All about Mangalore (Mangaluru)
- Ananth H S Rao
- Jun 13, 2021
- 4 min read
Connecting Travel Experiences/Information from local Communities to Tourists.
Mangaluru, Karnataka, India: Area: 132.4 km² Population: 4.99 lakhs (2011)
Mangalore was named after the deity Mangaladevi, the presiding deity of the Mangaladevi temple or a synonym of Tara Bhagvati of the Vajrayana Buddhist sect. According to local legend, a princess from Malabar named Parimala or Premaladevi renounced her kingdom and became a disciple of Matsyendranath, the founder of the Nath tradition. Having converted Premaladevi to the Nath sect, Matsyendranath renamed her Mangaladevi. She arrived in the area with Matsyendranath, but had to settle near Bolar in Mangalore as she fell ill on the way. Eventually she died, and the Mangaladevi temple was consecrated in her honour at Bolar by the local people after her death. The city got its name from the temple.
One of the earliest references to the city's name was made in 715 CE by the Pandyan King Chettian, who called the city Mangalapuram. The city and the coastal region was a part of the Pandyan Kingdom. Mangaluru was first heard in 1345 CE during the Vijayanagar rule. Many shilashasanas (stones) of Vijayanagar period refer the city as Mangalapura. Even before that, during the Alupa dynasty period, it was referred to as Mangalapura (Mangala means 'auspicious'). The city is well known as Mangaluru in Kannada, a reference to Mangaladevi. During the British rule from 1799, Mangalore, stuck as the official appellation. Mangalore's diverse communities have different names for the city in their languages. In Tulu, the primary spoken language, the city is called Kudla, meaning "junction", since the city is situated at the confluence of the Netravati and Gurupura rivers. In Konkani, Mangalore is referred to as Kodiyal, while in Malayalam, Mangalore is called Mangalapuram and the Beary name for the city is Maikala. Mangalore, officially known as Mangaluru, is the chief port city and a major educational, commercial center of the Indian state of Karnataka & Western Coast. It is located about 352 km (219 mi) west of the state capital, Bangalore, between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats mountain range. It is the second major city in Karnataka state in all aspects after the capital city Bangalore. It is the only city in Karnataka to have all modes of transport — Air, Road, Rail and Sea along with 5 other major cities in India. It is also known as the Gateway of Karnataka. It is the largest city in the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka. Mangalore is the second best business destination in Karnataka after Bangalore & 13th best in India. This coastal city was rated as the safest city in India by the Chicago Tribune in 2019. The population of the urban agglomeration was 623,841, according to the provisional results of the 2011 national census of India. Mangalore developed as a port in the Arabian Sea during ancient times and became a major port of India. This port handles 75 per cent of India's coffee and cashew exports. The port is used as a staging point for sea traffic along the Malabar Coast. This coastal city was ruled by several major powers, including the Kadambas, Alupas, Vijayanagar Empire, Keladi Nayaks and the Portuguese. The city was a source of contention between the British and the Mysore rulers, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Eventually annexed by the British in 1799, Mangalore remained part of the Madras Presidency until India's independence in 1947. The city was unified with the state of Mysore (now called Karnataka) in 1956. Mangalore is the largest city and administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district, and is one of the most multicultural non-metro cities of India. It is also the largest city in the Coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka, besides being a commercial, industrial, educational and healthcare hub on the West Coast of India. This port city has the second largest airport in Karnataka. Mangalore city urban agglomeration extends from Ullal in the south to Surathkal in the north, covering a distance of over 30 km (19 mi). The city has extended in the eastward direction up to Vamanjoor and Padil. The city's landscape is characterised by rolling hills, coconut palms, freshwater streams and hard red-clay tiled-roof buildings. This coastal city has many skyscrapers of 30 and 40 plus floors. India's first and only 3D Planetarium is situated in the port city of Mangalore. Mangalore is also included in the Smart Cities Mission list and one among the 100 smart cities to be developed in India. The city has an average elevation of 22 m (72 ft) above mean sea level. Mangalore has a tropical monsoon climate, and is under the influence of the Southwest monsoon.
Situated at a distance of 350 km, the port city of Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. The city derives its name from the local Hindu goddess Mangaladevi and had developed as a port city on the Arabian Sea. To this day, it remains a port city and is one of the major ports of India. The port of Mangalore handles 75 percent of India’s coffee exports and a major portion of the country’s cashew exports. The city of Mangalore has much cultural and historical significance. It was the kingdom of several powerful dynasties such as the Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagar dynasties, as well as the Portuguese. The culture, history and heritage of the city are a major draw for tourists from all over the country and the world. Hundreds and thousands of tourists from all around the globe flock to this beautiful destination to enjoy the beauty of the architectural marvels erected by the majestic rulers of the past. The folk dance and art forms are a beautiful reflection of the culture, traditions and beliefs of the people of Mangalore. From the Udupi cuisine to the mystical Sri Subramanya temple dedicated to the Lord of All Serpents there are several mysteries hidden in Mangalore that need unraveling. These mystical and beautiful destinations lie in and around Mangalore and offer a number of sights and experiences.
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