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.
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.
