Tourist Places To Visit In Mangalore

If you think Mangalore, you’d think of its most amazing beaches. But Mangalore, thanks to its antiquity, has ancient temples, parks and forts in its vicinity that speak volumes about the allure of the place. Mangalore, the largest city of Tulunadu in the West Coastal regions of Karnataka is a hub of many educational, industrial and healthcare centres which, along with being a showplace full of sights for those holiday trippers, make Mangalore one of the best vacation spots. We’ll give you a list of some of the most significant places of Mangalore that you’d love to visit.

Mangalore takes its name from the Mangaladevi Temple at Bolara, about 3 km southwest of the centre. According to legends, the temple was built for a Malabar princess Premaladevi who renounced her kingdom for Godhood and was renamed Mangaladevi by the Saint Matsyendranath. Built in the 9th century by King Kundavarman of the Alupa Dynasty of kings, the temple was constructed in the traditional styles of Kerala and the Western Coast with slanting roofs made of wood.

It’s also said that the temple was built by Parashurama, an Avatar of Vishnu and was later rebuilt by King Kundavarman. The Mangaladevi Temple sees a grand celebration during the Jathra in March and Dusshera, when the Goddess is taken in a procession to Marnamikatta, another region in Mangalore.

Temple Timings: 6.00am-10.00am, 12.00pm-1.00pm and 4.00pm-8.00pm.

Milagres is a stunningly ancient Roman Catholic Church built in 1680 by Bishop Thomas de Castro. The Church was destroyed by Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore and was later rebuilt in 1811. The Milagres Church is in Hampankatta, close to the Mangalore Central Railway Station. Built in the European Style, the Church has quite a gentle atmosphere and a perfect ambience to attend Mass in and meditate. The Milagres Church is situated in quite a busy commercial area and you’d find plenty of auto rickshaws and buses to commute.

This is again one of Mangalore’s oldest temples for Manjunatha or Shiva. Built in the 10^th century at Kadri, where Buddhism flourished once upon a time, the Shiva temple was later reconstructed with stone, roundabout the 14^th century. The temple is known for its ancient bronze sculptures, especially the sculpture of Lokeshwara, said to be one of the most ancient in South India. There is a natural spring or Gomukha behind the temple which gushes forth with fresh cool water, said to flow down all the way from the Bhagirathi River in Kashi, hence called Kashi Bhagirathi Thirtha. The spring water is diverted into nine kunds or pools inside the temple.

The temple is in the hills of Kadri, about 4 km from the city centre. You can hire an auto rickshaw or hop onto a local bus that goes to Kadri. 

Trip around the Butterfly Park includes an enlightening video on butterflies and a walk around the park with a guide. There are about 150 species of butterflies in the park, which has aesthetically provided a variety of nectaring plants for the butterflies to thrive on. You are bound to see a host of the most beautiful butterflies of the Western Ghats like the Malabar Banded Peacock, Red Spot Duke and Blue Mormon. The Park is in Belvai, Moodabidri, about an hour away from the Mangalore airport.

The Ullal Beach is just one among Mangalore’s most magnificent string of beaches. The beach is close to Ullal town, about 12 km south of Mangalore. Not far away from the waters are the ruined fort of Abbakka Devi, a Tuluva Queen who fought the Portuguese in the 16^th century, ancient Jain Temples and the Ullal Jamma Masjid, the Dargah of Sayed Mohammed Shereful Madani, a Sufi Saint. Fringed with casuarinas and coconut trees, the Ullal beach is just about one of the best beaches in Mangalore you can go to for a relaxing getaway.

The Durga Parameshwari Temple sits in the midst of river Nandini. The backdrop of lush greenery and the rippling river that flows by the temple fills one with a serene tranquillity. A bridge that runs over the river is used to cross over to the temple. Annadhana or free meals are served in the temple everyday for the devotees. Yakshagana, the traditional dance form of Dakshina Kannada is offered as a ritualistic form of worship to the Goddess. The Durga Parameshwari Yakshagana Patashala trains students in this ancient art form.

There are plenty of buses that can take you from Mangalore to Kateel that is about 18 km away. This beautiful ancient temple in such a charming milieu, it should be a must see in your travel plans.

Temple timings are from 4.00am-10.00pm.

About 4 km from the heart of Mangalore is the village of Boloor. In 1784 AD Tipu Sultan ordered the construction of a watch tower in Boloor to prevent English ships from sailing over the river for an invasion. The watch tower was built of black stones said to have been brought from the churches destroyed by Tipu Sultan. Set amidst shrubby undergrowth, the watch tower was used as an arsenal to store gunpowder and as a dockyard. Climb up the stairs to the roof to see mounts for cannons that were probably used to make the English fleet back off. From the top of the watch tower you get a charming view of the Arabian Sea.

Moodabidri, about 37 km away from Mangalore, is renowned for its 18 Jain Temples. The Saavira Kambada or Chandranatha Basadi is one among the most popular Jain Basadis in Moodabidri. Built in 1430 by a local chief Devaraya Wodeyar and with later alterations, the temple stands as an example of ancient architecture. The temple has an 8 ft idol of Thirthankara Chandranatha, a 60 ft manasthambha erected by Queen Nagala Devi and a hall with thousand pillars, with each pillar having singularly unique engravings on them.

The Durga Parameshwari Temple lies on the banks of River Shambavi in the town of Bappanadu in Mulki, about 30 km north of Mangalore. According to legends, the Goddess appeared in the dream of a Muslim merchant called Bappa Beary, and instructed him to build a temple for her. Built by Bappa Beary about 800 years ago, the Durga Parameshwari temple where the goddess is in the form of a Linga, fosters communal harmony with people of all faiths visiting the shrine. The descendents of Bappa Beary’s family partake the Prasad and offer special prayers in the temple. Local people of all communities participate in the community feeding on Fridays. The temple has a large Bappanadu Dolu or musical drum at the entrance, which is drummed upon during annual festivals.

The Tagore Park on Light House Hill Road is at Hampankatta, about a kilometre away from the Mangalore Railway Station. The main attraction of the park is the Light House that was built in the 18^th century on the orders of Hyder Ali. From a distance, the Light House gives a wide sweeping panoramic vision of the sunlit glimmering sea. The recently renovated Tagore Park garden is such a beautiful place, with its own library and an artificial spring to spend an evening in, watching the sun set.