Attractions

New Mangalore Port : New Mangalore Port, established in 1974 and located in Panambur near Mangalore, known by the name of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) is the one and only one major port of Karnataka. It has the distinction of the ninth biggest port of India. Its construction got completed in 12 years.

It is stationed to north of confluence of Gurupura river to Arabian sea. The port serves neighbourhood of Karnataka state and to some degrees state of Kerala.

Many materials are exported through this port, including Iron Ore concentrates and pellets, granite stones, coffee, manganese, cashew, Iron Ore fines, and containerized cargo. The major imports include LPG, crude and petroleum products, timber logs, wood pulp, liquid ammonia, finished fertilizers, phosphoric acid, other liquid chemicals and many more.

Pilikula Park : Pilikula Park is close to Mangalore city. The term "Pilikula Park" literally means "pond of tigers". It is well known as a mystical spot in which tigers are moving freely.

This park, also known as Pilikula Nisargadhama, is an integrated Nature Park, offering pleasant variety of attractions to the nature lovers and eco tourists. Dense tropical forests surround this amazingly big park located in 350 acres offering the visitors with a panoramic view of the greenery to the aesthetic eyes.

This botanical park offers a rare treat for those want to be in company with animals, plants and flowers. The park showcases a wild variety of marine and fresh water species and there is plenty of recreation and amusement for casual visitors.

Pilikula also has a fully functional golf course extending to a wide area of picturesque land near the park. It offers 9-hole golf course with a total yardage of about 2800 yards. A golf cabin is constructed in the middle of the course.

The park with well placed and maintained gardens, the calm lake suitable for boating and the wildlife sanctuary makes Pilikula a perfect ideal place for outings.

Kadri Manjunath Temple : Kadri Manjunath Temple, dating back to 1608, is located at the foot of Kadri Hills near Dharmasthala. It is constructed in the style of Vijaynagar architecture with traces of Buddhist influence. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, known as Shree Manjunath, in the shape of Udbhava Linga, a natural stone slab seen parallel to the level of the floor of the main sanctorum. An exciting feature of Linga is the disappearance of the water poured on it, any amount whatever it be.

The temple has statue of Matsyendranatha with palms one over the other on the folded right leg in the south, a six feet high structure of Gorakhanath in the west, and the figure of Sringinatha, which is ornamented with three tiers in the midst. The sub-deities include Ganesh, Vishnu, Durgaparmeshwari, Shasta, Vyasa Muni and Gomukha Ganpathi. A tall wooden 'Deepa Sthamba' covered with bronze adorns the temple.

Lakshadeepotsava is the main attraction celebrated here on which day devotees offer prayers and wait to visit Lord Shiva.

Kudroli Gokarnath Temple : An important temple in Mangalore, Kudroli Gokarnath Temple, built in 1912, is one of the main attractions of Mangalore. Sri Gokarnanatheshwara temple is a unique temple built by Sri Narayana Guru, the saint and social reformer from Kerala, and is the only one in Karnataka by Guru. The reformist Narayana Guru installed this temple for the Billava community, who were prohibited the entry to other temples.

Gokarnanatheshwara, Lord Shiva, is the main deity. The main temple is surrounded by the smaller temples for Mahaganapathi, Subramanya, Shaneeshwara, the Navagraha, Annapoorneswari and Anandabhairava. Murals, showing a variety of scenes from legends, mythology and epics, of different gods and goddesses decorate four gopuras, pillars in this temple constructed in the Tamil Nadu style.

The major festivals celebrated with enthusiasm are Navaratri and Shivratri. This is a religious place renovated recently and looks more beautiful.

Mangaladevi Temple : Mangaladevi temple, a 10th century temple constructed in memory of the princess of Malabar Mangale from Kerala, is a highly revered temple and the city name Mangalore is derived from this temple. Main deity is the Goddess Mangaladevi and is perhaps the first of this kind in this place.

The devotees strongly believe that worship of Mangaladevi brings riches and delight. Mangaladevi is worshiped as "Shakti" here. It is common belif among locals that ladies who practice the fasting known as Mangala Parvati Vrata will be blessed with fulfilling their wishes for a good marriage.

The temple has a special significance for the maidens. It is believed that those who conduct their marriage in this sacred temple will have a happy married life. Dussera and Ganesh Chaturthi are the most important festivals celebrated here with much vigour and enthusiasm.

Sultan Battery : This is a watchtower supposed to be built by Tipu Sultan to watch the entry of warships into the Gurpur River. It has a marvelous construction and though it was meant to be a simple watchtower, it gives the feeling to the onlookers of a minuscule fortress with its many apertures for rising cannons all around.

The battery, located in Boloor, was erected in black stones looking like a miniature fortress. This tower with no maintenance at all could not survive extreme weather conditions and is in ruins presently. The remaining part is known as Tipu's well.

Mangalore Beach Mangalore is placed at the confluence of the Netravathi and Gurupura rivers, forming the backwaters. One of the beaches in Mangalore, known as Tannirbavi Beach, is one of the nice beaches of Dakshina Kannada, which is famous for the imposing view of the sunset. Another beach offers solitude to visitors is Surathkal Beach.

This picturesque beach is known for its clean surroundings and a beautiful lighthouse. It is an ideal picnic spot with clean and calm atmosphere. The silvery softy sand beach and breezy wind from Arabian Sea offers an unparalleled beauty and solitude. The view of sunset from this beach is awesome.

Bejai Museum : Bejai Museum, also known as Seemanthi Bai Government Museum, is located at Bejai in the heart of the Mangalore city. It is named after the mother Seemanthi Bai of an officer V.R. Mirajkar of British Raj.

It is the city's only museum, and links modern Indian history with the 16th century. The museum provides a great knowledge into the Indian history and heritage through the collections of ancient and foreign coins, some belonging to British East India Company and Pakistan, and stylish paintings among others.

This museum is very precious for the researches as it houses a wealth of metallic icons, statues, lamps and inscriptions made out of copper. One major draw is the copper inscription containing the verses of Keladi Venkatappa Nayaka, dating back to 1624 AD.

Light House Hill Garden: Light House Hill Garden, assumed to be built by Haider Ali, is situated very close to the heart of the city of Mangalore. Awesome scenes of sailing ships and beautiful view of setting sun are the main attractions from this newly renovated garden. The picturesque perfect scene of the moving boats in the background of the vast blue span of the sea is marvelous.

Flushing with green sceneries, plants and flowers, the place attracts lots of people during the vacations. People wanting to relax with their families can spent the evening in the cool calm cover of nature here.

Kadri Hill Park : Kadri Hill Park, a fine-looking park consisting of a well-maintained animal conservatory, is the largest garden in Mangalore. Number of wild animals can be spotted here, including sambar, anteaters, spotted deer, leopard, crocodiles, jackals and monkeys. Various kinds of reptiles and rare species of birds are also found in the zoo.

Wide range of entertaining facilities including children toy trains are available exclusively for children. There are eight tanks with water, which cures skin diseases as per the belief of local population.

St Aloysius Church : St Aloysius Church is well placed in the campus of St Aloysius College in the center of Mangalore city. The chapel, built in 1885 by Rev Father Joseph Willy, intimately matches the world renowned Sistine Chapel at Rome.

The chapel is spectacular with some magnificent paintings on the ceiling, fresco painting and oil canvas paintings. The stunning paintings drawn during the early years of 20th century were by an Italian painter named Br Anthony Moschemi. The ceiling is decorated with paintings including the portraits of the Crowing of the Cock and many saints.

It is good tourist destination, main attraction being the paintings.

Jami Mosque: Jami Mosque of Zinad Baksh is located in Kulur, a small town in Dakshina Kannada, near to Mangalore. The well-known Gurpur river flows very close to the mosque. The Jami mosque is a characteristic example of an Indian mosque, representing the Islamic architecture subjected to diverse regional styles and blending with the local architectures.

A large number of devotees throng this place during the annual celebrations of the mosque. As per the routines followed in Jami Mosque of Zinad Baksh, it reflects the everyday virtues of practiced belief.