MANGALORE TRAVEL GUIDE

At a distance of 0.5 Km from Mangalore Railway Station, Milagres Church also known as the Church of Our Lady of Miracles is the most popular church in Mangalore.

This church was first built in 1680 by Bishop Thomas de Castro and it's famous for its beautiful architecture. The church has a wonderful altar with a French painting of St Monica and St Augustine. Mounted on pedestals are six statues of apostles and the facade with the statues similar to the St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. The main altar with the statue of Our Lady contains the superscription 'Altare Previlegiatum'. It is a magnificent monolithic marble altar, the gift of the late Mr. Nicholas Britto.

At a distance of 1 Km from Mangalore Railway Station, Sri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple is situated in the heart of the Mangalore city. It is an ancient temple with 800 years of history.

The word Sharavu means an arrow. According to legend, Maharaja Veerabahu of Tuluva region killed a cow with an arrow by mistake. In order to erase the sin, the king installed a Shivlinga which is now worshipped as Sharabeshwara. It is also believed that the divine image of Sri Dhashabhuja Mahaganapathy appeared on the southern wall of this sacred temple.

The temple complex houses many shrines dedicated to the deities Sharavu, Kadri, Mangaladevi and Kudroli. There is a temple tank called 'Sharatheertha'. Vinayaka Chaturthi, Rathosthava & Deeposthava are important festivals of the temple. It is also a renowned center for cultural activities such as dance, drama, and Yakshagana.

Timings: 6 AM - 8 PM

At a distance of 1 Km from Mangalore Railway Station, Sri Venkata Ramana Temple is located at Car Street in the heart of the city. This temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Venkata Ramana (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu). It is believed to have been founded during 17th century. It is also said that Sri Mahla Pai from a noble family of Mangalore belonging to Gowd Saraswatha Brahmin Community of Kaushika lineage erected bronze idols of Lord Sri Veera Vittala and Lord Sri Gopalakrishna.

Along with the main deity, Goddess Sri Devi, Goddess Bhoodevi, Garuda Vahana, Shri Gopalakrishna and Shri Veera Vittala are also worshipped at this temple.

Mangalore Rathotsava (Car Festival) is the famous festival of the temple celebrated for 6 days in January.

Timings: 6 AM - 12:30 PM & 6 - 8 PM

At a distance of 1 Km from Mangalore Railway Station, Tagore Park also known as Light House Hill Garden was built in the 18th century by Haider Ali & Tipu Sultan.

The Light House Hill garden has a garden besides the light house, from where the tourists can enjoy a marvelous view of the sea with moving boats and ships adding on to its serene beauty. One can see the beautiful sea view, sunset view and also the sailing ships and boats on the sea.

This beautiful garden is newly renovated.There is also a small artificial stream that flows down a rock strewn channel. There is a public library at the base of the light house with a reading room named after Karnad Sadashiv Rao, a renowned freedom fighter. This garden is very close to St. Aloysius Chapel and can be visited together.

Timings: 9 AM - 12 PM & 4 - 9 PM.

At a distance of 1.5 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Rosario Cathedral situated near Mangaladevi Temple is an ancient church built by Portuguese in the year 1568. The Church was reconstructed in 1910.

The church has impressive architecture, designed in the pattern of St Peters Basilica of Rome and resembling the Roman architectural style. The dome is the most beautiful part and is a crowning work of the architectural magnificence. It also has a tall & magnificent bell tower in front of the church. In Tulu, Rosario Church is called -Poyyeda Ingreji-, meaning Sand Church.

The Feast of Our Lady Rosary is celebrated on 7th October every year with great glory.

Timings: 6:30 AM to 7 PM

At a distance of 3 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Bejai Museum also known as Shreemanthi Bai Museum is located at Bejai.

The Bejai Museum is the city's only museum and well known as a treasury of many ancient artifacts. The museum houses idols, paintings, metallic icons, statues, lamps and inscriptions made out of copper. One major attraction is the copper inscription containing the verses of Keladi Venkatappa Nayaka dating back to 1624 AD.

Timings: 10 AM - 5:30 PM. Closed on Monday.

At a distance of 5 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Sultan Battery is a watchtower built by Tipu Sultan to watch the entry of warships into the Gurpur River. Situated at Boloor, it was built in 1784.

The structure is built with black stones and looks like a mini fortress with arrangements for deploying cannons. The watch tower is beautifully made and provides panoramic view of the surroundings of Gurpur River & Arabian Sea. The structure is well adorned with equipments for shooting canons.

This tower is recently renovated by Archeological Survey of India.

At a distance of 9 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Ullal is famous for Durgah of the Saint Syed Mohammad Sherifulla Madani. The Ullal Jamma Masjid is a famous pilgrim centre for the Muslims.

Syed Mohammed Shareefulla Madani Darga is the tomb of the soofi who came from Medina in 1569. The saint helped the poor through prayers and spiritual powers. The land for the darga was gifted by Vittarasa Vodeya. A tomb was raised over the Saint's grave after his death and the miracles continued.

Thousands of people from various states visit the mosque to participate in the Urus festival which is celebrated once in every 5 years.

At a distance of 9 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple situated in Kudupu is a popular pilgrimage centers in Mangalore. It is located Mercara Hill Road.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it's famous for serpent worship. Naga Bana (hundreds of serpent idols) situated in eastern part of the temple. The temple also houses a holy pond 'Bhadra Saraswathi Thirtha' which is situated towards left side of the temple. Goddess Sri Devi, Lord Ganapathi, Lord Subramanya, Jaya and Vijaya are main sub-deities of the temple.

Annual festival Shashti is a famous religious ceremony celebrated in December. Also Nagapanchami, a worship of sacrificing the milk to Lord Naga is celebrated with great devotion.

Timings: 6.30 AM -7.30 PM

At a distance of 12 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Pilikula Nisargadhama is an eco-tourism destination with integrated Park, Zoo, Botanical Garden & Boating facilities.

Established in 1990, the park is spread over 350 acres of land. The Zoo houses variety of animals like deer, wild boars, tigers, leopard, lion, and snakes both poisonous and non poisonous, porcupines and few birds.

Botanical Garden had about 15,000 different types of plants and flowers on display including orchids that are indigenous to Western Ghats area. Adjacent to this, there is a Manasa Water Park.

Timings: Summer - 10 AM to 6 PM & Winter - 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM.

At a distance of 19 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Surathkal Beach on the shores of Arabian Sea is a clean beach with tremendous scenic beauty. The beach offers wonderful views of the sunset and it's usually crowded during evenings. It is one of the popular beaches near Mangalore.

The historical Sadashiva Temple near the beach is an added attraction. According to mythology, when Lord Ganesha kept Ravana's shivalinga on the ground, Ravana tried to pick it up with force and some pieces are scattered. One such piece from the linga is said to have fallen in Suratkal.

There is a light house near the Sadashiva Temple, located on a small hillock. Suratkal houses the famed National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK).

Suratkal is connected by frequent bus service with Mangaluru.

At a distance of 19 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Polali Sri Raja Rajeshwari Temple is a popular place of worship in Dakshina Kannada. This temple is believed to be 2000 years old has great historic importance. In Sanskrit the place is called Puliapura and called Polali in Kannada.

The deity was called Porala Devi in ancient days. River Phalguni flows around the temple. The 10 feet icon in the temple is the tallest clay idol in India. Sri Subrahmanya, Sri Ganesha and others are also worshipped alongside.

The annual festival is celebrated for 7 days in the month of Feb/Mar. On the final day of annual festival, 5 day long football matches are conducted which are very popular. This ritual is called Polali Chendu.

Timings: 8 AM to 8 PM

At a distance of 23 Kms from Mangalore Railway Station, Sasihitlu Beach situated towards Udupi is a clean beach & stretches about 2 km in length.

This place is also famous for a beautiful island called Munda surrounded by Shambhave and Nandini Rivers on one side and Arabian Sea on the other side.

At a distance of 28 Kms from Mangalore & 30 Kms from Udupi, Bappanadu Durga Parameshwari Temple is located on the banks of River Shambavi in Bappanadu village near Mulki.

The main deity of this temple is Goddess Durga, worshipped in the form of Linga. This temple is one of the important temples of Shakti in Dakshina Kannada. This temple was constructed in the 14th century. There is a large drum in the temple famously known as Bappanadu Dolu.

Annual festival is celebrated in the month of April.

Timings: 6 AM to 9:30 PM

At a distance of 29 Kms from Mangalore & 29 Kms from Udupi, Sri Venkata Ramana Temple located in Mulki is a 12th century temple dedicated to Sri Venkateswara (another form of Lord Vishnu). Mulki is situated on the banks of River Shambavi on NH 17 between Mangalore & Udupi. Sri Venkataramana, Bindu Madhava, Lord Vittala and Ugra Narasimha are worshipped in this temple.

The history of the place indicates that Sri Vijayendra Yathi of Kashi Mutt installed the image of Ugra Narasimha belonging to Vijayanagar here in 1565. Mulki was earlier known as Mulikapur, once ruled by Samantha kings. Now one can see the palace and the old ruins of the fort of Samantha Kings. The Bappanadu Durga Parameshwari Temple and the temples of Somanath and Narayana are the other shrines of the Mulki.

A buffalo race called Arasu Kambala is held here annually. Annual Car Festival is celebrated in December on Pratistha Poornima, the installation day of Lord Narasimha.

Timings: 6:30 AM to 1 PM & 6 .....

At a distance of 37 Kms from Udupi & 50 Kms from Mangalore, Chaturmukha Basadi is a Jain temple, situated on a rocky hill near Karkala.

The primary deity of the temple is Chandranatha. This temple got its name due to the four doorways in four directions lead to the Garbhagriha. It is entirely built of stone and stands on a raised stone platform. The flat roof is constructed with large granite slabs and the temple has a total of 108 pillars. This temple was committed by Vir Pandya Deva, the King of Bairarava family in 1432 and completed in 1586.

This is the most celebrated temple in Karkala and is referred to in the inscriptions as Tribhuvana Tilaka Jina Chaityalaya and Ratnaraya Dhama. Photography is prohibited inside without prior permission.

Distance (From Mangalore): 50 Kms
Trip Duration (From Mangalore - Including Travel): 3-4 Hours
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At a distance of 37 Kms from Udupi & 50 Kms from Mangalore, Gomatheshwara Statue (Lord Bahubali) is located on a rocky hillock called Bahubali Betta in Karkala. It is situated near Chaturmukha Basadi (about 1 Km).

This single stone 42-foot statue of Gomateshwara is the second tallest in Karnataka, after Shravanabelagola.Veera Pandya Deva, the King of Bairarava family built this monolithic statue in his honor and also installed the Brahmadeva Pillar in front of the statue in 1436.

The Maha Masthakaabhisheka festival, sacred bathing of the statue with saffron paste, milk and water, held in every 12 years. During this period thousands of Jain devotees visit this place to carry out the Mahamastakabhisheka.

Distance (From Mangalore): 50 Kms
Trip Duration (From Chathurmukha Basadi - Karkala - Including Travel): 30 Mins
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At a distance of 37 Kms from Udupi & 50 Kms from Mangalore, Neminath Basadi is a Jain temple constructed in 1329. It is located very close to Bahubali Betta / Gomatheshwara Statue (about 0.5 Km).

The presiding deity of this temple is Mulnayak Bhagvan Neminath. There is a 54 feet Manasthambha, carved out of single rock, which is installed in front of the Basadi. The complex also houses Lord Mahavir, Chandranath Swamy, Adinath Swamy, Ananthanath and Padmavathi basadis, and the Bhujabali Brahmacharya Ashram.

Chaturmukha Basadi (1 Km), Gomatheshwara Statue (0.5 Kms) and Ramasamudra Lake (1 Km) are nearby attractions.

Distance (From Mangalore): 50 Kms
Trip Duration (From Chathurmukha Basadi - Karkala - Including Travel): 30 Mins
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At a distance of 37 Kms from Udupi & 50 Kms from Mangalore, Sri Venkata Ramana Temple located in Karkala is popularly known as Padu Tirupathi, which means Tirupathi of West. This temple is more than 550 years old and houses the ancient idol of Lord Srinivasa of Tirupathi.

According to legend, a family of Gowda Saraswat Brahmins brought Lord Venkat Ramana's statue from Goa, settled in Karkala and built a temple. When the rulers of Mangalore attacked the temple, the temple was destroyed and idol was lost.

It is said that the devotees had a dream directing them to go back to their place where they were directed to receive an idol of Lord Srinivasa from a saint. Their dreams come true when a Brahmin stranger gave them an idol of Srinivasa which he brought from Tirupati. The Lord is name Tirupati Chappara Srinivasa and all the poojas here are performed as in Tirupati.

The Laksha Deepothsava festival, Annual Chariot festival and Chakrotsava are the major festivals of this .....

Distance (From Mangalore): 50 Kms
Trip Duration (From Chathurmukha Basadi - Karkala - Including Travel): 30 Mins
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At a distance of 37 Kms from Udupi & 50 Kms from Mangalore, Sri Ananthashayana Temple is an ancient temple located in Karkala. This temple is dedicated to Lord Ananthapadmanabha (another form of Lord Vishnu). This temple is situated near Sri Venkata Ramana Temple (about 1 Km) & Chaturmukha Basadi (about 1 Km).

This temple was originally a Jain Basadi in 15th century. During that time, Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharathi Swamiji came to Karkala and the Jain King gave him a warm welcome. But Swamiji said he will stay only if there is a temple with Lord installed in it. The king gave the Jain Basadi to His Holiness Sringeri Swamiji and installed a stone sculptured of Lord Vishnu.

The magnificent idol of Lord Vishnu is carved out of a single black stone with Lord Brahma coming out of Vishnu's navel, and Sridevi and Bhudevi at his feet.

This temple is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India.

Distance (From Mangalore): 50 Kms
Trip Duration (From Chathurmukha Basadi - Karkala - Including Travel): 30 Mins
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At a distance of 34 Kms from Udupi & 52 Kms from Mangalore, St. Lawrence Church is located in Attur, which is about 8 kms from Karkala. The church built in 1845 is very popular in this region.

Attur Church situated in the outskirts of Karkala town. Placed amidst placid greenery, the Attur parish has a rich history with its origin tracing back to 1759. Moreover it is known for its miraculous history.the church is a place of worship and belief for all, irrespective of caste and creed. People from all walks of the society come here to offer their prayers to St Lawrence.

The Attur Festival celebrated in January is major festival of the church which attracts several thousand devotees.

Mass Timings : Daily Mass at 6.30 AM,Saturday 4.30 PM, Sunday 7.30 & 10.30 AM

Distance (From Mangalore): 52 Kms
Trip Duration (From Chathurmukha Basadi - Karkala - Including Travel): 1 Hour
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At a distance of 177 Kms from Kozhikode, 56 Kms from Mangalore & 8 Kms from Kasaragod, Chandragiri Fort situated on the banks of Chandragiri River is a 17th century Fort spread across 7 acres, now in ruins.

In earlier days, the Chandragiri River was considered to be the border of two powerful kingdoms Kolathunadu and Thulunadu. When Thulunadu was captured by the Vijayanagara Empire, the Kolathunadu kings lost the Chandragiri region to them. During the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire the area was administratively looked after by the Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri. When the Vijayanagara Empire fell in the 16th century, Vengappa Nayaka declared independence.

The fort changed hands over the years from Shivappa Nayak to Hyder Ali of Mysore and then to the British. Now it is a protected monument under the State Archaeology Department. The Fort offers a breathtaking view of the River, Arabian Sea & the Sunset from Vintage Point.

House boat cruise through the picturesque chandragiri .....

Distance (From Mangalore): 56 Kms
Trip Duration (From Bekal Fort - Including Travel): 1 Hour
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At a distance of 6 km from Belthangady, 61 km from Mangalore, 87 km from Kudremukh and 111 km from Chikmagalur, Jamalabad Fort is an old hilltop fortification in Jamalabad Village near Belthangady in Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka. It is located in the Kudremukh range of hills. The fort lies at an altitude of 1700 ft.

The fort was formerly called Narasimha Ghada, which refers to the granite hill on which the fort is built. It is also referred locally as Jamalagadda or Gadaikallu. Originally a mud fort existed on the hilltop. The fort was reconstructed over the ruins of an older structure by Tipu Sultan in 1794 and named after his mother, Jamal Bee. The fort was captured by the British in 1799 during the 4th Mysore War. As per legend, those who are not favorable to Tipu were hurled down this fort to their death.

The fort is accessible via a narrow path with about 1800 steps cut out of the granite hill. Inside the .....

At a distance of 70 Kms from Mangalore, Bahubali Temple located in Dharmasthala is situated near Manjunatha Temple (about 1 Km) on top of Rathnagiri Betta. This temple enshrines the monolithic statue of Bhagvan Bahubali (Gomatheshwara) which is 39 foot high. Sculpted by the famous Renjala Gopalkrishna Shenoi, it was completed in 1973 and installed in 1982.

Bharata and his younger brother Bahubali, both of royal birth, fought each other in a battle for supremacy. Bharata lost the battle but his life was spared. Bahubali then realized the futility of war and killing to acquire power. He handed over his kingdom to his brother and became a member of the Digambara Jain sect. He began a severe penance, standing naked until he gained enlightenment

The Maha Masthakaabhisheka festival, sacred bathing of the statue with saffron paste, milk and water, held once in every 12 years.

Temple Timings: 8 AM to 7 PM, Pooja Timings: 8-10 AM & 6-7 PM

At a distance of 70 Kms from Mangalore, Manjusha Museum is located near Manjunatha Temple in Dharmasthala. This museum has a unique collection of heritage objects & artifacts of the region.

The museum houses a wide range of objects, including ancient scripts on palm leaves, silver jewellery, religious objects and household goods such as sewing machine, spectacles, typewriters and cameras.

Outside the Manjusha Museum is a collection of stone and wooden chariots used for temple processions. These have been preserved from temples from various districts of the state.

Timings: 8.30 AM - 1 PM & 2 - 7 PM

At a distance of 34 Kms from Udupi, 72 Kms from Mangalore & 22 Kms from Karkala, Kere Basadi located in Varanga is a beautiful Jain Temple located in middle of a lake. The temple is located in beautiful surroundings.

The temple has four idols in four directions facing North, South, East and West. The idols of 4 Tirthankaras are Bhagwan Parsvanatha, Bhagwan Neminath, Bhagwan Ananthanath & Bhagavan Shantinath.

The Kalla Basadi located on the way to Kere Basadi is an ancient stone monument and a worth visiting place.

Distance (From Mangalore): 72 Kms
Trip Duration (From Chathurmukha Basadi - Karkala - Including Travel): 1-2 Hours
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At a distance of 167 Kms from Kozhikode, 73 Kms from Mangalore & 28 Kms from Kasaragod, Bekal Fort Beach is situated near Bekal Fort (about 1 Km). It is one of the best Kerala Beaches situated in Kasaragod district.

It is one of the best maintained beaches in this region. The beach is a vast expanse of white sands dotted with palm trees. Two huge sculptures with beautiful murals have been set up in the beach. The beach is illuminated with electric bulbs during night so that people can enjoy the beach even after dusk.

There is a water park for children on the premises which is an added attraction. The beautiful walkway allows the visiting tourists to explore the beauty of the Arabian Sea and panoramic view of the surroundings including Bekal Fort.

Distance (From Mangalore): 73 Kms
Trip Duration (From Bekal Fort - Including Travel): 1 Hour
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At a distance of 155 Kms from Kozhikode, 86 Kms from Mangalore & 40 Kms from Kasaragod, Hosdurg Fort is an ancient structure located near Kanhangad town (4 Kms). It is at a distance of 13 Kms from Bekal Fort. This Fort is also known as Kanhangad Fort.

This Fort is believed to have been constructed by Somasekhara Nayak of the Ikkery Dynasty. The fort is surrounded by a high brick wall with round bastions. Only the ruins of the fort remain now. The fort premises are now being used for several public offices. Temples like Karpooreshwara Temple dedicated for Lord Shiva & Sri Lakshmi Venkataramana Temple are located within the Fort. The Nityananda Ashram is also located to the south-west of the Fort.

Distance (From Mangalore): 86 Kms
Trip Duration (From Bekal Fort - Including Travel): 1 Hour
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At a distance of 100 Kms from Mangalore, 30 Kms from Kukke Subramanya, 65 Kms from Hassan & 80 Kms from Chikmagalur, Yedakumeri is a beautiful place in the Western Ghats & a wonderful trekking destination.

A trekking along the abandoned meter gauge railway line between Donigal and Yedukumeri (17 Kms - 8 Hrs) is a unique experience and is popularly referred to as 'Yedakumeri Railway Trek' or 'Green Route Trek'. This route is nature lovers & photographers paradise.

The trek route has several curves, tunnels and bridges. The mountains stretch with more than 25 waterfalls and several small streams. Trekking usually starts from the Dhonigal (on Bangalore - Mangalore route) and run along the tracks to Yedakumeri. Camping can be done at Dhonigal & Yedakumeri stations. Trek can be extended till Kukke Subramanya (16 Kms extra).

Donigal can be reached by Bus/Cab from Sakleshpura (which is connected by Bus with Bangalore via .....

At a distance of 318 km from Bangalore, 104 km from Mangalore, 99 km from Shimoga, 88 km from Chikmagalur, 256 km from Mysore and 79 km from Udupi, Sringeri in Chikmagalur district is one of the important pilgrimage centers in South India. Sringeri is well known for Sharada Peetham, the first and foremost of the 4 Peethams established by the renowned 8th century saint Sri Adi Shankaracharya. It is also one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Karnataka, mainly as a pilgrimage destination.

Sringeri is situated at an altitude of 2789 ft on the banks of River Tunga bounded by Western Ghats. The name Sringeri is derived from Rishyashringa-giri, a nearby hill that is named after Sage Rishyashringa. Hyder Ali annexed Ikkeri to the kingdom of Mysore. Tipu Sultan provided financial aid to Sringeri for the reconstruction of temples.

According .....

Distance (From Mangalore): 104 Kms
Trip Duration (From Mangalore - Including Travel): 1-2 Days
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