Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka

Location: On the south western tip of Karnataka. It is bordered by Arabian sea in the west, Udupi District to the north, Chikkamagalur district to the northeast, Hassan District to the east, Kodagu District to the southeast, and Kasaragod District in Kerala to the south.

District Headquarter: Mangalore

Distance: 357 km from Bangalore, 60 km from Udupi, 1187 km from Mumbai

Journey time: Typically 8 hrs by bus from Bangalore, by train 12 hrs, by flight 1 hr.

How to reach there: By KSRTC buses from Majestic, Private buses, by train from Yeshwantpur via Mysore or flight – Kingfisher, Air Deccan.

Route: Bangalore – Kunigal – Hassan – Sakleshpur – BC road – Mangalore

Where to stay:

Luxuary:

1. Hotel Poonja International
K.S. Rao Road,
Mangalore- 575 001
Phone : +91-824-2440171

2. Kumar’s International,
Bendoor Main Road,
Mangalore 575002
Phone 91-0824-2225871

3. The Gateway Hotel
Old Port Road
Mangalore – 575 001,
Karnataka,
Tel: (91-824) 6660 420 / 2420420

4. Nalapad Residency
Light House, Hill Road,
Mangalore 574001
Phone: 91 – 0824 – 2424757 / 2422463

5. Summer Sands Beach Resort
Ullal, Mangalore – 574 020
Karnataka, India
Phone: 91-824-2467690 / 91 / 92

Average:

1. Hotel Woodlands
Bunts Hostel Road, Mangalore
PH: 2444754, 2443751

2. Hotel Quality
Balmatta, Mangalore
PH: 2428910, 2428920

3. Hotel Navarathna
K.S.Rao Road, Mangalore
Ph: 2440520

Note: This is nice resort located around 20 km from Mangalore at Ullal.

Where to eat:

1. Dosa camp

2. Phalki

3. Royal Darbar

4. Punjabi Dhaba Restaurant
Utility Royal Towers, Ks Rao Road,
Mangalore – 575001
Ph: 2440444

5. Udupi Sri Krishna Bhavan (veg)
GHS Road, Mangalore
Ph: 2423133

6. Black Orchid -The Family Restaurant
Wind Cliff Building, Kadri,
Mangalore,
Ph: 2216247

Language spoken:Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Beary (Muslims), Hindi and English.

Dakshina Kannada was part of a single district called Canara before 1860. Following that it was bifurcated into South canara (Dakshina kannada) and North Canara (Uttara kannada). The district is a picturesque place with long coastline, hills, rivers like Netravathi, Phalguni etc. Earlier Dakshina Kannada along with other parts of Tulu Nadu was ruled by Alupas rulers as feudatory of powerful dynasties like the Chalukyas, Kadambas, Hoysalas etc This area and Mangalore in particular had big influence of the Portuguese traders and missionaries.

What to see:

Below is a list of sightseeing which can be seen in and close vicinity of Mangalore city.

1. Kadri Hill Park

2. Pilikula Nisargadhama

4. Tannirbavi Beach:

5. Panambur Beach

6. Sultan Bathery

Temples:

1. Mangala Devi Temple

2. Kadri Manjunatha Temple

3. Kudroli Gokarnatheshwara Temple

4. Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple

5. Yogi Mutt and Pandava Caves on Kadri Hill

6. Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple

Churches

1. St. Alosyias Chappel

2. Milagres Church

2. Rosario Cathedral

Mosques:

Jami Mosque of Zeenath Baksh:

To learn about the above list please visit, in and around Mangalore from my previous post.

Other Religious Places:

Hindu temples –

1. Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple: Dharmasthala is one of the most popular religious place in South India. The the presiding deity is Lord Manjunatha, form of Lord Shiva.

2. Kukke Subrahmanya Temple: Kukke Subrahmanya temple located in Subramanaya amid hills, river and forest. This is one such place where even an atheist may even feel the urge to pray once.

3. Kodiadka Sri Annapoorneshwari Temple

4. Southadka Sri Ganapathy temple

5. Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple, Mulki: It is located at south coast of Shambhavi river around 29 km away from Mangalore and 29 KMs away from south of Udupi near NH 17.

6. Sri Mahalingeswara temple, Puttur: The temple is located at the center of Puttur near police station. It is one of the well known temples of Dakshina Kannda.

7. Sri Karinjeshwara Temple, Karinje, Bantval Taluk: Situated at a place called Karinja of Kavalamudur village of Bantval taluk. 38 Kms away from Mangalore and 14 Kms away from Bantval. Could be reached from(2 km) a place called Vagga on Mangalore-Belthangady route.

8. Sri Somanatha Temple, Someswara, Mangalore: It is located around half a km away from Ullal railway station on the Mangalore – Ullan route  at a distnace of around 13 Kms from Mangalore.

9. Sri Sahasralingeshwara Temple, Uppinangady: Uppinagady is at a distance of 55 KMs away from Mangalore. The temple is placed at junction of two rivers Nethtravathi and Kumaradhara.

10. Anantha Padmanabha Temple Kudupu: It is located around 10 km from Mangalore city on the  Mangalore-Karkala highway.

11. Narahari Parvatha Sadashiva Temple, Bantval taluk: It is loacted around 28 km from Mangalore city near Pane-Mangalore city of Mangalore Taluk.

12. 1000 Pillar Jain Basadi: This is jain pilgrimage center and is an magnificent built during Vijaynagara empire period in Moodbidri.

13. Kudupu Temple: Kudupu temple is located in Kudupu village around 1o km from Mangalore city on Mangalore-Moodabidri route. Here the deity is Lord Anantha Padmanabha (another form of Lord Vishnu).

14. Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple: Rajarajeshwari temple is located around 30 km away from Mangalore city in Bantwal taluk at Polali in Kariyangala Village. The temple’s structure is interesting with beautiful surrounding.

15. Venoor – Gommateshwara: At Venoor you can see a statue of Gommateshwara 35 feet high in 1604 A.D by Thimmanna Ajila of the Ajila dynasty. This statue is the shortest one among other found at Shravanabelagola, Karkala and Dharmasthala. Venoor is located on the Dharmasthala-Moodabidri-Karkala route 19 Kms from Belthangady and about 54 Kms from Mangalore.

16. Karinje Parvati Temple: Situated atop a hill in Karinje Village near Kavalamudur Village of Bantwal Taluk, 38 km from Mangalore and 14 km from Bantwal, are two temples, one dedicated to the Lord Shiva and another to Goddess Parvati.

17. Talapady: Here one can see the Durga devi temple. Talapady is located around 15 km from Mangalore city.

18. Krishnapura Matha

Mosque/Darga –

1. Ullal Darga The darga built in 1958 is popular for Uroos Fair celebrated every 5 years.

Other Beaches:

Someshwar Beach Rocky Someshwar Beach is located around 11 km from Mangalore city and is a big attraction for visitors.

Surathkal Beach

Jamalabad Fort: Jamalabad fort, located 8 km north of Beltangadi town, (65 km from Mangalore) is 1788 ft above sea level and was formerly called Narasimha Ghada, which refers to the granite hill on which the fort is built. It is also referred locally as ‘Jamalagadda’ or ‘Gadaikallu’.

The fort was built by Tippu Sultan in 1794 and named after his mother, Jamalabee. The fort is said to have been built over the ruins of an older structure. Officially entry to the fort is restricted to between 6am to 6pm . Overnight stay at the fort is prohibited.

Kotepur: Here the fort of Rani Abbakka Devi is located around 12 km from Mangalore city in Ullal. Bus # 44D

Kulur boating center: Around 10 km from Mangalore city center one can enjoy boating here. Bus # 2, 2A, 2C, 40A, 41A, 45 to 45 G, 53, 53A, 59

Bengre: Bengre is a small sandpit of about 2 sq. kms with river on one side and sea on the other, around 2 km from Mangalore city. This is a beautiful place to visit.