Officially known as Mangaluru, Mangalore is one of the most popular cities in South India. Nestled between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, one can find numerous places to visit in Mangalore. Accessible by all four modes of transport — air, road, rain and sea, Mangalore experiences a lot of footfall throughout the year. Multiple facets of Mangalore reflect the city’s trading and cultural significance.
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Mangalore is responsible for 75% of India’s coffee and cashew exports. This city was also home to many historic Indian dynasties like the Alupas, Kadambas, Vijayanagar Empire and Keladi Nayaks. A US survey ranked Mangalore as the 48th best city to live in the world, in 2017. It was also the only Indian city in the top 50. Even though Mangalore is the city where one can discover a lot while free-roaming, a proper itinerary could not be of any harm. Check out this article to plan an easy trip around Mangalore.
Places to Visit in Mangalore
- Kudroli Temple
- Panambur Beach
- Kadri Manjunath Temple
- St. Aloysius Chapel
- Sultan Battery
- Kadri Park
- Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum
- Adyar falls
- Pilikula Nisargadhama
- Pilikula Zoo
Kudroli Temple
Dedicated to Gokarnanatheshwara (Lord Shiva), the striking temple reflects Tamilian architectural beauty in every way. In 1912, the Kudroli Gokarnath Temple was declared sacred for the Billava community, who were prohibited from the temple grounds, by Sri Narayana Guru. Kudroli Temple is a religiously significant location and is one of the most popular places to visit in Karnataka.
Pilgrims rush to this holy shrine in mass numbers during Dussehra every year. The fully-lit temple provides the tourists with a jaw-dropping view. Along with the temple, the street that leads to the shrine is decorated as well. The sanctum rests on a massive marble floor. A visit to Kudroli Temple is certain to provide an unforgettable experience of sightseeing in Mangalore.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM; Monday to Sunday from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Major Attractions: Dussehra festival, Murals
Ideal duration to explore: 1 hour
Panambur Beach
Holding the reputation of one of the safest and cleanest beaches in India, Panambur Beach is also the most visited beach in Mangalore. Resting about 10 kilometres north of the heart of the city, Panambur Beach is a beach maintained by a private enterprise. From jet skiing, boating to dolphin viewing and horse riding, there is a lot to do around this beach.
The world-famous Kite festival is hosted at this location. The same makes Panambur Beach a must-include in the list of places to visit in Mangalore. The beach is also popular for sunsets, picnic spots and a port area. The beach is constantly patrolled by highly skilled lifeguards to ensure the safety of the swimmers. Don’t forget to carry your camera for stunning pictures with an astonishing view of the sunset as the backdrop.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 08:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Major Attractions: Kite festival, Night Camping
Ideal duration to explore: 2-3 hours
Things to do: Jet Skiing, Boating, Dolphin Viewing, Horse and Camel riding
Kadri Manjunath Temple
Constructed in 1068 AD, the ancient temple of Kadi Manjunatha Temple is situated at the base of the Kadri hills. Housing Manjunatha (Lord Shiva) as its deity, the Kadri Manjunatha Temple is surrounded by caves dating back to prehistoric times. Undergoing numerous renovations, this Vijaynagar-styled temple took its final structural form in the 14th century.
Behind the temple flows the holy Kashi Bhageerathi Theerth from the hills. It is believed the water comes from River Bhageerathi, all the way from Kashi. As per tradition, devotees often visit the Kashi Bhageerathi Theerth before entering the temple. The shrine is one of the famous places in Mangalore. Kadi Manjunatha Temple is also believed to have been a centre of Buddhism.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 06:30 AM to 08:30 PM
Major Attractions: Kashi Bhageerathi Theerth
Ideal duration to explore: 30 minutes – 1 hour
St. Aloysius Chapel
In the heart of the city on Lighthouse Hill, one can find the stunning church famously known as St. Aloysius Chapel. Built by Jesuit Missionaries in 1880, the St. Aloysius Chapel’s interiors are decorated with numerous paintings by the famous painter and brother Antonio Moscheni. The abbey is visited not just by Catholics but tourists of all sorts who appreciate marvellous artworks.
Contrary to other churches in India, St. Aloysius Chapel has paintings covering the entirety of its interiors. Each painting depicts various walks of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga’s life. The famous paintings include — Aloysius promising at the Altar of Mary in Florence to dedicate his life to God, Aloysius preaching about God, Aloysius’ first communion. Another famous attraction within the church is the life-size statue of two angels holding garlands. St. Aloysius Chapel has to be among the list of places to visit in Mangalore.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 07:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Major Attractions: Life-size angel statues, Paintings
Ideal duration to explore: 1hour
Sulthan Bathery
Just 4 kilometres from the chief port city of Karnataka, Mangalore, lies the famous Sulthan Bathery watchtower. The majestic watchtower, also spelt as Sultan Bateri, was built by Tipu Sultan in 1784. Considered one of the most famous tourist places in Mangalore, Sultan Battery was constructed to prevent the enemy fleet from entering the river. The Battery also acted as a fort with mounted guns that deflected any sort of English naval attack from the Mangalore Sea.
Atop Sulthan Bathery, one can experience a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea. Originally situated in Boloor, Sultan Battery is visited by almost every tourist who visits Mangalore. This historic monument is protected by the central government of India and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore Circle. Made of black stones, the monument, as of now, remains in its ruins.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 08:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Ideal duration to explore: 30 minutes
Things to do: Enjoy the panoramic view of the Arabian Sea
Kadri Park
Kadri Park is one of the most-visited family attractions in Mangalore. Proudly holding the title of the ‘biggest park’ in Mangalore, the Kadri Park is a tranquil piece of green land that houses a musical fountain. The park is well-known for its flower and laser light shows. It is located in Kadri Guide. Nestled amidst the Kadri Hill animal conservatory, this park is a haven for morning joggers.
The serene park has a toy train that is popular among all ages, especially children. The train provides a ride around the park compound. One can come across a wide variety of birds and ant-eaters while here. Recent renovations in and around the park have seen a significant increase in footfall. Make sure Kadri Park makes it into your list of places to visit in Mangalore. A visit to this spot would be totally worth your time.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 07:00 AM to 08:00 PM
Major Attractions: Musical fountain, Toy Train
Ideal duration to explore: 2-3 hours
Things to do: Witness flower and laser light shows, Bird watching
Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum
Visit Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum to come across a vast collection of classic archaeological and geological artefacts. Founded on 4th May 1960, the museum is one of the best places in Mangalore for the ones who enjoy learning more about artefacts and paintings. Resembling a ship, the Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum was the living house of Col. V.R Mirajkar, a medical officer during the Second World War.
Col. V.R Mirajkar donated the place to the government of Karnataka along with the artefacts in 1955. The museum is named after the Colonel’s mother as a homage to his noble gesture. The museum consists of Gandhiji’s photo gallery, contemporary paintings and Paleolithic & Neolithic stone tools. Other attractions include coins, metal utensils, wooden furniture, musical instruments among others.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 06:00 AM to 05:30 PM
Major Attractions: Gandhiji’s photo gallery, Contemporary paintings and Paleolithic & Neolithic stone tools
Ideal duration to explore: 1-2 hours
Adyar Falls
Perched on the outskirts of the city of Mangalore, one can find the long-searched tranquillity hidden in and around Adyar Falls. Follow either of two roads leading up to the serene waterfalls to experience the soothing sound of water hitting the rocks in full force. This waterfall was named after the place of its location by the tourists.
nce here, you can find two beautiful waterfalls located close to each other, within a striking distance of 200 metres. Adyar Falls is a hidden gem and is not known to many other than the locals around the area. For the same reason, Adyar Falls should be certainly visited if you are seeking some peaceful time. A haven for solo travellers, Adyar Falls finds itself among the beautiful places in Mangalore.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Ideal duration to explore: 1 hour
Things to do: Trekking
Pilikula Nisargadhama
Pilikula Nisargadhama is a vast tourist attraction in itself. Situated on the eastern side of Mangalore, Pilikula Nisargadhama is one of the top-rated tourist attractions in Mangalore. One would not regret dedicating a whole day solely to visit this place. Pilikula Nisargadhama is home to the Botanical Garden and Arboretum, Zoo and water park, Science centre, 3D Planetarium, Golf course and Heritage village.
With a wide variety of attractions to choose from, Pilikula Nisargadhama is visited by all sorts of travellers. The Nisargadhama was mainly developed to offer a scenic and peaceful location to its visitors. Boating is a famous activity over here and is enjoyed mostly by honeymooners. Pilikula Nisargadhama is arguably the most-visited tourist spot in Karnataka.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 09:30 AM to 06:00 PM
Major Attractions: Botanical Garden and Arboretum, Zoo and water park, Science centre, 3D Planetarium, Golf course and Heritage village
Ideal duration to explore: 6-8 hours
Things to do: Boating, Golfing, Bird Watching
Pilikula Zoo
The unique feature of Pilikula Zoo is that the wild animals are not kept in cages. They roam freely amidst the wilderness. Visitors can enjoy the sight of these wild animals from a safe distance that is separated by wide trenches and wire meshes. One can find wild beasts like tigers, leopards, bears and many others over here.
Classified as a major zoo, the Pilikula Zoo is the only recognised centre for breeding King Cobras. The zoo is home to over 400 animals, reptiles and birds. Visit this zoo and take a step closer to nature. The zoo also facilitates people to adopt wild animals, where-in they can fund the animal’s food, medicine etc. Make sure you add Pilikula Zoo to your itinerary that contains the list of places to visit in Mangalore.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 09:30 AM to 05:30 PM
Major Attractions: Tigers and Leopards
Ideal duration to explore: 2-3 hours
Things to do: Wildlife spotting
Mangalore is the city that contrasts in itself. From scenic places to bustling towns, there is a lot to explore within the city. Mangalore is a city that can be explored on your own. However, with an array of places to choose from, a well-planned trip would help you make the most of this famous city in Karnataka.
Connected well by major means of transport to all parts, life becomes fairly easy while here in Mangalore. Do not shy away from spending a couple of days or even a week to check this beautiful city out. Mangalore is not just one of the popular and most-visited cities in Karnataka but the whole of India.
FAQ
Is Mangalore worth visiting?
Yes. Mangalore is worth visiting. It is one of the cleanest, well-maintained and most-visited cities in India.
What is Mangalore famous for?
Mangalore is famous for its diverse culture that reflects in its people and tourist spots. It is home to some of the cleanest beaches, historic temples and is also a famous business centre.
How can one travel to Mangalore?
Mangalore can be easily accessed from any major town/city in India. It also houses an international airport and a busy railway station. Numerous buses are also available for commuters seeking road transport.