With the great Arabian Sea on one side and towering hills of the Western Ghats on the other, the Mangalore city of Karnataka becomes a perfect holiday destination, which almost every tourists love visiting. This vibrant city has everything from exotic beaches to old style seaports to majestic mountains and ancient buildings & temples. Few days won't be enough to explore the rich culture and natural beauty of Mangalore, which is blessed with so many attractions. One must take a week long break to plan a tour to Mangalore and seek solitude in the comfort of this city.
The picturesque city Mangalore is named after the deity Mangaladevi and is often proclaimed as the gateway to Karnataka. It is one of the most popular port city in India, which dates back to the 14th century. It is believed that the city got its first port, when the local rulers started trading with the kingdoms of Persia.
Tourism in Mangalore is blooming because of all the fantastic places it has; that gives tourists a wide opportunity to explore the real beauty i.e. Mangalore. Travelers come to this city to explore places like Mangaladevi Temple, Kadri Manjunatha Temple, St. Aloysius Chapel, Someshwara beach, and Tannirbavi beach. All these places have a unique charm that helps folks get completely rejuvenated.
The diverse culture of Mangalore grabs attention of several tourists who visit Mangalore and discover that it has been ruled by various empires from the ancient time, including Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Vijaynagar Empire, Portuguese, and the British. The mesmerizing past of Mangalore and its indescribable beauty, together makes it a destination worth visiting.
For the spiritually-inclined, Mangalore’s renowned pilgrimage trail includes the Kadri Manjunatha, Gokaranath, Mangaladevi, Sharavu Mahaganapathi temples. Marvel at 560-year old carvings at the 1000 Pillar Jain Temple at Moodabidri and splendid architecture of the temples of Udupi Srikrishna, Dharamasthala, Kollur Mookambika and Kukke Subramaniyam.
Dramatic frescoes at St Aloysius College Chapel and a magnificent marble altar at the 342-year old Milagres church are must-visit attractions for culture and history aficionados. Zeenath Baksh Juma Masjid, the 3rd oldest mosque in India dating back to 644 AD, is a study in pure Indian architectural style. Pilikula Nisargadhama’s arboretum, theme park and golf course make for a great day trip. Adventure junkies can ride the waves at Sasihithlu Beach – surfing is a religion in Mangalore with the availability of experienced instructors – and indulge in snorkel, scuba diving and kayaking.
Mangalorean culture, especially during our glorious festivities, including the 10-day Dasara festival, Mangaluru Rathotsava (chariot festival), Mosaru Kudike (curd pots feast), Mont Fest (the Mangalorean Catholic community’s celebration of the first crop of the year) and Evkaristik Purshanv (Eucharistic procession). A delightful food festival along with other vibrant events are organised by the city’s Jain Milap. Once every five years, the Uroos festival is held at Ullal Hazrat Sayyid Muhammed Shareeful Madani Dargah is a congregation of devotees from all over India. Karavali Utsav (coastal festival) and Kudlotsava showcase vivacious cultural performances in dance, drama and music Art aficionados are enriched with a wealth of ancient folk art and dance performances like the famed Yakshagana (a theatrical drama with elaborate costumes) Pilivesha (tiger dance), Karadi Vesha (bear dance) and the breathtaking Bhoota Kola (a stylized performance in honour of the deities of the local Tuluva community) find legions of fans amongst all ages.
Reflecting Mangalore’s status as one of India’s fastest and smartest developing cities. Mangalore Special Economic Zone Limited (MSEZL) is one of India’s most successful, operational multi-product SEZs. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) is counted amongst India’s top five refineries. The bustling New Mangalore Port - the seventh largest in India – has a helicopter facility for tourists from cruise ships for site seeing purposes. As part of the district of Dakshina Kannada, the city also forms one of India’s most important education corridors. With strong industrial, real estate, banking and IT sectors– hosting major public sector undertakings, refineries, shipbuilding companies and global IT players - and as a thriving medical tourism destination, the city plays eternal muse to the charm of Vivanta Mangalore.
