, i.e., eight Matts and Sri Krishna Temple. Udupi is also one of oldest Educational Centres. The administrative headquarters of Udupi district is Udupi town. Population as per Census 2001 was 1,112,243 of which 18.55% were urban.

Udupi was created out of the Dakshina Kannada district in the year August 1997. Udupi district consists of three taluks: Udipi, Karkala and Kundapura. Karnataka Legislative Assembly constituencies in Udupi district are: Kaup, Kundapur, Karkala, Baindur and Udupi. Brahmavara assembly constituency has now been merged with Udupi and Kundapura constituencies. Udupi, Karkala, Kaup and Kundapura assembly segments are now part of the Udupi-Chickmagalur parliamentary (Loksabha) constituency, whereas Baindur is now part of Shimoga Loksabha constituency. These changes took place during Loksabha general elections held in 2009..

Udupi (Tulu:ಉಡುಪಿ, Konkani:उडुपी and Kannada:ಉಡುಪಿ) is a town in the south-west Indian State of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Udupi District. Udupi is notable for the Krishna Temple, and lends its name to the popular Udupi cuisine. Udupi, also known as Rajata Peetha and Shivalli (Shivabelli), a centre of pilgrimage, is situated about 58 km north of Mangalore and about 422 km north-west of Bangalore.

It is widely believed that the name of Udupi was derived from its Tulu name Odipu. The Tulu name in turn is associated with a temple at Malpe, devoted to Vadabhandeshwara. Another story is that the name Udupi came from the combination of the Sanskrit words Udu and Pa, which mean "stars" and "lord." According to legend, the moon's light was once reduced due to a curse by King Daksha, whose 27 daughters (the 27 stars, according to Hindu astrology) were married to the moon. The moon prayed to Lord Shiva to get back its original shine. Lord Shiva was pleased with the moon's prayer and restored its shine. Legend says that the moon and his wives made their prayer at the Chandramouleeshwara temple at Udupi, creating a linga that can be seen even today. According to this story, therefore, Udupi means the land of the "lord of the stars," the moon.

Ranganath Vinay Kumar  pronunciation (help·info) (Kannada: ವಿನಯ್ ಕುಮಾರ್) (born 12 February 1984) is an Indian cricket player who has played for India at Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 levels. He is a right-arm medium fast bowler who plays domesticy cricket for Karnataka and also in the Indian Premier League for the Bangalore Royal Challengers (2008-2010) and the Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011. He will return to play for the Royal Challengers in the 2012 IPL after the franchise picked him up for US$1 million.

Vinay Kumar was born in Davangere, Karnataka, on 12 February 1984. His father was an auto rickshaw driver. He attended a government school in Davangere before graduating from the A.R.G. Arts and Commerce College with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Vinay Kumar broke into Karnataka's Ranji Trophy team in the 2004–05 season. He was the Ranji Trophy's second-highest wicket-taker in the 2007-08 season, with 40 at an average of 18.52. He was signed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008.