which adds further diversity to the culture and colors of the city.
Mangalore was once the major port during the reign of Hyder Ali. With huge hills on one side and sea on the other,
Mangalore is one of the most naturally gifted cities in Karnataka. The city gets its name from the famous Mangaladevi Temple.
The city is inhabited by people of different religion like Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity and Islam,
which adds further diversity to the culture and colors of the city.
Mangalore has few of the oldest temples and monuments in Karnataka Situated 357 Km away from Bangalore, it is nestling on the side of Arabian Sea. And it also is among the fastest growing cities in the state. This lets one get a glimpse into the past and future of the city at the same time. If your vacation is incomplete without shopping, then take a trip to Mangalore. It is the center for exporting coffee and cashew nuts to all parts of the country and abroad. So do not forget to buy yourself some packs of pure coffee and cashew. It is also a great place to shop for celebrated Karnataka textiles.
Attractions - Carved Out of Stones
Mangalore is more an attraction for the pilgrims as the most visited places in the city are all temples. The huge and grand temples are all a marvel of architecture. The main temple in the city is the Mangaladevi temple, which is the reason the city is named Mangalore. Regular rituals and Pujas are performed in almost all the temples of the city. So the city turns out to be a great pilgrimage as well.
Mangaladevi Temple
Mangalore City got its name from the Mangaladevi Temple. Earlier, the city was called Mangalapur, which slowly got changed to Mangalore. The temple is visited by pilgrims from around the country. Goddess Mangaladevi is believed to be a form of Goddess Shakti. The temple is situated at a distance of 3 km form the city center and can be easily reached by road.Kadri Temple
Kadri Temple which is situated in Kadri hills, is dedicated to Lord Manjunatheshwara. Built around 10th century, the temple has the oldest statue of Lord Manjunathaswamy in South India. Kadri Temple is famous for the holy water that flows through the gap, in the shape of a cow's head called 'Gomukha'. It is said that the water has curing effects. For taking a bath in the water, many pilgrims come here from all over the world. The temple is also famous for the Pandava Guha.Goddess Durga Temple Goddess Durga Temple is located at a distance of 30 km in a place called Kateel. The place is surrounded by lofty hills and is covered with green paddy fields, the place is naturally splendid. Kateel has been one of the most visited pilgrimage center in Karnataka. Huge number of pilgrims visit the temple and the number increases evidently during the Yakshagana Dashavatara mela (fair) which was started as an offering to the goddess.
Lord Krishna Temple
Lord Krishna Temple is situated in Udupi - 60 Km from Mangalore. The temple is famous for a unique statue of Lord Krishna. The idol is heavily decorated with magnificent real jewels and gems. Another famous attraction of the temple is a small window called 'Kanakana Kindi'. It is said that Lord Krishna once gave his darshan to an ardent devotee, who was not allowed inside the temple because of his lower caste. The temple is now considered as a center for education, cultural and religious programmes.
Accommodation in Mangalore
Mangalore is one of the quickly growing cities in Karnataka. Number of visitors also has been increasing steadily. And to meet the requirements, there are many hotels and resorts in the city. You will find both luxury and budget hotels in Mangalore. Most of the luxury hotels also provide good business facilities. The hotels that stand out are Taj Manjarun Hotel, Hotel Moti Mahal, Hotel Poonja International and Hotel Srinivas. Getting There
By Air
Mangalore has its own airport and receives flights of Indian Airlines and Jet Airways regularly. Many other private flight operators like Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines have their operation in Mangalore. Apart from being connected to all the airports in Karnataka, it is also accessible from many important cities around India like Delhi, Mumbai, Goa and Kolkata.