A tour to Mangalore offers mind blowing sights and sounds with its luscious backwaters, turquoise Arabian Sea front, swaying palms and crystal sky. Tourist attractions in Mangalore are reminiscent of its valiant past and industrialized present.
The Major Tourist Attractions In Mangalore In India are:
1. Sultan Battery- 4 km from Mangalore city, the Sultan Battery at Boloor is a fort with a watchtower built in black stone. Tipu Sultan constructed this fort, replete with arrangements for loading cannons, to prevent warships from entering River Gurupur. The remaining part of the fort is called Tipu's Well and is currently deserted.
2. Kadri Temple - The Kadri Temple dates back to the 11th century and is square in shape. The temple has nine tanks and is situated at the foot of the highest hill of Mangalore. Kadri Manjunatha Temple has the statue of Lokeshwara, which is said to be one of the best bronze statues in India. Atop the hill is 'Jogimutt' built by King Kundavarma Bhupendra and the stone caves, believed to have sheltered the Pandavas of Mahabharata. These caves are one of the best tourist attractions of Mangalore in Karnataka.
3. St. Aloysius Church- The walls of St. Aloysius Church sport paintings by the Italian artist, Antony Moshaini. Built in 1899, St. Aloysius College Chapel is situated on lighthouse hill. Its gorgeous frescos cover every inch of its interiors and are are especially noteworthy.
4. Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple- The Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi temple complex houses many shrines dedicated to the deities Sharavu, Kadri, Mangaladevi and Kudroli but the one that stands out the most is the 800-year old shrine of Sri Sharavu Sharabeshwara in the Sri Mahaganapathi Kshetra.
5. Kudroli Gokarnath Temple: Kudroli Gokarnath Temple has recently been renovated to attract tourists who visit the city.
Excursions From Mangalore
1. Dharmastala- 75 km from Mangalore, Dharmastala is known for the Jain bastis including the famous Manjunatha Temple sporting the 14-m-high Bahubali statue.
2. Venur- 50 km from Mangalore, it is a small town known for its eight Jain bastis. An 11-m-high statue of Bahubali dating back to the early 17th century can be seen on the southern bank of the Gurupur River.
3. Mudabidri- 35 km from Mangalore, Mudabidri has also has 18 Jain bastis and 15th century Chandranatha temple with the famous 1000-pillar hall.
4. Karkal- 20 km from Mudabidri, Karkal has many important temples and a 15th century Bahubali statue 13m high, situated on a small hillock on the outskirts of the town. This point offers excellent views of the Western Ghats.
