Karnataka > Dakshina Kannada > Mangalore
Mangalore is the ancient town 'Mangalapura' and is on the west coast of Karnataka with both an old and a modern port. It is the head-quarters of the Dakshina Kannada District. It was for long the capital of the Alupas. The Vijayanagara rulers posted one of their governors here. It came under the Banga feudatory and the Portuguese opened a factory here for trade and brought Roman Catholic religion too. Conquered by Haider, it became the chief port of Mysore and Sultan's Battery near the port is the remnescents of his rule. When it fell to the English (1799) they made it the district headquarters of Kanara. The Basel Mission that came here in 1834 started an English school, printing, tile (terracotta) factory and weaving have helped to modernise the place. The first Kannada neswpaper 'Mangalura Samachara' (1834) was a missionary venture. 
Mangalore has the old Mangaladevi temple and the Kadri Manjunatha temple where once Buddhists had stayed. There are fine bronze statues of Avalokiteshwara and Dhyani Buddha and some laterite caves around Kadri temple. The Venkataramana, Mahamayi and the huge modern Gokarna Natha are important temples of Mangalore. Bengre has a fine beach. The Light House Hill has the Idagah. The St. Aloysius College here has a chapel with fine paintings. St. Rozario Church, Church of the Most Holy Rosary and the Milagres Church are some fine Christian monuments here. Shanti Cathedral of the Bassel Mission in also famous. The port area has an old mosque with fine wood work. Dongarkery has the Shamir mosque. Mangalore is famous for its Sea Food and jasmine known for its unique aroma. A second grade college, founded by Madras Government in Mangalore around 1869, was the first of its kind in Karnataka. Mangalore has now a University. It has tile, coffee curing, fish processing and cashew processing units. Beedi production is a home industry. Mangalore Fertilizers and petro chemicals Industries is a major public enterprise. Mangalore has a City Corporation.
Mangalore has the magnificent St. Rozario Cathedral church with its tall frontal towers. The original building was of 1526, rebuilt in 1910.
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