City Sights 357 Kms west of Bangalore is the district headquarters of Dakshina Kannada, Mangalore. With an important port, this coastal town is a major commercial Center. Mangalore could be your entry point to Beach Country- with its virgin and unexplored beaches. While in Mangalore try and see a Yakshagana performance- an elaborate dance from unique to Karnataka.

The Kambala (buffalo race) is another exciting event. A trip to Mangalore would be incomplete without a visit to the 10th century Kadri Manjunatha Temple, St.Aloysius chapel, Mangala devi Temple, Tippu’s Battery and the Jumma Masjid. The Ullal beach with casuarinas groves is another attraction that draws tourists all through the year.

The District Head Quarter, which is also called as The Gateway of Karnataka with its Harbour where import and export of Crude Oil, Iron Ore, Wood, Spices, Food grains takes place. Mangalore is also well known for its Educational Institutions with many schools, colleges and Professional Institutions. The first Prime Minister of India called Mangalore city as the green city for its Palm and Coconut trees. Mangalore city has an area of 111.18 KM.

The Kambala (buffalo race) is another exciting event.

At one point Mangalore was the major seaport and shipbuilding center of Hyder Ali's kingdom today it's a center for the export of coffee and cashew nuts. Mangalore is a city in Karnataka which is named after the goddess Mangaladevi, lying on the backwaters formed by the Netravati and Gurpur rivers, it has long been a roadstead along the Malabar Coast. It has several pilgrim centers. Lying in the Western coast and touching the Arabian Sea, Mangalore has been historically a ship building center.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Population: 480,000
Best Season: September-February
Telephone Code: 0824
Language Spoken: Kannada, English, Tamil.

Places to see in Mangalore:

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama: Nearly 10Km away from Mangalore highway road at Moodushedde the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama is situated. This offers a panoramic view for the nature lovers. It is a very significant place with Botanical gardens, Horticultural gardens, Musical fountains, deer park, swimming-lake with boating facilities, tiger safari and children train. It extends to an area of 350 acres land along the tropical jungle on the bank of the Gurpur river.

Gokarnanatheshwara Temple of Kudroli:
Gokarnatheshwara Temple at Kudroli in Mangalore is the only temple in Karnataka set up by Shri Narayana Guru, the great philosopher, saint and social reformer from Kerala. Shree Narayana Guru had visited Mangalore in 1912 and expressed his wish that the Billavas should build a temple for themselves. Read On

Shri Venkataramana Temple, Car Street, Mangalore
It was believed that temple was founded during 17th century A.D. (1735). The present idol erected in main sanctum of Lord Sri Venkataramana of temple is said to be original symbolic idol of the Lord Sri Venkataramana. It is also said, Sri Mahla Pai from a noble family of Mangalore belonging to Gowda Saraswatha Brahmin Community of Kaushika lineage erected bronze idols of Lord Sri Veera Vittala and Lord Sri Gopalakrishna. Inside the main sanctum of the temple, there established idols of deities - Goddess Sri Devi and Goddess Bhoodevi along with main deity Lord Sri Veera Venkatesha, festive idol of Lord Srinivasa, Shri Mula Venkaaramana, Garuda Vahana Shri Gopalakrishna and Shri Veera Vittala. Read On

Church of Our Lady of miracles:

Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine priest of Salesette, built the Church of Our Lady of Miracles, better known as Milagres Church of Mangalore, in 1680. It is thus more than 320 years old. This Church is situated in Hampankatta of Mangalore city and it is famous for its architectural construction. 

Rosario Cathedral: The Church of the most Holy Rosary, Mangalore
Rev. Fr. Urban Stein S.J. a German (1845-1888) was the first Parish priest of the Cathedral. He introduced the order of Ursuline Franciscan Congregation in the Cathedral in the year 1888. Mother Nymppa Paullina Fernandez daughter of John Francis Fernandez, deputy Collector, South Kanara was the first superior. During this time it was decided that those who would contribute Rs.200/- to Rs.500/- and superintend the work of the Cathedral for one year should be granted the honour of Principals or Founders. Read On

Shri Gokarnanatha Kshethra, Kudroli, Mangalore
Sri Narayana Guru (A social reformer and a saint) constructed this temple in 1912. This temple is situated at Kudroli, which is about 3 Km away from the main city area of Hampankatta. The original temple structure was in Kerala style, which was replaced, by Chola style during recent renovation in 1991. The main deity of the temple is Lord Sri Gokarnanatha (another form of Lord Shiva). Navarathri Utsava (Dasara festival) is very famous and is one of the main tourist events in this temple. A grand procession of Goddess Durga takes place during this festival, which attracts many tourists and devotees from distance corners of the state and is very popular like Mysore Dasara. Read On

Sultans Battery: For preventing the entrance of warships into the Gurpur river 6 Kms away from the city at Boloor on the banks of the river Gurpur, Tipu Sultan had built a miniature fortress making provision for mounting cannons all round. From the top of the Battery one can enjoy the sunset also.

Ullal: On the bank of the river Nethravathi 12 Km from Mangalore Ullal is situated, Many Seafood and canned food factories are situated in this area. It has a beach resort at chota Mangalore of Ullal on the bank of the Arabian Sea called Summer Sands beach resort. Well famed saint Syed Mohammed Madani Darga and college imparting Arabic education, is also located here. About three Km from Ullal a place Called Kotekar, on the top of a Huge rock a temple named Somanatheshwar stands with its grandeur of sculpture of ancient times. The ruins of the Fort of queen Abbakka Devi of Ullal can be seen around the temple. The alluring beach is also named as Someshwar beach.

Panambur Beach: 13Km from Mangalore on the north of the National Highway is the Panambur beach. On the 11th of Jan 1975, as the 9th Major port of the country the new Mangalore port was opened near Panambur. For visitors a pass is to be obtained from the Secretary Mangalore Harbour Port Administrative Office. In the vicinity of the Port lies the Mangalore chemical and Fertilizers Factory and the Kudremukh Iron Ore Factory. The iron ore from Kudremukh and other accessories are transported from this port.

Mangalore - The land of temples
The District Head Quarter, which is also called as The Gateway of Karnataka with its Harbour where import and export of Crude Oil, Iron Ore, Wood, Spices, Food grains takes place. Mangalore is also well known for its Educational Institutions with many schools, colleges and Professional Institutions. Read On