Kapu (Kaup) is a town situated in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India. It lies between the twin cities of Udupi and Mangalore, next to the National Highway 66. The villages Manchakal and Shirva are located near Kapu. It is 13 km south of Udupi and 40 km north of Mangalore. It is known for its lighthouse, the three Mariamman shrines, and the Kapu fort built by Tippu Sultan. Kapu was declared a taluk of the Udupi district by the Government of Karnataka.
The Kapu lighthouse was built in 1901 by the East India Company, on the shores of the Arabian Sea close to Kaup Beach. It is 27.12 meters tall.
