Mangalore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mangalore Kudla  (Tulu) Mangaluru  (Kannada) Kodiyal  (Konkani)
City
Mangaluru
Mangalore CBD skyline Kankanadi Falnir Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Infosys campus MRPL Refinery KIOCL Pellet plant New Mangalore Port
Mangalore Location in Karnataka Show map of Karnataka Mangalore Location in India Show map of India
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Dakshina Kannada
Taluk	Mangalore
Named for	Mangaladevi
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Body	Mangalore City Corporation
Area
• Total	170 km2 (70 sq mi)
Elevation	22 m (72 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	724,159
• Density	4,260/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Mangalorean
Languages
• Administrative	Kannada, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	575001 to 575030
Telephone code	+91-(0824)
Vehicle registration	KA-19, KA-62
Sex ratio	1.016
Human Development Index	0.83 (as of 2015[update]) very high
Literacy	94.03%

Mangalore, officially called Mangaluru, is a big port city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It's located on the west coast of India, between the Laccadive Sea and the Western Ghats mountains. It's about 352 kilometers (219 miles) west of Bangalore, which is the state capital.

Mangalore is special because it's the only city in Karnataka that has all four ways to travel: by air, road, train, and sea. In 2011, the city's population was about 619,664 people. It's also known for storing India's emergency oil reserves.

This city grew as a port a long time ago. After India became independent, a new port was built in 1968. Now, it's a major port in India, handling 75% of India's coffee and cashew exports. It's also the country's seventh-largest port for shipping containers.

Many powerful groups have ruled Mangalore throughout history, like the Maurya Empire, Vijayanagar Empire, and the British Raj. The British took control in 1799. Mangalore was part of the Madras Presidency until India became independent in 1947. In 1956, it joined Mysore State, which is now called Karnataka.

Mangalore is one of the fastest-growing cities in India. The area around Mangalore, called Dakshina Kannada district, has the highest income per person and economic output in Karnataka, after Bangalore. Mangalore is a busy center for business, education, healthcare, and new companies. The Mangalore City Corporation manages the city's 60 areas. The city's landscape has rolling hills, coconut trees, rivers, and red, hard soil.

Mangalore is also one of the 100 "Smart Cities" that India plans to develop. It's about 22 meters (72 feet) above sea level. The city has a tropical monsoon climate, meaning it gets a lot of rain during the monsoon season. It also has its own Mangalore International Airport, which is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center.

Why is it Called Mangalore?

A map of India from 1652, showing Mangalore

Mangalore got its name from the goddess Mangaladevi. There's a temple dedicated to her called the Mangaladevi Temple. Some say the name comes from the Buddhist goddess Tara.

A local story says that a princess named Parimala from Malabar became a student of Matsyendranath, who started the Nath tradition. Matsyendranath renamed her Mangaladevi. She came to this area with him but got sick and had to stay near Bolar. When she passed away, people built the Mangaladevi temple in her honor. The city was then named after this temple.

One of the first times the city's name was written down was in 715 CE. The Pandyan King Chettian called it Mangalapuram. The city was part of the Pandyan Kingdom. Later, during the Vijayanagara Empire in 1345 CE, the name Mangaluru was first used. Many old stone writings from that time also call the city Mangalapura. In the local Kannada language, the city is known as Mangaluru, where uru means town or city.

Mangalore was an important trading center on the Malabar coast for a long time. So, it was also known as Manjalūr in Arabic. When the British ruled from 1799, they started calling it Mangalore, which is an English version of the name. The city's name can be seen on maps as old as the 1652 Sanson Map of India.

Different communities in Mangalore have their own names for the city in their languages. In Tulu, the main language spoken here, it's called Kudla. This means junction because the city is where the Netravati and Gurupura rivers meet. In Konkani, it's Kodiyal, and in Beary, it's Maikala. In Malayalam, it's called "Mangalapuram". The Karnataka government officially changed the city's name back to "Mangaluru" on 1 November 2014.

Mangalore's History

Mangalore has a long and interesting history, with many travelers mentioning it in their writings.

Early Times

In the first century CE, a Roman historian named Pliny the Elder talked about a place called "Nitrias" that was not good for landing boats because of pirates. A Greek historian in the second century, Ptolemy, mentioned "Nitra". These names probably referred to the area around the Netravati River in Mangalore. In the sixth century, a Greek monk named Cosmas Indicopleustes said that Mangarouth (Mangalore's port) was one of the main places for trading pepper.

Some people believe that the Masjid Zeenath Baksh in Mangalore is one of the oldest mosques in Indian subcontinent. It's thought to have been built around 624 AD, along with other mosques in the region, during the time of Malik Dinar.

Mangalore is the center of a unique cultural area where Tulu-speaking people live. Around 300 BCE, the city was part of the Maurya Empire, ruled by Emperor Ashoka. From the third to the sixth century CE, the Kadamba dynasty ruled the whole Canara region.

From the mid-seventh century to the late 14th century, the Alupa rulers governed the South Canara region. They were under bigger dynasties like the Chalukyas and Hoysalas. An old inscription from 1075 CE mentions King Kunda Alupa, who ruled Mangalore.

In the 1130s and 1140s, a Jewish merchant named Abraham Ben Yiju lived in Mangalore. The Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta visited Mangalore in 1342. He called it Manjarur and said it was on a large river mouth, the biggest in the Malabar country. By 1345, the Vijayanagara rulers took control of the region.

Later History and European Influence

Lopo Vaz de Sampaio, a Portuguese leader, set up Portuguese trading posts in Mangalore in 1526.

A drawing of Mangalore Fort from 1783, after the British took it over.

The tower at Light House Hill was used by the British as a lookout point.

European influence began in Mangalore in 1498 when the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed nearby. The Portuguese became very interested in trade in the 16th century. In 1526, the Portuguese took control of Mangalore. This meant that coastal trade mostly went through them.

After the Vijaynagara Empire broke up in 1565, the Keladi rulers gained more power in the coastal Canara region. In 1695, Arab traders burned the town because the Portuguese had placed restrictions on their trade.

In 1763, Hyder Ali, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, conquered Mangalore. The British East India Company then ruled it from 1767 to 1783. But Hyder Ali's son, Tipu Sultan, took it back in 1783 and renamed it "Jalalabad". The Second Anglo-Mysore War ended with a peace treaty signed in Mangalore in 1784. After Tipu Sultan's defeat in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the city stayed under British control.

When European missionaries arrived in the early 1800s, they helped set up schools and modern industries. The Basel Mission started in 1834 and was important for industrial growth. Missionaries built printing presses, textile mills, and factories that made Mangalore tiles. In 1859, Canara was split into North Canara and South Canara. Mangalore became the main city for South Canara.

Modern Mangalore

On May 23, 1866, a city council was created for Mangalore to manage city services. Italian Jesuits who came in 1878 also helped a lot with education, economy, and health in the city. Mangalore got its first railway connection in 1907. This helped trade and communication with the rest of India. By the early 1900s, many educated workers from Mangalore moved to cities like Bombay and Bangalore, and even the Middle East.

In 1956, Mangalore became part of the new Mysore State, which was later renamed Karnataka. Mangalore is now India's seventh-largest port, giving Karnataka access to the sea. Between 1970 and 1980, Mangalore grew a lot with the opening of the New Mangalore Port in 1974 and a fertilizer factory in 1976. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Mangalore became a major center for business and chemicals.

Mangalore's Geography

Sunset at Netravati Bridge

Mangalore is on the western coast of India, in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. It's about 22 meters (72 feet) above sea level. The city is the main administrative center for the Dakshina Kannada district and is the largest coastal city in Karnataka.

A map showing tourist attractions in Mangalore city

The Laccadive Sea is to Mangalore's west, and the Western Ghats mountains are to its east. The city covers about 170 square kilometers (66 square miles). The Netravati and Gurupura rivers flow around the city, meeting in the southwest before flowing into the Laccadive Sea. Coconut, palm, and ashoka trees are common here.

The city's land is mostly flat near the coast, stretching about 30 kilometers (19 miles) inland. Towards the east, near the Western Ghats, the land becomes hilly. The soil is hard red laterite in the hills and sandy along the seashore. Geologists say Mangalore is in a moderately earthquake-prone area.

Climate and Weather

Mangalore has a tropical monsoon climate. This means it gets a lot of rain, mostly from May to September, due to the southwest monsoon winds coming from the Laccadive Sea. It's very dry from December to March.

The air is usually humid, around 75% on average, and it's most humid in June, July, and August. The driest months are December to February. During this time, daytime temperatures stay below 34°C (93°F) and drop to about 19°C (66°F) at night. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Mangalore was 15.6°C (60.1°F) on January 8, 1992. The temperature has never reached 40°C (104°F).

The summer leads into the monsoon season, when Mangalore gets more rain than almost any other city in India because of the Western Ghats. The rains lessen in September, but there can still be some rain in October. The most rain recorded in one day was 330.8 millimeters (13.02 inches) on June 22, 2003. In 1994, Mangalore had its highest yearly rainfall at 5018.52 millimeters (197.58 inches).

Mangalore's Economy

Mangalore's economy is based on industries, trade, farming, and port activities. The Dakshina Kannada district, where Mangalore is located, has the highest income per person and economic output in Karnataka, second only to Bangalore.

The New Mangalore Port is India's seventh-largest port for containers. It handles 75% of India's coffee exports and most of its cashew nuts. The Mangalore Customs office collected a lot of money in taxes, showing how much trade happens here. Big companies like MRPL and MCF also contribute a lot to the state's income.

Cognizant campus in Mangalore

Imports through the New Mangalore Port include crude oil, cooking oil, liquefied petroleum gas, and timber. The Indian government has built large storage facilities for crude oil in Mangalore to ensure the country has enough energy.

Many major chemical industries are in the city, including BASF, MRPL, MCF, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL), and Hindustan Unilever. Companies that inspect and test products, like SGS and Bureau Veritas, also have offices here.

Syndicate Bank at Hampankatta

Big technology and outsourcing companies like Infosys, Cognizant, and Thomson Reuters have offices in Mangalore. Mphasis also has a branch for its business services. There are special IT parks like Export Promotion Investment Park (EPIP) and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to help tech companies grow. TCS plans to invest a lot of money and open an office near Mangalore. KEONICS also plans to build an IT park similar to Electronic City.

The CEOL is a center that helps new companies get started. Corporation Bank, Canara Bank, and Vijaya Bank were three national banks that started in Mangalore. Mangalore is still the main office for Corporation Bank and Karnataka Bank.

The Old Mangalore Port is a fishing port where many boats dock. Fishing is a traditional job here, and the catch is sold in nearby areas. Mangalorean companies are also important in the tile, beedi (a type of cigarette), coffee, and cashew nut industries. The Albuquerque tile factory is one of India's oldest factories making red roof tiles. The suburb of Ullal makes hosiery and coir yarns. Beedi rolling is also a source of income for many people.

Mangalore's People and Languages

In 2021, Mangalore city had a population of 724,159 people. In 2011, almost everyone could read and write, with 96.49% of males and 91.63% of females being literate. About 8.5% of the population was under six years old.

Religions in Mangalore

Hinduism is the biggest religion in Mangalore. Many Hindu communities live here, such as Devadiga, Mogaveera, Billavas, and Brahmins. Christians make up a good part of Mangalorean society, with Mangalorean Catholics being the largest Christian group. Most Mangalorean Protestants speak Tulu and Kannada.

Mangalore has one of the highest percentages of Muslims among cities in Karnataka. Most Muslims here are Bearys, who speak the Beary language. The Masjid Zeenath Baksh is one of the oldest mosques in the Indian subcontinent. There are also a few Urdu-speaking Muslims. Mangalore also has a Gurdwara (Sikh temple) and a Baháʼí prayer center.

Languages Spoken in Mangalore

Mangalore is a city where many languages are spoken. The main regional languages are Tulu, Konkani, Kannada, and Beary. The city is called Kudla in Tulu, Kodial in Konkani, Maikāla in Beary, Mangalapuram in Malayalam, and Mangaluru in Kannada. Most people in the city commonly call it Kudla.

There are also smaller groups of Tuluva Jains, Gujaratis, Tamils, and Marathis. While Kannada is the official language for government, Tulu is the most spoken language in Mangalore. According to the 2011 census, 33.7% of people speak Tulu as their first language, followed by Konkani (14.03%), and then Kannada (12.45%).

Education in Mangalore

National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) in Surathkal is one of India's top institutes.

The districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are known as important education centers in India. Deralakatte in Mangalore is a town with several universities and medical colleges, including Mangalore University, Nitte, Yenepoya, and Father Mullers.

In schools and colleges below university level, lessons are mostly taught in English and Kannada. English is used for teaching in universities. Schools and colleges in Mangalore are either run by the government or by private groups. Schools follow different education boards like the Karnataka State Board, Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), or National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Here are some of the oldest schools and colleges in Mangalore:

• Basel Evangelical School (1838)
• Milagres School (1848)
• Rosario High School (1858)
• University College (1868)
• St. Ann's High School (1870)
• St. Aloysius College (1879)
• Canara High School (1891)
• St. Agnes PU College (1921)
• St. Agnes College (Autonomous) (1921)
• Sacred Hearts' School (1943)
• Cascia High School (1946)
• Carmel School (1951)

Kasturba Medical College, started in 1953, was India's first private medical college. The Manipal College Of Dental Sciences (MCODS) opened in 1987. The Corporation Bank runs a public library at Mannagudda.

Mangalore University was founded on September 10, 1980, to provide higher education for the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kodagu districts. It's a highly rated institution. The NITK has South India's first Regional Academy Centre for Space (RAC-S), started by ISRO.

Getting Around Mangalore

Mangalore is unique in Karnataka because it has all four ways to travel: by air, road, rail, and sea.

Air Travel

Jet bridge at the Mangalore International Airport

The Mangalore International Airport (IXE) is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northeast of the city center. It has regular flights to major cities in India and the Middle East. It's the second-largest and busiest airport in Karnataka. The airport has new terminals and runways for both cargo and passengers. Buses run by the state government connect the city to the airport.

Road Travel

Five National Highways pass through Mangalore. NH-66 goes north to south, connecting Panvel to Kanyakumari. NH-75 goes east to Bangalore. NH-169 goes northeast to Shimoga. NH-73 connects Mangalore to Tumkur. NH-275 also connects Mangalore to Bangalore through Mysore. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is making the highways around the New Mangalore Port wider, from two lanes to four.

Mangalore's city bus service is mostly run by private companies. These buses go beyond the city limits. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) also runs bus services in the city and long-distance buses to other parts of the state.

Train Travel

Clock Tower to Nehru Maidan Road

Mangalore got its first railway connection in 1907. The city has three train stations: Mangalore Central, Mangalore Junction, and Surathkal railway station. A railway track through the Western Ghats connects Mangalore to Sakleshpur and Hassan. This track, connecting Mangalore to Bangalore, opened for freight in 2006 and for passengers in 2007. Mangalore is also connected to many other cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Goa through the Konkan Railway.

Sea Travel

The New Mangalore Port handles shipping, storage, and logistics. It deals with dry goods, bulk cargo, and liquids like petroleum oil, crude products, and LPG containers. The Indian Coast Guard has a station here. This artificial harbor is India's seventh-largest container port and the only major port in Karnataka. Travelers arriving at New Mangalore Port can get electronic visas.

Mangalore's Culture

World Konkani Centre in Mangalore

Mangalore is rich in classical dance forms and folk art.

Music and Dance

Yakshagana is a dance and drama performance that lasts all night. Pilivesha (tiger dance) is a unique folk dance performed during Dasara and Krishna Janmashtami. Karadi Vesha (bear dance) is another popular dance during Dasara.

Paddanas are like epic poems passed down through generations. They are sung in Tulu, often with rhythmic drum beats. The Bearys have unique folk songs like Kolkai (sung during a stick dance), Unjal Pat (a lullaby), Moilanji Pat, and Oppune Pat (sung at weddings). The Evkaristik Purshanv (Eucharistic procession) is an annual Catholic religious parade held on the first Sunday of each year.

Festivals and Celebrations

Most popular Indian festivals are celebrated in Mangalore, including Dasara, Diwali, Christmas, Easter, Eid, and Ganesh Chaturthi. Kodial Theru, also known as Mangaluru Rathotsava (chariot festival), is special to the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community and is celebrated at the Sri Venkatramana Temple.

The Mangalore Catholic community celebrates Monti Fest (Mother Mary's feast), which marks the birth of Mother Mary and the blessing of new harvests. The Jain Milan group organizes an annual Jain food festival. Mosaru Kudike (curd pots feast) is part of the Krishna Janmashtami festival and is celebrated by the whole community. Special night prayers called Taraveeh are offered in mosques during the month of Ramadan.

Aati is a festival that honors Kalenja, a guardian spirit of the city. It's celebrated during the Aashaadha month of the Hindu calendar. Festivals like Karavali Utsav (coastal festival) and Kudlotsava (Mangalore festival) feature dance, drama, and music performances. Bhuta Kola (spirit worship) is usually performed by the Tuluva community at night and is similar to Theyyam in Kerala. Nagaradhane (snake worship) is performed to honor Naga Devatha (the serpent king), believed to protect all snakes. Kori Katta, a traditional cockfight, is held at temples with police permission.

Mangalorean Cuisine

Neer dosa, a type of dosa, and pundi (rice ball) are popular in Mangalore.

Mangalorean food is greatly influenced by South Indian cuisine. Many local dishes are unique to the different communities here. Coconut, curry leaves, ginger, garlic, and chili are common ingredients in Mangalorean curries.

Some well-known Mangalorean dishes include kori rotti, neer dosa, pundi (rice ball), patrode, golibaje, and Mangalore buns. Since Mangalore is a coastal city, fish is a main part of most people's diet. Popular fish and chicken dishes include bangude pulimunchi (spicy sour mackerels), boothai gasi (sardine semi-gravy), anjal fry, Mangalorean Chicken Sukka, and Chicken Ghee Roast.

The Konkani Hindu community's specialties include daali thoy (lentil curry), bibbe-upkari (tender cashew-nut curry), val val (coconut-milk-based curry), and chane gashi (chickpea curry). Mangalorean Catholics enjoy sanna-dukra maas (sanna—idli with toddy or yeast; dukra maas—pork), pork bafat, and sorpotel. The Beary Muslims are known for their mutton biryani. Pickles like happala, sandige, and puli munchi are also unique to Mangalore. Shendi (toddy), a local alcoholic drink made from coconut flower sap, is popular. Vegetarian food, also known as Udupi cuisine, is famous throughout the state.

Media and Entertainment

All India Radio's FM tower at Kadri

Mangaluru Samachara, the first newspaper ever published in Kannada, came out in 1843. The first Kannada-to-English dictionary was also published in Mangalore in 1894. Major national English newspapers like Times of India and The Hindu publish local Mangalore editions.

Popular Tulu magazines include Madipu (Esteem) and Mogaveera. Well-known Konkani magazines are Raknno (Guardian) and Kannik (Offering). Beary magazines include Jyothi (Light). Kannada newspapers like Udayavani and Vijaya Karnataka are widely read. Evening newspapers include Karavali Ale and Mangaluru Mitra. The Konkani newspaper Kodial Khabar is published every two weeks. Malayalam newspapers like Malayala Manorama also have local Mangalore editions.

The state-run TV channel Doordarshan provides national and local television coverage. Local cable TV networks like Canara TV and V4 Digital transmit daily news and cultural programs. Several local TV channels broadcast shows and news in Tulu, Konkani, Beary, and Kannada, such as Namma TV and V4 News. Tulu channels include Namma Kudla.

All India Radio (AIR) has a studio in Kadri and broadcasts on 100.3 MHz. Private FM radio stations in Mangalore include Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM, Big 92.7 FM, and Red 93.5 FM. Radio SARANG 107.8 is a community radio station run by St. Aloysius College.

Mangalore is also home to the Tulu film industry, which releases about one movie per month. Popular Tulu films include Kadala Mage (Son of the Sea) and Suddha (The Cleansing Rites). Tulu plays, often performed at the Town Hall, are very popular. Mangalore hosted Tulu film festivals in 2006 and 2015.

Sports and Fun Activities

Mangalore Golf Course at Pilikula

Cricket is a very popular sport in Mangalore. Local cricket stadiums include Mangala Stadium and B.R. Ambedkar Cricket Stadium. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has a training center at Mangala Stadium. Mangalore United is a team in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL). The Mangalore Premier League (MPL) is a cricket tournament organized by the Karnataka Regional Cricket Academy. Nehru Maidan is an important place for local, school, and college tournaments. Famous cricketers from Mangalore include Lokesh Rahul and Budhi Kunderan. Ravi Shastri, a former Indian cricket captain, also has Mangalorean roots.

Football is also popular and is usually played in local grounds. Nehru Maidan is the most popular place for local tournaments. The Dakshina Kannada District Football Association (DKDFA) holds an annual Independence Day Cup tournament. Schools and colleges from nearby districts participate in matches for different age groups.

Chess is a popular indoor game. Mangalore is the headquarters of the South Kanara District Chess Association (SKDCA), which has hosted two big chess tournaments. Other sports like tennis, squash, badminton, and golf are played in clubs. Pilikula Nisargadhama, a theme park, has an 18-hole golf course. The U S Mallya Indoor Stadium offers facilities for badminton and basketball.

Tourist Spots in Mangalore

Panambur Beach

St Aloysius College

Mangalore is located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats mountains, offering beautiful scenery. The city has many temples and buildings to visit, such as the Mangaladevi Temple, Kadri Manjunath Temple, St Aloysius Chapel, the Rosario Cathedral, and Milagres Church. There's also the Dargah of Hazrat Shareef ul Madni at Ullal and the Zeenath Baksh Jumma Masjid.

The city is famous for its beaches, including Panambur, Tannirbhavi, NITK beach, Sasihithlu beach, Someshwara beach, Ullal beach, Kotekar beach, and Batapady beach. Panambur and Tannirbhavi beaches are very popular with tourists. Panambur beach has food stalls, jet ski rides, boating, and dolphin watching. Trained lifeguards and patrol vehicles keep visitors safe.

Dome of the Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium

The Saavira Kambada Basadi (Thousand Pillars Temple) is in Moodabidri, about 34 kilometers (21 miles) northeast of Mangalore. The Sultan Battery watch tower, built by Tipu Sultan, is in Boloor on the Gurupura River. Visitors can take a ferry across the river to Tannirbhavi Beach. Adyar waterfalls are just outside the city, about 12 kilometers (7 miles) from the center.

Mangalore has many public parks like Pilikula Nisargadhama, Kadri Park, Tagore Park, and Mahatma Gandhi Park. Pilikula is a large park with a zoo, botanical garden, lake, water park, Swami Vivekananda Planetarium, science center, and an 18-hole golf course. The Swami Vivekananda Planetarium is India's first 3D planetarium with an 8K resolution display.

Mangalore Dasara, a ten-day festival at Sri Gokarnatheswara temple, attracts visitors from all over India. The Mangaladevi Temple also draws many devotees during Navaratri.

Sister Cities

Mangalore has special connections with two cities in Canada:

• Hamilton, Canada, since 1968
• Delta, Canada, since 2010

See also

In Spanish: Mangalore para niños