Kerala
Travel Guide
Mangalore Tourism
LOCATION Situated
in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Mangalore is one of the important centers of
exporting coffee and cashew nut. It is a hilly city with winding disoriented streets
located some 357 km away from the city Bangalore.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Being in the tropical region of the country, it has a languid tropical
atmosphere, hot and humid during summer and comfortably cold during winter season.
Winter is the best time to visit this place as the humidity during summer makes
traveling uncomfortable.
HISTORY
This city is said to have been
named after the famous Mangaladevi Temple. This temple, also a tourist spot, is
situated 3 km away from main city area. This temple was built by the Ballal family
of Attavar in memory of a princess of Kerala. Not much history could be found
about this area though the local museum would be a right place to go for the history
of this place.
TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
Sultan Battery is situated
in Boloor 4 km away from Mangalore City. It was built in Black stones by Tipu
Sultan to prevent warships to enter Gurupur river. Now the remaining part of the
fort is called as Tipu's Well. It is today a deserted spot but its construction
is bafflingly exquisite. Although it is a watchtower, it gives the impression
of a miniature fortress with its arrangements for mounting cannons all round.
Kadri is another ancient historic spot in Mangalore. The Kadri Temple
dating back to about 1068 A.D. with its nine tanks, its square temple, nestling
at the foot of the highest hill, draws to Mangalore hundreds of visitors annually.
The Lokeshwara bronze statue of the Kadri Manjunatha Temple is tipped to be the
best bronze statue in India. On top of the hill King Kundavarma Bhupendra built
a mutt, which came to be called 'Jogimutt'. There are some stone caves on top
of the hill, which are known as the caves of the Pandavas.
St. Aloysius
Church is situated 1 km away from the city's main center. The walls of the church
are covered with the paintings of the artist Antony Moshaini of Italy. The church
was built in the year 1899-1900. St. Aloysius College Chapel, an architectural
gem, comparable with the Sistine chapel in Rome, is situated on lighthouse hill.
The special beauty of the chapel is the wonderful series of paintings that virtually
cover every inch of the interior roof and walls.
Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi
Temple of Mangalore is known as a pilgrim center and boasts of many sacred temples
like Sharavu, Kadri, Mangaladevi, and Kudroli etc. Out of these Sri Sharavu Sharabeshwara
- Sri Mahaganapathi Kshetra is an outstanding, pious center of great illustrious
history of marathon 800 years.
Kudroli Gokarnath Temple is situated 3
km away from main city area. Recently, this temple has been renovated and now
it is one of the tourist attraction places in Mangalore.
PLACES AROUND
MANGALORE
Dharmastala, situated 75 km east of Mangalore, has a number
of Jain bastis including the famous Manjunatha Temple. There's also a 14-m-high
Bahubali statue, which was erected in 1973. There is also a museum visiting which
will give the visitor some idea of the place. Situated approximately 50 km northeast
of Mangalore city is the Venur town. This small town is famous for its eight Jain
bastis and the ruins of the Mahadeva temple. An 11-m-high Bahubali statue dating
back to 1604 stands on the southern bank of the Gurupur River. Mudabidri has 18
Jain bastis. Situated 35 km northeast of Mangalore, this place is famous for its
15th-century Chandranatha temple, known colloquially as the 1000-pillar hall.
Situated 20 km north of Mudabidri is Karkal, famous for its several important
temples and a 13 km high Bahubali statue. The Bahubali statue is said to have
been completed in the year 1432. The statue is on a small serene hillock on the
outskirts of the town. One can get a good view of the Western Ghats from here.
FAIRS
& FESTIVALS
Dussehra and Sri Krishna Janmashtami are two of the festivals
that are celebrated with notable festivity and enthusiasm. Sri Krishna Janmashtami
witnesses the exuberant enactment of the God's childhood endeavors to steal butter
and curd from earthen pots beyond his reach. A matka or pot containing these is
suspended high above the ground and groups of young men and children form human
pyramids to try and reach the pot and eventually break it.
Tiger Dance
is a unique form of folk dance in Dakshina Kannada that fascinates the young and
the old alike. Since tiger is considered as the favored carrier of Goddess Sharada
(the deity in whose honor Dussehra is celebrated), this dance is performed during
the Dussehra celebration. It is also performed during other festivals like Krishna
Janmashtami.
Aati festival is also one of the festivals especially celebrated
in Mangalore. Aatikalañja is a ritualistic folk dance performed by the
Nalke community. Kalañja is the name of a minor spirit who is in charge
of the protection of the village folk during the month of July-August rainy season.
And that was Aati (Tulu for the month of Aashadha), wherein, according to the
Hindu almanac, nature was at her vicious best. Aati commences from July 17 and
runs up to August 15.
Along with the other Hindu festivals, Ganesh Puja
and Navaratri are also celebrated here.
HOW TO REACH
BY AIR
- Mangalore city is accessible by almost all the transportation systems. The airport
is 20 km from the city center. One can take the locally available road transport
medium to reach the airport to catch a flight.
BY RAIL - The Mangalore
train station is on the southern fringe of the city center. However, some of the
trains stop at the Kankanadi Station situated 5 km east of the Mangalore main
city.
BY ROAD - The state transport system is well maintained in the city,
which connects it with the nearby places of importance. Numbers of auto-rickshaws
are also available in the main city area.
