Trip to Mangalore

Distance: 347 Km from Bangalore

Journey Time: By road 8 hours, by train 12 hours and by Air 1 – 1 and 1/2 hours

Location: Mangalore is located at the southern tip of karnataka’s Karavali coast

Route: Take NH 48 via Kunigal, Yediyur, Hassan, Sakleshpur to Mangalore. There is one more route via Medikeri, but that is long and takes almost 11 hours.

How to reach there: There are plenty of KSRTC and private buses which ply from Bangalore frequently. Recently a passenger train also runs from Yeshwanthpur to Mangalore via Mysore and takes around 12 hours.

Where to Stay: There are various options to stay according to your budget. However, Mangalore is little costly city even compared to Bangalore. For those money is not an issue, should choose The Taj Manjurun(0824 – 2420420). It has a awesome view overlooking the confluence of Netravati and gurpura with the Arabian sea. The best hotel in Mangalore as of now. For average budget Hotel Mangalore International(2444860-64), Poonja International(2440169). For relatively cheap hotels try – Hotel Manorama(2440306), hotel Navarathna (2441104), hotel Srinivas(2440061), Hotel Woodlands(2444754) on Bunts hostel road and Hotel Hindustan(Rs 399+tax for non A/c double bedroom) at Hampankatte.

Where to Eat: Be very careful about lunch and dinner in Mangalore. If you do not reach during lunch and dinner time in Mangalore, you may not get food. Lunch time is typically from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm and dinner time from 7 pm to 10.30 pm. For local food try Namma Kudla near Joythi Circle, Hotel Goldfinch(Star hotel), Hotel Maharaja. In case you miss the food timmings at night rush near the KSRTC bus stand where a few resturants like Shalimar, Surabhi bar and restaurant etc might serve food till 11.30 pm. Also, you may try Pizza Hut at Bharath mall(only mall in Mangalore) opp. KSRTC bus stand.

A view of Mangalore skyline from Kadri Hill.

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Mangalore is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada (formerly South Canara) district in the southwestern corner of Karnataka, and developed as a port on the Arabian Sea – to this day it remains one of the major ports of India. Lying on the backwaters formed by the Netravati and Gurupura rivers, it has long been a roadstead along the Malabar Coast. Its port handles 75% of India’s coffee exports and the bulk of its cashew nuts.

Mangalore is known for its beaches, temples and industries. There are several languages spoken, including Tulu, Konkani, Kannada, and Beary. The landscape is dominated by the characteristic coconut palms accompanying rolling hills and streams flowing into the sea. The landscape is dotted with tiled-roof buildings, topped with the well-known Mangalore tiles made from the local hard red clay and typically walled with laterite blocks. Older houses are commonly found with elaborate woodwork.

The city of Mangalore was named after the local Hindu deity Mangaladevi. Matsyendranath, one of the important protagonist of the Nath cult had arrived here with the princess of Kerala, Premaladevi. He converted the princess to his cult and named her Mangaladevi. They could not proceed further as Mangaladevi died after a brief period of illness and a temple was consecrated in her name at Bolar, which was later renovated by the Alupa King Kundavarma in 968 AD.

One of the earliest reference to this city name is made by the Pandyan King Chettian, who called the city as Managalapuram in 715 AD. The chronicles of the 11th-century Arabian traveler Ibn Batuta refer to Mangalore as Manjarur. In 1526 AD, the Portuguese took possession of Mangalore, thus corrupting the word Mangaluru to its present form Mangalore. After subsequent British occupation in 1799, this Portuguese catchword was later assimilated in the English language.

The cosmopolitan nature of the city is reflected in the names used by the various linguistic groups in this region. In Tulu, the city is known as Kudla meaning “junction” as the city is situated at the confluence of the Netravati and Phalguni rivers. Konkanis use the variant Kodial. The Bearys call it Maikala. Kannadigas use the name Mangaluru for the city. On the occasion of Suvarna Karnataka in 2006, the Karnataka state government stated that the city would be renamed Mangalooru in English.

According to Hindu mythology, the region covering Mangalore was a part of the Parashurama Shristi, the coastal belt reclaimed from the sea by the legendary sage Parashurama. As for other mythological associations, Rama was the Lord of Tulu Nadu during the days of the Ramayana. Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas, was the Governor of this place during the days of the Mahabharatha. The Pandavas lived in Banavasi during their exile visiting Sarapady near Mangalore. Arjuna, the hero of Mahabharata also appears to have visited this place when he travelled from Gokarna to Adur near Kasargod. Great sages like Kanva, Vysa, Vashista, Vishvamitra had spent their days of meditation here.

There are many historical references regarding to the town. Cosmas Indicopleustes, a Greek monk referred to the port of Mangarouth. Pliny, a Roman historian made references of a place called Nithrias, and Greek historian Ptolemy referred to Nitre. Both the references were probably to the River Netravathi flowing through Mangalore. Ptolemy had also mentioned about this city in his works as Maganoor. Roman writer Arien called Mangalore Mandegora. A 7th-century copper inscription referred to Mangalore as Mangalapura.

Mangalore still retains its old world charm such as red tile-roofed houses in spite of globalization pervading the city.The Kadambas had ruled this place from 200 to 600 A.D. The ancient history proved that Mangalore had been the capital of Alupa dynasty until the 14th century. A traveler, Ibn Battuta who had visited the town in 1342 stated that he arrived at a place named Manjurun or Mandjaur situated on a large estuary. He had mentioned that the town was a trading centre and Persian and Yemeni merchants disembarked at Mangalore. In 1448, Abdul Razak, a Persian Ambassador passed via this route to Vijayanagar. He said that he had seen a glorious temple here. The inscriptions at Moodabidri stated a King Mangaras Odeya was the governor of Mangaluru Raajya during the reign of Vira Harihararaya II of Vijayanagar dynasty. Another inscription stated that Deeva Raaja Odeya ruled the Mangaluru Raajya in 1429 during the reign of Vijayanagara King Veera Devaraya II. Various powers have fought for control over Mangalore. The major dynasties that ruled the town till the arrival of Portuguese were the Western Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and Hoysalas.

The European influence in Mangalore can be traced back to the year 1498, when the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama had landed at St Mary’s Islands near Mangalore on his voyage from Portugal to India. In 1520 the Portuguese took control of the area from Vijayanagara rulers. In 1526, the Portuguese viceroy Lapaz-De-Sampayo succeeded in defeating the Bangara king and his allies and the trade passed out of Muslim hands into Portuguese hands. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Portuguese commanded the Arabian Sea from the port of Mangalore and they intruded actively in the affairs of the local chieftains. In the 16th century, Mangalore received a huge influx of Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Catholics from Goa. In 1695, the town was burnt by the Arabs in retaliation for Portuguese restrictions on Arab trade. In the middle of the 17th century, Venkatappa Nayaka of the Ikkeri family stormed the Portuguese bastion and defeated them. Their rule continued till 1762.

Hyder Ali (1722–1782) the ruler of Mysore conquered Mangalore in 1763, and it was under his administration till 1768, before being annexed by the British between 1768 and 1794. Later in 1794 Hyder Ali’s son Tippu Sultan again took control of the area. During his regime, the city was caught in the crossfires of Anglo-Mysore relations. The Second Anglo-Mysore War ended with the Treaty of Mangalore which was signed in Mangalore between Tippu Sultan and the British East India Company on 11 March 1784.

Mangalore witnessed an economic and industrial boom during the late twentieth centuryThe English again captured Mangalore in 1791, but Tippu besieged it in 1793 and the English surrendered the city in 1794. With the death of Tippu Sultan and the fall of Srirangapatna during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799, the city was re-conquered by the British, and it remained under British administration till India’s independence in 1947.

The city had a peaceful administration under British rule and permanent visible improvements effected during this period. It flourished gradually in education and in industry and became a commercial centre for export and import trade. The linking of Mangalore, in 1907, with the Southern Railway and later the advent of motor vehicles further increased the trade and communication with the city. The Roman Catholic missions had done important work in education, health and social welfare. The opening of the Basel Mission in 1834 brought many industries into the city.

After India’s independence in 1947, Mangalore which was a part of the Madras Presidency was merged into a unified Mysore State in 1956. Thereafter, Mangalore gained a significant position in the state since it gave the erstwhile Mysore state the benefit of a coastline. The late twentieth century witnessed Mangalore develop as a business and commercial centre. However, Mangalore still retained its old world charm such as tile-roofed buildings amidst coconut groves, fishing boats silhouetted against the darkening skyline. The present day city bustles with activities in the upcoming IT Sector and the prognosis of a prosperity in international trade looms.

Source: Wikipedia, Read more …..

Religion is deeply associated with people here and reflects in the number of temples, churches and mosques. The best way to see Mangalore is on a auto. Hire a auto and get going(for 4 -5 hrs it should be around Rs 300). Things to see in Mangalore:

Temples:

Kadri Manjunath Temple: The Kadri Manjunatha Temple located in Mangalore in the state of Karnataka, India, dates back to approximately 1068 The square temple built with nine water tanks, nestles at the foot of the highest hill at Kadri in Mangalore.

The chief deity of this temple is Manjunatha (Lokeshwara or Lord Shiva) who is depicted in a statue made of bronze. This statue of Lokeshwara in the seated position with three faces and six arms is tipped to be the best bronze statue in India. It is about 1.6m tall.

The temple is a neat and middle sized structure with a pyramid-shaped roof. The temple, as the inscription indicates, may have been built in the 10th or 11th century, as evidenced by the installation of the Lokeshwara statue in the 968. The Balipitha in front of the temple also gives us an almost definite period going back to 10th century. Within the temple premises to the west is the temple of Goddess Durga, and to the north the temple of Lord Ganesha.

There is Gomukha or a natural spring known as Bhagirathi Teertha at a little elevation from the main temple, which is supposed to be flowing from kashi. This water fills the seven tanks here. Read more….

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address: Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple, Kadri, Mangalore-575002, Phone: 0824-2214176

MangalaDevi Temple: The Mangaladevi Temple is located at Bolara in mangalore city about three km southwest of the city centre. This temple has influenced the name and importance of Mangalore. The name Mangalore is derived from Goddess Mangaladevi, the main deity of the temple. Read more ….

Address: Shri Mangaladevi Temple, Mangaladevi, Mangalore-575001, Phone: 0824-2415476

Kudroli Gokarnath Temple: It is another important temple built for Billava community who were prohibited to enter temples by saint and social reformer Sri Narayana Guru in 1912. Gokarnanatheshwara or Lord Shiva, is the main deity here.

Address: Gokarnanath Temple, Kudroli, Mangalore-575003, Phone: 0824-2495740

Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple: The Mahaganapathi temple is a popular pilgrim centre and is known for varous cultural activities like yakshagana, deepautsava(light festival) etc.

Address: Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathy Temple, Ganapathy Temple Road, Mangalore-575001, Phone: 0824-2440328

Yogi Mutt and Pandava Caves on Kadri Hill: Apart from the yogi mutt, one can take a view of the pandava caves here. It is believed that pandavas stayed here during their exile. Also, from kadri hill one can get a nice view of Mangalore.

Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple: Durga parameshwari temple is located on the bank of Shambhavi River at Bappanadu village of Mulki town, around 29 K.M. north from Mangalore on NH 17. The main deity of this temple is Goddess Shree Durgaparameshwari. Read more ….

Address: Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple, Kateel, Mangalore-574148

Phone: 0824-2200361

Mangalore is a city of hundreds of temples, to check more click here.

Churches:

St. Alosyias Chappel: St. Aloysius Chapel was built in 1885 by Rev Father Joseph Willy and very closely resembles the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The chapel is located inside the campus of St. Aloysius college on Lighthouse hill, Mangalore. The eye catching paintings were done by an Italian painter named Br Anthony Moschemi during the early 20th century. It is a good tourist destination and the main attraction are the paintings.

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Milagres Church: The Church of Our Lady of Miracles, Milagres, better known as Milagres church, was built by Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine priest of Salsette in 1680. Tipu Sultan razed this church as he suspected that catholics of Mangalore are secretly affiliated with British. However, it was rebuilt in 1811 around a decade after Tipu’s death.

Rosario Cathedral: Rosario cathedral at Pandeshwara is Mangalore’s oldest cathedral built by the potuguse in 1568. It is quite similr to St. peters Basilica in Rome(Italy).

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Mosques:

Jami Mosque of Zeenath Baksh: The Jami mosque of Zeenath Baksh is located in a village called Kilur around 5 km from Mangalore. The river Gurpur flows side by the mosque.

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Other tourist spots or places to see:

Sultan Bathery: Sultan Bathery is a watch tower built by Tipu Sultan in 1784 to prevent the entry of warships into river Gurpur. It is situated about 6 km from city center at Boloor. One can view very nice sunset from here.

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Panambur Beach: Panambur beach is probably the best beach in and around Mangalore. Waves are not that high but good sand beach. Panambur beach is located besides New Mangalore port. It is around 15 km away from the city center on NH 17.

Tannir Bhavi Beach: Tannir Bhavi beach is around 12 km from Mangalore city center. If you enjoy solitude, this beach is for yours. The Tannir Bhavi power project is nearby.

Light House Garden: Lighthouse Hill Garden is on Kadri hills quite near to St. Aloysius college. The park has snakes, deer and other lively animals. Spending an evening here viewing sunset along with lovely cool breezes could be a good idea.

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama: Pilikula in Tulu literally means Tiger’s lake. In olden days, tigers used to come to this lake to drink water. Henceforth, this area altogether came to be known as Pilikula. It is around 15 km from Mangalore. The park consists of an area of 82 hectares. It also includes a biological park, science centre, boating and lake etc. Also, a private amusement park – Matsya is nearby. Read More…..

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