Sightseeing in Mangalore for a Day

Karnataka’s shoreline, famous for its scenic villages and towns, spans panorama ranging from immaculate sandy beaches to verdant rock-bound highlands. Mangalore, also known as Manguluru, is one of Karnataka’s most beautiful beach towns, stretching along the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. Mangalore’s personality pivots between devil-may-care coastal and city life. Locals call this port city “Kudla,” as it is named after the Hindu Goddess Mangaladevi and serves as a vital gateway to the Konkan coast. As a result, the journey began right here! I was introduced to Mangalore by the India Tourism Bangalore staff.

Mangalore’s lyrical attractions have been sitting arms since the 6th century, thanks to its tranquil beaches, scenic rivers, holy temples, delectable seafood, and generous residents. On the offset, the city retains much of its colonial and Indian charm, having been ruled by various powerful dynasties, including the Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Kadambas, Portuguese, Rashtrakutas, and the Vijayanagar.

I was picked up from the airport by Indian Tourism Bangalore staff, after which we went immediately to the famed Kudroli temple, spent an hour there, had lunch at Shetty Lunch Home, saw an antique museum, and then drove out to Kaup Beach to learn about scuba diving and its lighthouse. Here’s a step-by-step guide to these activities that you can do at your leisure.

Kudroli or Gokarnanatheshwara Temple

We arrived at the Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, attired in golden hues of Dravidian grandeur, after a 30-minute drive from Mangalore Airport. This sacred monument is devoted to Lord Gokarnanatha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva and is also known as Kudroli Temple for its location or Mangalore Dasara Temple for ceremonial practices. Narayana Guru ordained this temple in 1912, and it, like a typical South Indian temple, is a classic example of architecture used for Hindu temples from the 7th century forward. 

A marble monument of Narayana Gurudev was pitched, at the temple’s entrance in 1966. Devotees afterwards presented the temple with a gem-studded crown. In 2007, a gorgeous Hanumaan Mandir was added to the premises to add to the grandeur of the temple entrance. The superstructure above the chancel descends in a pyramidal pattern, lined with a series of acclaimed murals depicting a plethora of legends. Miniature shrines illustrate each story! 

Gokarnanatheshwara Temple has a square-chambered sanctum with attached pillared Maapas in its centre, surrounded by an open court. Wagon vault ceilings or dome-shaped topping pots support the holy portions for most of the temple, whereas the courts are monopolised by a series of enclosures, each with its Gopura. As you travel from one temple to the next within the complex, the architectural style develops increasingly intricate. External walls in gold and red are completed and polished to a high sheen.

Have you been wowed yet? Wait until you hear about the remarkable tale surrounding the temple’s construction. The Billava alliance’s traditional warriors wanted to build a venue for spiritual offerings back in the day. Billava kingpin Adhyaksha Koragappa recruited Shri Narayana Guru to lead this spiritual crusade to further the ruse. Narayana Guru decided to guide the Billavas on a non-material pilgrimage to Lord Shiva, and the community gained a new spiritual leader as a result.

Shri Narayana Guru arrived in Mangalore in a horse-drawn chariot and chose the temple site. He chose Kudroli because it is the site of several linga Roopa Aradhanas. Construction on the Gokarnanatheshwara Temple began later that year, and it was completed, before the end of the year! The chair on which Narayana Guru sat is still upheld and well-maintained as an altar at Koragappa’s family home. 

Following Adhyaksha Koragappa, his son assumed responsibility for the temple’s upkeep and renovation. The new gopuram stands at a height of 60 feet. Former PM Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the renewed Gokarnanatha Kshethra in 1991. Several festivals are commemorated at Kudroli Temple, but Dasara and Sri Narayana Guru’s birthdays are given special attention.

The temple gets its name as Mangalore Dasara from the spectacular Dasara celebrations. For nine days during Navarathri, this traditional Manglorean temple practises dramatic worship of Adhi Shakthi Maatha, Maha Ganapati, the Navadurgas, and Sharada Matha. On Dasara, the tenth day, these statues are paraded through Mangalore before being immersed in a lake.

Brunch at Shetty Lunch Home

Following our visit to the Kudroli temple, we dined at Shetty Lunch Home, where we sampled the delectable Manglorean food. Suniel Shetty and other well-known gastronomes frequent this seafood restaurant. Harish and Uma Shetty own and maintain this two-storey restaurant in Adyar Katte, in the heart of the city, doing their utmost to preserve generations-old recipes and culinary legacies alive. The interiors have contemporary seating with extremely welcoming hospitality, while the exteriors are decked out in a stunning red brick décor.

In terms of food, whether you’re a vegetarian or a seafood fan, the Ghee Roast is a must-try. Uma creates the legendary spicy masala of Ghee roast every morning, just like her forefathers, using only the freshest and finest ingredients. The typical Thali from Shetty Lunch Home is a great way to try a variety of flavours in small servings.

On this particular day, however, we dined on a buffet of a la carte dishes that included Prawn Ghee Roast, Manglorean style mussels, Pulimunchi Chicken, Fried Silverfish, Anjal (King Fish) Tawa Fry, Bangude Rawa Fry, Kori Roti, Neer dosa with coconut and jaggery, Butter Crabs, Lady Fish, Moode Idlis steamed in screw Pine leaves, and an extensive selection of Kudla cuisine.

It was a divine culinary experience, especially when paired with a cold beer to beat the heat. I had a great time here, and I’m sure you will as well!

Kaup Beach and Lighthouse

We left Shetty Lunch Home at 3.30 p.m. and got at the Kaup Lighthouse an hour later to ascend the stairs and enjoy a panoramic view of the Kapu shore. Nothing makes me happier than being close to a beautiful beach with a tropical ambience and a bevvy of activities. The beach village of Kapu in coastal Karnataka is famous for the herbage that blankets the long stretches of sand along the picturesque Arabian Sea. It’s also worth going because it’s less crowded!

The ancient 130-foot-tall lighthouse, as well as the temples of Goddess Mariamma and Jain Basadis, are among the main attractions here. The Kapu lighthouse steals the stage with its crimson beanie and striped zebra print. Built by the British in 1901, this 27-meter-high lighthouse stands on a rocky outcropping, enduring the test of time and serving as a warning to seafarers at a time when satellite navigation was still a far-fetched fantasy.

The lighthouse is accessible daily from 4 to 6 p.m., and the beach offers excellent water sports such as surfing and scuba diving. The lighthouse was a stunning finale to an exhilarating day, and we left for Udupi around 6 p.m.

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