Mangalore (or Mangaluru) is an Arabian Sea port and a major commercial center in the Indian

state of Karnataka. It's home to the Kadri Manjunath Temple, known for its bronze statues, and
the 9th-century Mangaladevi Temple. Its Catholic sites include Milagres Church, dating to the
17th century, and St. Aloysious Chapel, which features interior paintings. Tannirbhavi Beach is
popular for its sunset views.

Tourism in Mangalore

The city of Mangalore is often proclaimed as the gateway to Karnataka and lies nestled between
the blue waters of the Arabian Sea and the green, towering hills of the Western Ghats. The
132.45 square km city is spread out over the backwaters of the two rivers, Netravati and
Gurpura.

Beaches

The city has the benefit of numerous golden-sand beaches:

• Panambur Beach: It is credited as one of the clean and neatly maintained beaches in India
and attracts most number of tourists. Panambur beach has Jet ski rides, Boating, Dolphin
viewing, Food stalls, besides Trained Beach Lifeguards and Patrol vehicles to ensure the
safety of the visitors.

• Thannirbhavi Beach: This is second most crowded beach after Panambur Beach .
Tannirbhavi beach has some basic facilities like life guards, proper toilets, a parking lot, a
couple of small eateries and some concrete benches. One can take a Ferry ride
across Gurupur River from Sultan Battery.

• NITK Beach: This beach is situated in Surathkal. A Lighthouse is located close to the
beach.

• Someshwara Beach: The beach, located in Ullal, has large rocks called Rudra shile or
Rudra Paadhe. Rudra is Lord Shiva and shile or Paadhe means rock in Tulu Language.

• Mukka Beach: Situated 20 km from the heart of the Mangalore one can experience variety
of shells on this beach. Mukka beach is covered with the golden sands and tall pine
trees with an old light house situated on this beach.
• Ullal Beach: a beach in Ullal town 12 km south of the city of Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
The beach with a stretch of Coconut Trees and the fishermens lane make it picturesque,
creating a lovely coastal experience. The ruined fort of Abbakka Devi and Jain temples of
16th century are other attractions for tourists. The Dargah of Sayed Mohammed Shereful
Madani who is said to have come to Ullal from Madina 400 years ago, is a famous dargah in
this region.
Places of Worship

The temples and religious buildings that have given Mangalore its character are

Mangaladevi temple: The temple is dedicated to Hindu god Shakti in the form of
Mangaladevi .The city is named after the presiding deity, Mangaladevi. As per another legend,
the temple is believed to have been built by Parashurama, one of the ten avatars of Hindu god
Vishnu and later expanded by Kundavarman.

• Kadri Manjunata temple: It is located at Kadri, It is said to be built during the 10th or 11th
century and Buddhism was practised here till the 10th century AD. The idol of Lord
Manjunathaswamy of the temple is called as oldest of the South Indian Temples. There is a
natural spring at an elevated location at the back of the temple. It is called Gomukha. The
water from this spring is let into 9 ponds of different sizes adjacent to it.

• St Aloysius Chapel: The chapel built by Jesuit Missionaries in 1880 and its interiors painted
by the Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni in 1899, is an architectural marvel that could stand
comparison with the chapels of Rome.

• Rosario Cathedral: Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore, dedicated to Our Lady of the
Rosary built by the Portuguese in 1568. Desecrated and destroyed by Mysorean ruler Tipu
Sultan in 1784 the church was reconstruction of the church later began in 1813.

• Gokarnanatheshwara temple: This century old temple shimmers with golden glow during
the Navaratri. This is the centre of attraction during the Mangalore Dasara celebration.

Church of our Lady of Miracles: Also known as Milagres church is a historic Roman Catholic
Church situated in the Hampankatta locality of Mangalore. The church was built in 1680 by
Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine from Divar, Goa. After Tipu was killed by the British
during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War on 4 May 1799, the Mangalorean Catholics were freed
from Captivity and most subsequently returned to Mangalore. Among the returnees was a baker
Lawrence Bello, who built a chapel to replace the demolished church.

• Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatha temple: This is an 800-year-old religious institution in the

temple town of Dharmasthala 75 km away from Mangalore. The deities of the temple are
Shiva, who is referred to as Manjunatha, Ammavaru, tirthankara Chandraprabha and the
protective gods of Jainism, Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumarasvami and Kanyakumari.

Parks

• Kadri park: It is located in Kadri gudde ( meaning hill in Tulu ). It is the largest park within
city limits of Mangalore.

Museum

• Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum: Established in 1960, this museum is

located just a kilometer east of the KSRTC bus stand, also known as Bejai Museum which
houses a variety of antiquities including wooden carvings of divinities such
as Bhairava and Hanuman, stone sculptures dating back to 13th century, porcelain and an
outstanding bronze bell with a miniature Lakshmi shrine. It also exhibits materials of art,
archaeology, ethnology, palm leaf photographs, paper paintings, manuscripts, sculptures, oil
paintings, metal objects and paper manuscripts.

• Aloyseum: The museum houses several items with historic significance including the first
car of Mangalore and Mangalore’s first electric generator dating back to 1930, the Old
Missal with the size of a broadsheet newspaper, animal and fish bones, skulls, horns and
skins,mineral specimen, old radios, telegraphic equipment, antique telephone sets,
manuscripts on palm leaves, Portuguese statues, an old pulpit from Cordel Church, copies of
paintings by old European masters, swords, daggers and other weapons, postal stamps, coins
and medals, priestly vestments dating back to 1878.

• Manjusha Car Museum: Located to the south of the Dharmasthala temple, it houses a vast
collection of objects, antiques, paintings, artifacts, temple chariots collected from temples
across Karnataka, and also vintage and classic cars. Terracotta coins from the Mauryan
period are still preserved in the museum, which dates around 1st century BC.
Historical Places
• Sultan Battery: The Sultan Battery watch tower, constructed in 1784 by Tipu Sultan is
situated in Boloor,4 km from the center of Mangalore city. If one climbs to the top of the
watch tower by stairs, he can get a panoramic view of Arabian Sea which leaves nature
lovers in boundless joy. One can take the ferry ride by paying small amount across
the Gurupur river and reach Thannirbhavi Beach.

• Saavira Kambada Basadi: Built by the ruler of Vijyanagar, Devaraya Wodeyar in 1430 this
historical temple is situated 34 km northeast of Mangalore in the town of Moodabidri.
Moodabidri is noted for its eighteen Jain temples but Saavira Kambada Temple is considered
the finest among them.
Amusement Parks

• Manasa Amusement & Water Park: Manasa Amusement & Water Park is located within a
450-acre tourism project of Dakshina Kannada administration “Pilikula Nisarga Dhama” at
Vamanjoor, just 12 km from Mangalore City. It is a 15 minutes drive from city centre.

• Pilikula Theme Park: Pilikula has a theme park which attempts to showcase the rich native
heritage and coastal culture of the people of Dakshina Kannada district and is one of the one-
stop educational and recreational destinations in India.
Nature

• Adyar falls: Adyar waterfalls at the outskirts at about 12 km drive from the city. There are
two waterfalls here at a distance of about 200 meters on two extreme ends of the hillock.
These waterfalls can be enjoyed only up to October–November.

• Karinja Cliff: Karinja Cliff is a popular tourist spot in Bantwal 40 km away

from Mangalore with people visiting this cliff to enjoy the fresh air, lush green.

• Pavoor Uliya: It is an Island, located just 12 km away from Mangalore. The island has 35
houses with a chapel. Netravathi river has been surrounded by four sides. During Summer a
temporary wooden bridge connects to the outer world.