Top 6 Tourist Attractions In Mangalore (Mangaluru)

One of the cleanest cities in India, Mangalore is an important business center and is known for its amazing beaches, seaports and a diverse culture. The region which contains Mangalore has been ruled by various dynasties and empires from the ancient times such as the Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Vijaynagar Empire, Portuguese and the British. The city gets its mention in the writings of the Arabian traveler Ibn Batuta in the 14th century as well. Being a historically important place Mangalore is a famous tourist attraction. Here’s the list of the best places you must visit in Mangalore.

1. Mangaladevi Temple

The city of Mangalore was known formerly by the name Mangalapur before it was anglicized by the British. The name Mangalapur comes from the deity Mangala Devi to which this temple is dedicated. The Mangaladevi Temple was established in the 19th century by the King of the Ahepa dynasty. The best time to visit the temple is during the Navratra before Dussehra when the festivities at the temple are at their peak.

2. Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

gokarnanatheshwara-temple
Photo by Premkudva, CC BY-SA 3.0

Dedicated to ‘Gorakhnatha’, another name for the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, the Gokarnanatheshwara Temple is a fairly recently built temple in Mangalore. The temple’s architecture however is more akin to the Dravidian style and features a golden colored gopuram which is 60 feet high and is decorated with stucco figures. The temple features some exquisite works of rock carving and sculpting and is a must visit during the major Hindu festivals.

3. Panambur Beach

panambur-beach
Photo by Karunakar Rayker, CC BY 2.0

The site of the new Mangalore port, Panambur Beach is located 13 kilometers from Mangalore. The beach is one of the sparsely crowded beaches in Mangalore and is the best place to go and relax. The beach is safe for secluded swimming and is a great place to relax and refresh your senses.

4. Surathkal Beach

surathkal-beach
Photo by Hari Prasad Nadig, CC BY-SA 2.0

Surathkal Beach is another pristine beach in Mangalore and is located 12 kilometers from the main city. The beach is known for its unique powdery sand which is really comforting while walking barefoot. The place is also known for its lighthouse that provides some great views of the ocean and the countryside.

5. Pilikula Nisargadhama

Located at a short distance of 15 kilometers from Mangalore, Pilikula Nisagadhama or simply Pilikula, is one of the most preferred picnic spots near the city. Located in the picturesque hamlet of Vamanjoor, Pilikula is a haven for nature and wildlife lovers. One can find several wildlife species inside the park including Tigers, Leopards, Bears and a variety of reptiles and snakes. Pilakula also houses a botanical garden, a cage less zoo, and a golf course within its premises.

6. St. Aloysius Church

st-aloysius-church
Photo by Haydn Blackey, CC BY-SA 2.0 

St. Aloysius Church was built in 1880 by the Jesuit Missionary and is famous for its marvelous architecture and interiors. The church features paintings by the Italian artist Antonio Moscheni that cover most of the walls inside the chapel. The paintings feature the various saints in Christianity and are well preserved by a special committee that is also responsible for their maintenance and restoration.

While the city of Mangalore is a commercial and educational hub, it is also an important tourist town in Karnataka. The city’s diverse Udupi influenced culture and the various types of special Udupi cuisines are also worth checking out along with the abovementioned attractions that Mangalore houses.

Some More Tourist Destinations Of Karnataka:

About Rohit

An architect by profession, Rohit Agarwal is a curious traveller, seeking out the minutest detail about the places he travels to, and that’s what one will find in his writings. His writings have appeared in various blogs, he’s currently trying to bring forth as many different places a traveller who shares the same level of curiosity like him would like to visit through his writings.

2 thoughts on “Top 6 Tourist Attractions In Mangalore (Mangaluru)”

  1. Hi,
    Good morning and how are you
    It is very nice of you to have noted so many things about mangalore. It was once upon a time where my forefathers for generations lived. Today the legacy I have from them is their memories and our mother tongue konkani. Yes the language of goa is also language of mangalore. Now as hindi differs from one state in the north to other accordingly u may expect people claiming in excitement that our konkani and their konkani is different. Well the basic vocab is same the way of saying is different in mangalore and goa. I hope u don’t mind my tip oh I love to provide useful suggestions. As I was extremely impressed by your notes here and u look also good. I live in Mumbai. Do drop me lines not just one ok so we may share our knowledge and grow.
    Regards ,
    Anupam 🙂

    Reply
  2. You can visit Mangalore during November to January to enjoy the climate. Mangalore and Mumbai is almost same weather. Most of the people of Mangalore are living in Mumbai.

    Please drop some time.

    Reply

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