A travel Guide to Mangalore

Mangalore Tourism

With the towering hill of Western Ghats on one side and the great Arabian Sea on the other, the Mangalore city of Karnataka is a perfect place for you to enjoy the holidays. Mangalore India has everything from ancient monuments to majestic mountains and old-style seaports to exotic beaches.

This beautiful city is named after the deity Mangladevi and it is also known as the ‘Gateway to Karnataka’. The city is also popular for its old ports, which date back to the 14^th century. It is believed that the first port was established in the city when the local rulers started to trade with the Persian kingdoms.

Mangalore tours give a wide opportunity to its tourists to explore. There are some amazing places, such as Mangladevi Temple, Kadri Manjunath Temple, Tannirbavi beach, Someshwara beach, and St. Aloysius Chapel. These Mangalore tourist attractions are famous for their architecture and rich history.

The diverse culture and unique traditions of Mangalore draws a lot of tourists every year. The city offers glimpses of those times when the place was under the rule of Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Vijayanagar Empire, Portuguese and British. Take a look at this Mangalore travel guide that will help you to plan your vacation in this enchanting city.

Places to visit in Mangalore

1. Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple

This temple is situated on the Kadri Hills and said to be the oldest temple in South India. It is believed that the temple was built by Vajrayana Buddhists to promote Buddhism, but when the Natha Prantha came to power, it became the religious place for the Hindus. Today, it is one of the best sites in Mangalore tourism. The temple is dedicated to Lord Manjunath - an avatar of Lord Shiva. It is constructed in a pyramidal structure and is surrounded by many ponds. The 1000 years old idol of Lord Trilokeshwar is the main highlight of this temple. Many luxurious hotels in Mangalore are also present near this temple.

2. Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple is the most unique site of the religious Mangalore attractions. This temple was consecrated by the eminent social reformer and preacher Sri Narayana Guru in 1912 for the people of the Billawa community. The people of this community were considered untouchable and were not allowed to visit other temples. The temple is mainly dedicated to the Lord Gokarnanath but it is also surrounded by the smaller shrines of other gods and deities. At the time of the Navratri festival (Mangalore Dasara), the temple receives a great number of devotees and tourists.

3. Rosario Cathedral

Rosario Cathedral is the oldest Church in the entire Canara region which was built in Roman Catholic style. It was built in 1568, but in the 18th century, Tipu Sultan destroyed it to overthrow Christian supremacy from the region. However, the church was again rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries. The place is one of the most beautiful Christian monuments of all Mangalore tourist places. It is very popular for its stunning interiors and architecture. Mother Mary’s wooden statue is the centre of attraction in the chapel.

4. St. Aloysius Chapel

St. Aloysius Chapel is another stunning religious site in Mangalore tourism. The chapel was built in the 19th century at the top of Light House Hill. It has a soulful charm and remarkable architecture. This 46-feet high chapel is decorated with impressive frescos, sculptures, oil, and wall paintings that illustrate the life of Jesus Christ and St. Aloysius Gonzaga. These magnificent paintings were painted by Antonio Moscheni, an Italian Jesuit in 1899. At the rear wall, he has represented Jesus Christ as a friend of children.

5. Panambur Beach

Panambur Beach is one of the cleanest and well-maintained beaches in India. The name of this beautiful beach is derived from two words – ‘panam’ and ‘ur’ which means ‘money and ‘place’, respectively. Panambur beach is widely famous for its International Kite Festival, mesmerising sunset, and colourful carnivals. During these carnivals, the management organises air shows, boat racing, and sand sculpture-making competitions. You can also enjoy other fun activities, such as dolphin sighting, camel and horse rides, jet skiing, and boating. If you’re visiting this place in the festive season, hiring a Mangalore travel guide would be a good option.

Things to do in Mangalore

There are various outdoor activities in Mangalore that visitors can do for fun.

Enjoy peaceful sunset at Tannirbhavi Beach

Tannirbhavi beach is one of the most popular places in Mangalore attractions that offer you some peaceful time to enjoy with your family. With its azure blue water and golden sand, the beach shows you some magnificent views. A lot of people also come early in the morning and at night to look at the wonderful sunrise and sunset.

There are two beaches here. One is accessible by road, but you’d have to take the ferry to reach the other one. At the beach, you can also enjoy many fun activities including jet skiing, boating, and surfing.

Boating and Surfing at Sultan Bathery

Sultan Bathery, also known as Sultan’s Battery, is a monumental watchtower built by Tipu Sultan to keep a watch on enemies. The structure of the tower is similar to a mini fort and the entire tower, including the basement and the chamber, is built of black stones.

The watchtower is one of the best Mangalore tourist places that have great historical significance. People can enjoy the picturesque view of the sea and lush green forests from the tower. You can also indulge in many fun activities, including Boat riding, windsurfing, canoeing.

Learn about the rural life of Mangalore at Nisargadhama

Nisargadhama is a multi-purpose theme park and has its special place in Mangalore tourism. Along with a biological theme park, the place also comprises Pilikula Lake, Heritage Village, Artisan Village Complex, and Arboretum that preserves more than 225 species of endangered plants. The park also has a children’s park, a lake garden, walking and jogging path and a boating facility. Apart from that, Manasa Amusement and Water Park is another tourist attraction and an ideal picnic spot.

Visit Surfing Ashram to practice Yoga and surfing

Practising yoga at Surfing Ashram is one of the best things to do in Mangalore. The ashram is also called Hare Krishna Ashram. It was started by an American Guru who was too fascinated by the Indian culture. The Ashram promotes you to practice yoga and to live a simple and healthy life. Along with this, you can also learn to surf in this Ashram. Everyone follows the same routine here, which includes morning prayers, yoga, breakfast (vegetarian cuisine only), and surfing.

Best time to visit Mangalore

Winter

Due to the festive season and pleasant weather conditions, October to February is the best time to visit Mangalore. In winters, the region experiences tropical climatic conditions due to the presence of the Arabian Sea and the Hills of Western Ghats. The temperature difference between day and night also changes only a little, making it the best season to visit Mangalore.

Summer

The entire region experiences intense heat waves during the summer season. The weather remains hot and humid and the temperature crosses the 40 degrees mark every day. But you can find cheap deals on hotels in this season.

Monsoon

From July to September, Mangalore receives heavy and consistent rainfall, which does not create an ideal condition for outdoor activities. But the weather remains pleasant and the rain brightens up the natural Mangalore attractions in this season.

How to reach Mangalore

Looking for how to reach Mangalore? Follow this simple guide.

By Air

The Mangalore international airport is located at a distance of 15 km from the centre of the city. All major airports of India provide flights to Mangalore on a daily basis. The Mangalore Airport is a quite busy airport and serves both national and international flights. Buses and cabs can be easily found from the airport to reach the city.

By Road

Mangalore Bus Stand is very well connected with every major city of Karnataka and with other cities of nearby states. You can easily find state and private buses from Bangalore, Kochi, Coimbatore, Ooty, among other places to reach Mangalore. These bus services are very frequent and it is the cheapest way to reach the city.

By Rail

Mangalore Junction Railway Station serves the Mangalore city and many mail, express and superfast trains reach here from other parts of the country, including Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Karwar, Pune, etc. The railway station is on the outskirts of the city but the visitors can take a taxi or bus to travel to the city.