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            MANGALORE TRAVEL GUIDE

Mangalore is the gateway to Karnataka. It is one of the five talukas (other than
Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, Belthangady taluks) of the Dakshina Kannada District. This
District formerly had 8 talukas, but these were split in August 1997 and the
remaining talukas, namely Udupi, Kundapur and Karkala then formed a part of the
Udupi district.

Mangalore is known for its beaches, temples and industries. There are several
languages spoken there, including Tulu, Konkani, Kannada, and Beary.

The landscape is dominated by the characteristic coconut palms accompanying
rolling hills and streams flowing into the sea. The landscape is dotted with tiled-roof
buildings, topped with the famous Mangalore tiles made with the local hard red clay
and typically walled with laterite blocks. Older houses are commonly found with
elaborate wood-work.

The ancient history proved Mangalore had been the capital of Alupa dynasty till 14th
century, A traveler, Ibn Battuta who had visited the town in 1342 stated that he
arrived at a place named Manjurun or Mandjaur situated on a large estuary. He had
mentioned that the town was a trading centre and Fars (Persian) and Yemeni
merchants disembarked at Mangalore . In 1448, Abdul Razak, a Persian
Ambassador passed via this route to Vijayanagar. He said that he had seen a
glorious temple here. The inscriptions at Moodabidri stated a king Mangaras Odeya
was the governor of Mangaluru Raajya during the reign of Vira Harihararaya II of
Vijayanagar dynasty. Another inscription stated that Deeva Raaja Odeya ruled the
Mangalura Raajya in 1429 during the reign of Vijayanagara King Veera Devaraya II.

Various powers have fought for control over Mangalore. The major dynasties that
ruled the town till the arrival of Portuguese were Kadambas, the Western Chalukyas,
Rastrakutas, Alupas and Hoysalas. In 1520 the Portuguese took control of the area
from Vijayanagara rulers, but in 1695, the town was burned by the Arabs in retaliation
for Portuguese restrictions on Arab trade. Mysore sultan ruler Hyder Ali (1722–1782)
conquered Mangalore in 1763 , and it was under his administration till 1768, before
being annexed by the British between 1768 and 1794. Later in 1794 Hyder Ali's son
Tippu Sultan again took control of the area , but it was re-conquered by the British
upon the fall of Srirangapatana in 1799. A part of the Madras Presidency up to Indian
independence, Mangalore was merged into a unified Karnataka state in 1956.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Time zone            IST (UTC+5:30)
Area                      111.18 kmē (43 sq mi)
Elevation              45 m (148 ft)
District(s)             Dakshina Kannada
Population           398,745 (2001)
Density                 3,586.5/kmē (9,289/sq mi)

PLACE TO VISIT

The Mangaladevi Temple -  is a Hindu temple at Bolara in the city of
Mangalore, situated about three km southwest of the city centre. This temple has
influenced the name and importance of Mangalore. The name Mangalore is derived
from Goddess Mangaladevi, the main deity of the temple.

Gokarnanatheshwara Temple - This temple is situated in Kudroli area
(about 5 km from City Bus Stand) in the city of Mangalore, this beautiful temple is the
abode of Lord Gokarnanatha, another name for Lord Shiva. Compared to the other
temples in and around Mangalore this temple was built pretty recently.

Sri Kalikamba Vinayaka Temple - is located in Lower Car Street about 3
km from the City bus Stand in the city of Mangalore.

This temple is mainly revered by people of Vishwakarma Brahmin community
(people involved in goldsmith, blacksmith, carpentry & architecture business).
This temple underwent major renovation recently. The Garbhagrihas of Lord Ganesh
& Goddess Kalikamba were rebuilt with granite.

Kadri Manjunatha - Temple located in Mangalore in the state of Karnataka,
dates back to approximately 1068 The square temple built with nine water tanks,
nestles at the foot of the highest hill at Kadri in Mangalore.

Mariyamma Temple - This is a temple situated in Bolar, dedicated Goddess
Mariyamma about 0.5 km from Mangaladevi Temple in Mangalore city. It is believed
that Mariyamma & Mangaladevi were sisters.
Dasara is the important festival celebrated here.

Moodabidri - (also called Mudbidri), an ancient center of Jain learning, is a
small town 37 km northeast of the Dakshin Kannada district headquarters,
Mangalore

Talapady - (Talapadi) is a village in Mangalore, A temple of Durga is at Devipura,
Talapady. Goddess Durga parameshwari is the icon of Shakti. Goddess Durga
parameshwari is the family deity (Kuladevata) of many people, especially Shivalli
Madhva brahmins (Tulu brahmins). The temple is very old and considered to be very
sacred.The temple practices some strict traditions like men can enter temple only ,
when they are bare chested.

Krishnapura Matha -  belongs to the Madhwa sect of Vaishnavism. The
Krishnapura Matha was established by Sri Madhvacharya, a Dvaita philosopher. The
Krishnapura matha is currently headed by Sri Vidyasagara Thirta Swamiji. The first
Swami of this matha was Sri Janardhana Thirta, who was one of the direct disciples
of Sri Madhvacharya. The matha (written as mutt in some records and literature) has
many branches all over India. The matha at Krishnapura, which is 3 kilometres from
Surathkal town is the main matha from which the name has been derived. The
presiding deity of the temple is Sri Kalingamardhana Krishna (Krishna on hood of
serpent). There is a Mukhyaprana Hanuman temple inside the matha. The structure
of the building is mostly made of wood. This type of structure is rare in the age of
concrete buildings nowadays.