Situated along the Arabian coast, Mangalore is fondly referred to as the 'Port City' of Karnataka. An array of serene beaches are the USP of Mangalore city. The region is also blessed with a number of rivers originating from the Western Ghats mountain ranges and meandering down through the lush green valley. Backwaters formed by the joining of Netravati and Gurupur rivers is a major tourist attraction at Mangalore. Mangalore is known for its scenic beauty. Surrounded by Western Ghats mountain ranges in the East and the Arabian sea on the Western end, the beaches of Mangalore can provide you a soothing experience on a leisurely vacation. Its golden sandy coast-line dotted with swaying palm grooves can be the perfect gateway to rekindle the romantic momments of your life. The splendid views of sunset from the top of the lighthouse is sure to mesmerize you. Mangalore's religious monuments provide another dimension to explore for the tourists. Several ancient temples and churches stand witness to its glorious religious tradition. The Mangla Devi temple deserves a special mention for being the inspiration behind Mangalore's naming. Saint Aloysious Chapel and Milagres Church attract the tourists due to their distinctive Roman-esque architecture. The historic Zeenath Baksh Juma Masjid, a palace-esque monument constructed in the 7th century, is a must-visit attraction to witness the delicacy of Indo-Persian architecture. How to Reach Mangalore: Mangalore by Air Located at a distance of just 10 KM from the city center, the Bajpe International Airport at Mangalore is well connected to all major cities and towns of India. There are daily scheduled flights to Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Kolkata. Being an international airport, there are a few flights from the Gulf countries. If you can't find a direct flight to Mangalore from your place, then opt for flight connectivity via Bangalore. Mangalore-Bangalore flight journey takes only around 1 hour. You may also avail either railway or bus service from Bangalore to arrive at Mangalore. Goa's Dabolim airport can be another alternative for travellers coming from the Western region of India. Mangalore by Train Mangalore has a well connected railway network with two railway stations - Mangalore Central (MAQ) and Mangalore Junction (MAJN). You can find connecting trains to Mangalore from almost any part of the country. Being a cheaper mode of transport, average Indian tourists prefer to avail the railway service. The Mangalore Central railway station is located at the heart of the city. Being a terminus, it is used by the trains which conclude their journey at Mangalore. Mangalore Central station has train connectivity from Bangalore, Mysore, Mumbai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram. Mangalore Junction is situated at a distance of 6 KM from the city. Long-distance trains originating and terminating elsewhere stop here for 5 to 10 minutes. It is connected to New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore (Yesvantpur), Madgaon, Karwar, Pune, Chandigarh, Ajmer and Vadodara. Mangalore by Road The state run bus service, KSRTC, has regular buses from Mangalore connecting to all major cities within Karnataka, including Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Hubli-Dharwad. KSRTC also runs inter-state buses to Mumbai and Goa. Local buses are available to nearby places like Udupi, Manipal, Kundapura, Coorg and Karwar. KSRTC bus stand is located at Bejai, towards the North of the Mangalore city. Moreover, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operates daily buses from Trivandram, Kochi, Trissur and Kannur. A few buses are operated by TNSTC and APSRTC to places in Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh respectively. There are several private bus operators plying from Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Panjim. Few of the reputed private bus operators are SRS Travels, VRL, Sugama Transport, Anand Travels and Vishal Bus. The private bus stand is located behind the Town Hall. Because of its proximity to SBI main branch at Mangalore, it is also known as the SBI Bus Stand. Best Season to Visit Mangalore: 'Hot summer, pouring monsoon and pleasant winter' - is the apt summarization of Mangalore's weather throughout the year. Lying along the Western coast, the summer days are usually very hot and humid with mercury touching 38° Celsius at times. It's better to avoid the summer period from March to June. Monsoon arrives by the end of June and lasts for approximately 3 and another half months. Mangalore receives more than 70% of its annual rainfall between July-August. So unless you have the ability to withstand heavy showers, don't venture out during the monsoon season. Winter season begins by the end of November and continues till the mid of February. With with humidity and temperature at a minimal, the weather remains very pleasant throughout this period. December-January is considered to be the best time to visit Mangalore, although you can expect heavy tourist rush during the winter season. Tourist Attractions at Mangalore: Tannirbavi Beach Located 12 KM away from the city center, the Tannirbavi Beach is regarded as one of the best beaches in Dakshina Kannada district. Due to the shallow water level, the 1 KM long stretch of this golden sandy beach is ideal for swimming. Like many other beaches in the Western coast of India, Tannirbavi Beach offers excellent views of sunset. If you are looking for some adventure, then you have a plethora of water sports activities conducted by Mantra Surf Club, which is incidentally the first ever surfing club in India. Few of the popular adventure sports include kayaking, jet skiing and snorkelling. Someshwar Beach (Ullal) Someshwar Beach, situated at Ullal, is predominantly a rocky beach. It is located at a distance of 11 KM towards the south of the city center. The beach is at the confluence of the Netravati river and the Arabian sea. Someshwar beach is a great place to relax, roam around and take sun bath. You can also catch fabulous sunset views. However, due to the rocky coastline, the beach is not conducive for swimming. Panambur Beach The secluded beach at Panambur is situated 10 KM north of the Mangalore city, pretty close to the new Mangalore Port. It is the place where the Gurupur river dives in to the Arabian Sea. The point of conflunce is very scenic in nature and it is a great spot for swimming safely. Being on the opposite side of other popular beaches, Panambur Beach is comparatively less visited by the tourists. So if you are looking to spend some quiet time by the sea-side, then the deserted Panambur Beach is your ideal bet. Surathkal Beach A 15 KM drive from Mangalore city along NH66 will take you to the Surathkal Beach. Located close to the National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, the beach is also popular by the name of NIT Beach among the locals. It's a golden sandy beach with rocks of different sizes scattered in between. Colorful fishing boats lined-up on the sea-shore give it an artistic look. The level of water is quite shallow here. You can walk for a few hundred meters into the sea-bed with the water never rising beyond knee height. So it's a safe place to take a dip and indulge in some fun activities in its crystal-esque water. If you enjoy collecting sea-shells, then you are going to fall in love with the Surathkal Beach. The sea-shore is filled with plenty of 'cowrie', 'shankha' and shells of different shapes and colors. Sri Mangala Devi Temple Sri Mangala Devi Temple is situated at a distance of 3 KM from the Mangalore Central railway station. It can be easily accessed by public transport. This ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti was built by Gorakhnath. He was a disciple of Matsyendranath - a renowned spiritual leader in the region. The deity is known as Mangala Devi, from which the place got its name as Mangalore. Kadri Manjunath Temple Kadri Manjunath Temple is another major religious place at Mangalore. This historic square shaped temple was built in the year 1068 and it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The main sanctrum is has a huge bronze statue of Manjunath which is believed to be a few centuries old. Located on the foothills of a mountain peak, the temple is surrounded by scenic greenery. Little ahead from the temple, there are a few ancient stone caves known as the 'Caves of Pandavas'. You can also find a natural spring at an elevated location right beside the temple. Known as 'Gomukha', the water is believed to be sacred. Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Constructed in 1912, Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple was built by a saint and social reformer named Sri Narayana Guru. Gokarnanatheshwara, a form of Lord Shiva, is the main deity here. The main temple of Gokarnath is surrounded by 6 smaller temples for Mahaganapathi, Subramanya, Shaneeshwara, Navagraha, Annapoorneswari and Anandabhairava. The huge temple compound is especially noted for its unique wall paintings and carvings. Scenes and legends from mythological epics are portrayed on the inner walls of the temple in great details. The pillars too have extensive decoration depicting various avatars of hindu Gods and Goddesses. Saint Aloysius Church & Chapel Over a century old Saint Aloysius Church is situated just 1 KM away from te Government Bus Terminus (Nehru Maidan Bus stand). The interior walls of the Church are decorated with paintings of famous Italian artist Antony Moshaini. Situated on the light-house hill, the Saint Aloysius Chapel is an architectural marvel which resembles the famous Sistine Chapel in Rome. Milagres Church Milagres Church is one of the oldest churches in and around Mangalore with its history dating back to 1680. It was constructed by Vicar Thomas de Castro - a Theatine Priest of Portugese origin. Designed in Gothic architecture, Milagres Church is famous for its large Altar. There are a few beautiful paintings of St Monica and St Augustine on display in the passage. Light-house Hill View Point Barely 1 KM away from the bus stand, the light-house view point has a neatly maintained flower garden that offers spectacular views of the azure Arabian sea. Especially, the splendid views of sunset can leave everyone spellbound. It gets crowded with tourists just as the sun prepares to bid adieu for the day and sets down beneath the horizon. Government Museum Government Museum, also known as Bejai Museum, was established with the objective of securing and preserving the culture, tradition and heritage of the place. There are ancient artifacts of historical, religious and cultural importance related to Mangalore city and its inhabitants. Pilikula Nisarga Dhama Spread over an area of about 370 acres, Pilikula Nisarga Dhama is a theme park nestled between a pristine Pilikula Lake and dense tropical forest. With a Science Centre, Water Amusement Park, Lake Park, Boating, Arboretum and Animal Park, its attractions are diverse in nature. For a relaxed, fun-filled time with bouts of adrenaline rush, head straight to Pilikula Nisarga Dhama. You won't be disappointed for sure. Zeenath Baksh Jumma Masjid The historic Zeenath Baksh mosque, located at Bunder, is believed to have been built sometime around 646 AD during the ruling of Malabar king Raja Cheruman Perumal. It is also known as the Jumma Masjid of Mangalore. Constructed in the 7th century by Muslim Arab Traders in the coastal belt, this gem of a monument is an architectural marvel which depicts the signs of both Islamic as well as Hindu architecture. During Tipu Sultan's reign in the latter part of 18th century, the mosque was renovated with intricately carved wooded pillars. The beautifully decorated ceiling on the roof was also retouched during the same time. Hotels and Guest Houses in Mangalore: Mangalore is a major tourism hub in South India. As such, there are plenty of options for staying. Right from the very basic budget accommodation to splurge luxury resorts, you can easily find a hotel of your choice, on a par with your financial abilities. Listed below are a few of the reliable hotels in Mangalore. NoHotelLocationMinimum TariffContact1Hotel SuryaBalmatta RoadINR 550(+91) 824 242 57462Hotel Lalit InternationalAirport RoadINR 750(+91) 824 247 63433Hotel ParkwayK.S. Rao RoadINR 900(+91) 824 244 39614Hotel SrinivasNear Ganapathi High SchoolINR 1200(+91) 824 244 00615Navaratna PalaceK.S. Rao RoadINR 1500(+91) 824 244 11046Hotel Mangalore InternationalK.S. Rao RoadINR 1800(+91) 824 244 48607Hotel Ayush InternationalNear Infosys CampusINR 2100(+91) 824 425 50058Ginger HotelNear Infosys CampusINR 2500(+91) 824 666 33339The SaffronGHS RoadINR 3000(+91) 824 425 554210The Gateway HotelOld Port RoadINR 4000(+91) 824 666 0420Mangalore's amazing beaches, rich cultural heritage and magnificent monuments serve as a magnet to lure thousands of tourists, from India and abroad, in to visiting this coastal town. If you are yet to explore this beautiful territory, then do pay a visit to Karnataka's original 'Port City' and you will surely fall in love with its diversified facets. Regards, Deb
Thank you sharing this valuable information, there are a few more points I would like to add to this guide. Mangalore is the colonial name of the place and it was changed as recently as in 2014 to Mangaluru for all official purposes. Though the colonial name might persist for a few more years to come, its usage should decline and be gradually replaced by Mangaluru. Also Mangaluru is famous for its ice creams, no visit to this place is complete without dropping by the world famous Pabba's Ice Cream.
The above post has a lot of information about the surrounding beaches. It's been very helpful. My question, though, is: which beach is the least crowded? I love sunbathing, but if there are too many people, it just annoys me. Should I stick to Panambur? That one seems the most isolated.
