About Mangalore City

Tulu Nadu consists of two districts i.e. Dakshina Kannada ( D.K.) and Udupi district. Once upon a time dakshina kannada was vast district with eight taluks. From August 1997 this was bifurcated into D.K. and Udupi districts. D.K. presently consists of five taluks viz. Mangalore, Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, Belthangady taluks where as Udupi district consists of three taluks viz. Udupi, Kundapur and Karkal. These two districts together are called as Tulunadu, since the most popular language in these regions is TULU.
At one time, Mangalore was a port of great significance and the major seaport and ship building centre of Hyder Ali's Kingdom. It has been considered as one of the beautiful cities in India and is extensive as her suburbs are perched on the sides of hills and valleys. It is perhaps the breathtaking natural scene with which Mangalore welcomes it's people with, that makes it a lovely place to be in. The city has developed at the confluence of the two legendary river's, the Nethravathi and the Gurupura river. Mangalore or Mangaluruhas had it's name originated from the Mnagla Devi Temple. The District is characterized by a harmonious co-existence of different religions and cultures, like Hinduism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity. Mangalore though small in size still contributes to a lot of business activity. Tulunadu is one of the most enchanting place to travel. Though known for its religious places of worship, the place is blessed with green fields, water falls, beautiful beaches and with rich variety of flora and fauna. Even today it is a major centre for the export of coffee and cashew nuts.
The modern port 10 km north of the town, is now India’s ninth largest cargo handling port. Mangalore's economy is dominated by agricultural processing and port-related activities. Imports include tropical timber from south-east Asia for furniture making, a necessity since India places major restrictions on its own teak felling. The port handles 75% of India’s coffee exports and the bulk of it cashew nuts. The latter are brought from many coastal areas (notably from Kerala, where 90% of India’s cashews are grown); the National Cashew research centre is near by at Puttur.
It has several famous pilgrim centres. The district is a leader in more than one way in banking, private entrepreneur-ship and in general awareness amongst people. The city of Mangalore has given birth to four nationalised banks apart from general insurance companies. Critics call it the Cradle of Banking Industry. It has an airport and an all-weather port and is well connected with other parts of the country. Industrialisation has crept in, in the form of the Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, Infosys Ltd. and a host of other projects proposed for the district, such as the power plants of Jaiprakash Industries and NTPC, downstream units of MRPL, etc.
The places of sight seeing in and around Mangalore include the following. The tile, coffee and cashewnut factories are a unique sight limited to the whereabouts of this coastal town.

ALBUQUERQUE TILE FACTORY
Mangalore is synonymous with its roof tiles, which is very famous in and out of the country. They are known for their quality, utility, and perfect finish. It is also the largest tile factory in the country and their main area of production is building materials. They began exporting tiles and decorative items in the early 1950?s to countries as far as Australia, Malaysia, Ceylon, and East Africa. Presently they export their products mainly to the Middle East Countries.

THE SOUZA CASHEW FACTORY
The Souza cashew factory was begun around 15 years ago by the industrious Souza family. Just as Mangalore is synonymous with its roof tiles, so is it with cashew. Situated in Kulshekar, on the Karkala highway, this factory provides employment to 325 people. This unit mainly deals with the processing of cashew nuts. In the process of production, cashew kernels, cashew shells, cashew husk and cashew rejection are obtained. Oil is then produced at the oil mills out of the cashew shells, which are in turn used by the paint industry. It is exported mainly to countries like U.S.A., Germany etc.

The ST. ALOYSIUS CHAPEL with its 100 years old paintings:
This century old edifice houses breathtaking paintings and frescoes adorning the walls and ceilings of the chapel. The famous Chapel is situated a kilometer away from the main city - Hampankatta. It was in the year 1880 that the Jesuit order from Rome arrived on the banks of the river Nethravathi. A year later saw the foundation of the St. Aloysius College in a private home in Kodialbail at first and then to the lofty buildings on Light House Hill that presently houses the College. The walls of the Chapel have sprawling paintings of the artist Antony Moshani of Italy. Its open from 0830-1000 hrs, 1230-1400 and 1530-1800 hrs.

SHRI MANGALADEVI TEMPLE
The name Mangalore has originated from the Mangaladevi temple built in memory of a famous princess of Kerala by the same name. The sculpture of Goddess Mangaladevi is perhaps the earliest of the Durga sculpturesin the district, this temple was later rebuilt by one of the Ikkeri Nayaka (Bidanoor). The pious people even today believe that worship of Mangaladevi brings them prosperity and happiness. The Goddess is worshipped as "Shakti" The temple has a special significanec for the maidens. It is believed that maidens who observe Mangala Parvati Vrata will have their wish of having a suitable match fulfilled. Those who celebrate their wedding in this holy place will have a happy married life.

Seemanthi Bai Government Museum: It is situated in Bejai 4 Km. away from Nehru Maidan city Bus Stand. One can see the idols, materials of historical importance here. To get there take the City Bus No. 19.

Kadri Park :
It is situated 5 Km. away from main City Bus Stand. Snakes & Animals Zoo, Toy Train and the beautiful garden are the tourist attractions here. To get there take the City Bus No. 19, 14.

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama:
Nearly 10Km away from Mangalore highway road at Moodushedde the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama is situated. This offers a panoramic view for the nature lovers. It is a very significant place with Botanical gardens, Horticultural gardens, Musical fountains, deer park, swimming-lake with boating facilities, tiger safari and children train. It extends to an area of 350 acres land along the tropical jungle on the bank of the Gurpur river.

Kudroli Gokarnath Temple:
It is situated 3 Km. away from main Nehru Maidan Bus Stand. Recently this temple has been renovated and now it is one of the tourist attraction places in Mangalore.
To get there take the City Bus No. 7, 7A, 13, 13A, 16, 16A.

Sultan Battery:
It is situated in Boloor 6 Km. away from Mangalore City Bus Stand. It was built in Black Stones by Tippu Sulthan to prevent warships to enter Gurpur river. Now the remaining part of the fort is called as Tippu's Well. It is today a deserted spot but its construction is bafflingly exquisite. Although it is a watchtower, it gives the impression of a miniature fortress with its arrangements for mounting cannons all-round. To get there take the City Bus No. 16, 16A.


Kadri Manjunath Temple:
Kadri is another ancient historic spot in Mangalore. The Kadri Temple dating back to about 1068 A.D. with its nine tanks, its square temple, nestling at thefoot of the highest hill, draws to Mangalore hundreds of visitors annually.The Lokeshwara bronze statue of the Kadri Manjunatha Temple is tipped to be the best bronze statue in India. On top of the hill King Kundavarma Bupendra built a mutt which came to be called 'Jogimutt'. There are some stone caves on top of the hill which are known as the caves of the Pandavas
It is situated 4 Km. away from Nehru Maidan Bus Stand. The idol of Lord Manjunathaswamy of the temple is called as oldest of the South Indian Temples. The seven sacred ponds, Jogi Mutt and caves of Pandavas are the pilgrim attractions here. To get there take the City Bus No. 3, 3A, 4, 4C, 6A, 6B, 6C, 14, 14A, 14B, 21, 22, 30A, 30B, 48.

Beedi Factories, historical temples, historical forts, Saib Mosque and Music Gallery is worth watching.

A trip to Mangalore is incomplete without watching the Classic Yakshagana - an elaborate dance - drama performance unique to Karnataka. A night-long event, with people adorned vibrantly, and dancing to the beat of drums, Yakshagana performance attracts thousands of people.
Hulivesha (Tiger dance) is a unique form of folk dance in Dakshina kannada that fascinates the young and the old alike. Since tiger is considered as the favored carrier of Goddess Sharada (the deity in whose honor Dussera is celebrated), this dance is performed during the Dussera celebration. It is also performed during other festivals like Krishna Janmasthami.

Milagrese Church:
The Church of Our Lady of Miracles, Milagres, better known as Milagres church, was built by Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine priest of Salsette in 1680. It is thus more that 300 years old.
Attached to the Church is the Chapel of St. Monica, the Patroness of the Catholic Mother’s Sodality, the first of its kind in the Diocese when it was started in 1887 by Fr. Torri, S.J. He built the Chapel probably the same year. It contains a magnificent altar with a French painting of St. Monica and her son St. Augustine which is a rare piece of art.The Church is probably one of the many artistic houses of prayer in the District.The main altar with the life-like statue of Our Lady contains the superscription "Altare Previlegiatum".
The Church contains the miraculous shrine of st. Antony of Padua, the great Wonder Worker. It was founded by Fr. (later Msgr) M. P. Colaco in 1898. The Altar was conferred the privileged status on 22-1-1902 by Pope Leo XIII. The Shrine has attained an all-India fame and attracts on enormous congragation every Tuesday at the weekly devotions and the two feasts of the Saint on 4 February and 13 June and the Triduums preceding them. It is known for its record of votive offerings as also for its model Charity Institutes sprawling over an area of 50 acres in Jeppoo and catering to the neds of all kinds of humaniy, suffering or otherwise, children, youth, the halt, the infirm and sich, numbering in all about 500.



From various sources