Udupi pics

Newly constructed bannanje road.

The other side of malpe

Swagatha Gopura

Newly constructed Kinnimulky double road.

Madikeri

Madikeri (Kannada: ಮಡಿಕೇರಿ) is a town in Karnataka state, India. Also known as Mercara, it is the headquarters of Kodagu district.

Madikeri was formerly known as Muddu raja keri[1]. Muddurajakeri which means Mudduraja's town, was named after the prominent Haleri king, Mudduraja who ruled Kodagu from 1633-1687.

The form of the name often used in English, Mercara, is derived from Madikeri by a standard transformation of the retroflex 'd' to an 'r' consonant.

History

The history of Madikeri is related to the history of Kodagu. From the 2nd to 6th century AD, the northern part of Kodagu was ruled by Kadambas. The southern part of Kodagu was ruled by Gangas from 4th to 11th century. After defeating the Gangas in the 11th century, Cholas became the rulers of Kodagu. In the 12th century, Cholas lost Kodagu to the Hoysalas. Kodagu fell to the Vijayanagar kings in the 14th century. After their fall, the local chieftains (Palegars) started ruling their areas directly. These were defeated by the Haleri kings who ruled Kodagu from 1600-1834 A.D. Haleri kings made the place Haleri, near Madikeri as their capital. Mudduraja, the third king among the Haleri kings started leveling the land around Madikeri and built a fort in the year 1681. Kodagu became the part of British India after 1834 A.D.

Culture

Madikeri is the land of the Kodavas. The names of Kodava people are characteristic and include a clan name. The clan is central to Kodava culture and families trace their lineage through clans. They have distinctive dresses, the men wearing wraparound robes called the Kupya (now only seen at ceremonial occasions), and the women with a distinctive style of wearing the sari. The Kodava woman wears a sari with the pleats at the back. They have many distinctive practices such as carrying ceremonial knives, and martial war dances. The culture also includes communal gatherings where drink, dance and special meat dishes seasoned with Garcinia are central attractions.

The main local language of Madikeri is Kodava Takk though most of the people here are bilingual in Kannada.

By Road

Madikeri lies on the Karnataka State Highway 88 that runs from Mysore to Mangalore. It is 120 km from Mysore and 136 km from Mangalore. From Bangalore, the state capital of Karnataka, one can take the State Highway 17 (Bangalore - Mysore Highway) and take a deviation just after the town of Srirangapatna to join State Highway 88 towards Madikeri. From Bangalore, Madikeri is at a distance of 252 km. Nearby towns are Hassan (115 km) in Karnataka state and Cannanore and Tellicherry in the Kerala state (each around 114 km away).

Abbey Falls

Raja Seat: This is a small square mantapa in brick and mortar of four pillars bridged by arches, enhanced by beautiful surroundings. This lovely spot was a favourite place of recreation for the Rajas and hence was permanently associated with them. It is built on a high level ground with a commanding view of the cliffs and valleys to the west. Early in the morning as the sun is just rising in the east, the mist shrouded valley below offers a rare sight. The golden light of the setting sun is a splendor to watch. There is also a attraction of the Toy Train for children.
Madikeri Fort: This fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. It was eventually rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan who named the site as Jaffarabad. In 1790, Doddavira Rajendra took control of the fort. The British who added to the fort in 1834. The palace was renovated by Lingarajendra Wodeyar II in 1812-1814. In the north-east corner at the entrance are two life size masonry elephants and a church is present in the south-east corner.

Baba Budangiri

Range / Baba Budan Giri Range of the Western Ghats of India. Located in the Chikkamagaluru District of Karnataka, Dattagiri/ Baba Budangiri is known for its shrine which is a place of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Muslims.

Peaks in the Dattagiri / Baba Budan Giri Range are the Mullayanagiri and Dattagiri/Baba Budangiri (height 1895 m).

Mullayanagiri also spelt Mullayangiri or Mullainagiri is the highest peak in the Baba Budan Giri Range. With a height of 1930 m (6317 ft.), it is the highest peak between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris.

Location

Dattagiri is located 25 km north of Chikmagalur town and 250+ km away from Bangalore[1]. Mullayangiri can be reached around 15+ km distance from the Chikmagalur town on the way to Baba Budan Giri.

Dattagiri/Baba Budangiri is the location of a small Sufi shrine devoted to the saint Baba Budan and Guru Dattatreya. They were revered by both Muslims and Hindus. Its origin appears to be a syncretization of reverence for an 11th century Sufi, Dada Hayath (Abdul Azeez Macci); for the 17th century Sufi Baba Budan, said to have brought coffee to India; and for Dattatreya, an incarnation of Shiva. It has been controversial due to political and religious tension over its status as a syncretic shrine.Baba Budan was a 17th century Sufi, revered by both Muslims and Hindus, whose shrine is at Baba Budangiri, Karnataka, India. According to legend, he introduced coffee to India by bringing beans from the port of Mocha, Yemen.[3].Stewart Lee Allen (The Devil's Cup: Coffee, the Driving Force in History), Mark Pendergrast [4]Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World, and Antony Wild (Coffee: A Dark History)[5] relate that legend attributes Baba Budan -- an Indian Sufi whose real name was Hazrat Shah Jamer Allah Mazarabi (Allen) -- with breaking the Arab monopoly over the coffee trade around 1600. Apparently, when on a pilgrimage to Mecca, he brought out seven live coffee beans, via Yemen back to India to plant in the Baba Budangiri mountain ranges.

Near by places of interest

Caves: Three large caves said to have been sanctified by three (3) siddhas contain their icons and gaddiges (tombs) and an annual 'jatra' (fair) is held here in their honour. The enthralling scenery around makes this a much frequented pilgrim centre.
Seethala contains a 'matha' and the dual shrine temple of 'Seethala-Mallikarjuna'.
Waterfalls:A short distance from here are the three waterfalls with epic associations, namely Gada Theertha, Nallikayi Theertha and Kamana Theertha.
Gada Theertha, according to a myth was created by the pandava prince, Bheema with his 'gada', the club, to quench the thirst of his mother during their exile.
Pilgrims who bathe in the Nellikayi Theertha formed by Manikya Dhara waterfall, leave behind one item of their clothing as per a local belief.

Manikyadhara Falls
Manikyadhara falls

Manikyadhara Falls is situated near Kemmangundi of Chikmagalur district. It is located on the Baba Budan Giri HIlls, which is a sacred place for both Muslims and Hindus. It is one of the main attractions of Baba Budan Giri or Dattapeeta.

Location: It is located approximately 40 km from the chickmagalur town.

Baba Budan Giri Range

Dattagiri Hills or Baba Budan Giri Range is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. The range, originally known as Chandra Drona Parvatha, takes its current name from the Dattapeeta Cave and 17th century Sufi saint Baba Budan. The Dattagiri or Baba Budan Giri Range includes the highest peaks of Karnataka. Unique mountain flowers called Kurinji blooms in these hill ranges once in every 12 years and the last time this spectacle happened here was in 2006.

Peaks in the Dattagiri Hills/Baba Budan Giri Range include:
Mullayanagiri (height 1930 m)
Dattagiri/Baba Budan Giri (height 1895 m)

Murdeshwar

Murudeshwara temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, lies in the holy beach town in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India. Situated between the Honnavar and Bhatkal town(about 12kms) The statue of Shiva here is the world's tallest and it lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

The Statue of Shiva with Ravana handing Atma Linga to Bramhin boy(Lord Ganesha)

History
The name "Murudeshwara" means Shiva or Eeshwara. The significance of this holy town dates to the time of Ramayana. By penance dedicated to the AtmaLinga, the divine Lingam of Shiva procures invincibility and immortality to the Hindu Gods. Ravana, the Lanka King worshipped Shiva with devotion to attain immortality by obtaining the AtmaLinga. Lord Shiva appeared before Ravana and asked him what he wanted. By this time Lord Vishnu to change Ravana's mind on behest of Narada. As a result of this plot, Ravana asks for Goddess Parvathi, and Lord Shiva offers him.

On his way back to Lanka Narada tricks Ravana that  the real Parvathi was in Pathala. So Ravana lets off Parvathi and went  to Pathala and marries a king's daughter thinking that she was Parvathi. When he returns back to Lanka  his mother then asks for linga. Ravana knowing that he was tricked is angry with Vishnu and meditates to please Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva appears and Ravana asks for His forgiveness. And this time, Ravana requests the AtmaLinga as his boon. Lord Shiva agreed to give him the boon with a condition that it should never be placed on the ground. It is believed that the AtmaLinga was ever placed on the ground, all the powers would return to Lord Shiva again. Having obtained his boon, Ravana started back on his journey to Lanka.

Sage Narada, realised that with the AtmaLinga, Ravana may obtain immortality and create havoc on earth, approached the Lord Ganesh to help him. As Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu blocked  the sun to make it appear as dusk. Ravana now had to perform his evening rituals but was worried because with the AtmaLinga in his hands, he would not be able to do his rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesh, disguised as a Brahmin boy came near him.

Ravana requested him to hold the AtmaLinga until he performed his puja, and told  him not to place it on the ground. Ganesh struck a deal with him saying that he would call Ravana thrice, and if Ravana did not return within that time, he would place the AtmaLinga on the ground.As predicted, before Ravana could return after completing his rituals, Ganesh had already placed the AtmaLinga on the ground. Vishnu then removed his illusion and it was daylight again.

Ravana got really angry  that he was tricked and tried to uproot the AtmaLinga and destroy it but could not. In a fit of rage he threw the case covering it to a place called Sajjeshwara, 23 miles away. Then he threw the lid of the case to a placed called Guneshwara (now Gunavanthe)and Dhareshwara, 10-12 miles away. Finally, he threw the cloth covering the AtmaLinga to a placed called Mrideshwara in Kanduka-Giri (Kanduka Hill). Mrideshwara has been renamed to Murudeshwara.

At Murudeshwar: Saint Bhagiratha awaits as Goddess Ganga lands on Lord Shiva's Jata (locks of hair) from Heaven

Murudeshwara Temple and Raja Gopura : This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and a 20-storied Gopura is being constructed on the temple. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The entire temple and temple complex, including the 249 feet tall Raja Gopura, which is considered the tallest gopura in the world, was constructed to its present form by businessman and philanthropist Mr R N Shetty.

Murudeshwara Fort : A fort present behind the temple is said to have been renovated by Tipu Sultan.

Statue of Lord Shiva : A huge towering statue of Lord Shiva, visible from great distances, is present in the temple complex. It is the tallest statue of Shiva in the world. The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, and took about 2 years to build. The statue was built by Shivamogga's Kashinath and several other sculptors, financed by businessman and philanthropist Mr R.N. Shetty, at a cost of approximately 50 million rupees. The idol is designed such that it gets the sun light directly and thus appears sparkling.

While touring this land of picture-postcard scenery, be sure to witness some of the quaint rituals of 'Bhuta' worship, Nagamandala and the demon dance.

The Beach : One can relax on the pristine sands, swimming, water sports and boating can be enjoyed. One can take a long walk or trek along beach line. Handicraft articles made of special type of grass is unique and worth shopping.

Best time to Visit: November to February

How to reach: From Bangalore take the NH-206 to reach Honnavar and then take NH-17 to reach Murudeshwara. From Mumbai and Mangalore one has to take the National Highway NH-17 between the towns of Honnavar and Bhatkal

Nearest  Road : From Bangalore 455 km, from Mangalore 165kms.

Nearest  Railway Station : Murudeshwara station lies on the Konkan Railway. Some trains from Mumbai and Mangalore stop here. To reach from Bangalore on has to take train to Bhatkal station.

Nearest  Airport : Mangalore International Airport, 165 km away. Hubli and Panaji airports are other alternatives.

Where to Stay : Private hotels and PWD Rest Houses

Gokarna

Gokarna (Kannada: ಗೋಕರ್ಣ) is a village in the Uttara Kannada district of the Karnataka state, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage centre as well as a tourist destination in India. Gokarna is a temple town and is referred to in a number of Hindu historical literature pieces. Around the town lie a number of beaches and these serve as a major attraction for travellers.

 

om beach

Gokarna is also an important centre of Sanskrit learning and houses Bhandikeri Math and Toggu Math. It is a place where Sanksrit knowledge is passed down from generations in Brahmin families. Many Hindus also perform the last rites of a person here.
Mahabaleshwar Temple (Maha: great, bal: strength) is a famous Shiva Temple and it houses the atmalinga. Named so after Ravana referred to the linga's great strength. Till the government handed over the temple to a public trust, all the public of Gokarna - supposed to be the office bearers of the temple - were managing the temple.

It is situated at the western end of the main street. The main deity here is two-armed, standing and at least 1500 years old. The idol of Lord Ganesha also is ancient. In the sanctuary is a stone linga, encased in brass, placed on a coiled stone serpent. The floor of the hall in front has an intricate engraving of a giant tortoise.
Maha Ganapathi Temple built in honour of the boy Ganapathi, who deceived the demon Ravana.
Uma Maheshwari Temple
Bhadrakali Temple
Varadaraj Temple
Tamra-Gauri Temple
Venkataramana Temple
Kotitheertha is a man-made tank that is used for immersion of idols and ritual bathing. It is surrounded by temples.
Shivaratri festival is celebrated here with great enthusiasm. Each year, a team builds up two great temple chariots which are used during the Shivaratri festival. The two great temple chariots lead a procession through the town's narrow streets, while priests and pilgrims chant hymns in praise of Shiva. More than a hundred people are needed to pull the chariots with thick ropes while priests conduct religious ceremonies inside. During the four day Shivaratri festival, the small town of Gokarna is visited by up to 20,000 pilgrims.

This year (2009) 350000 people visited Gokarna on Mahasivarathri

Beaches

The drive up the winding path that leads to Gokarna is scenic, with the rocky mountains and Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other.

Gokarna is also famous for its beautiful beaches and landscapes. The main beaches in Gokarna are the Gokarna beach, Kudle Beach, Om Beach, Half moon Beach and Paradise Beach (also known as Full moon). The Gokarna beach forms the coast of the town while the other four beaches lie to the south of Gokarna. Kudle and Om are around 6 km from Gokarna town along a muddy hill; they are accessible by rickshaw or foot. Half moon and Paradise are beyond Om beach and are accessible only by foot or boat. Om beach is named so because it is shaped like the auspicious ॐ [Om] symbol. Om beach is the only naturally Om shaped beach. Two other beaches - Paradise and Half Moon - are smaller and remote beaches.

Location
Om beach, near Gokarna village

Gokarna is about 453 km from Bengalooru, 240 km north of Mangalooru and about 59 km from Karwar. It is between the Gangavali and Agnashini rivers and situated along the Karwar coast by the Arabian Sea. It is near the college towns Suratkal and Manipal.

Gokarna can be reached by buses and maxicabs from Kumta (36 km), Ankola (25km) and Karwar (59km) on National Highway 17( NH-17 ). Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) also runs long-journey buses from many cities like Goa, Bengalooru and Mangalooru. Private buses (Vijayanand Roadlines - VRL, Sugama, Sea Bird, etc.) operate night journeys from the capital city of Bengalooru to Gokarna daily. It can be reached by train Konkan Railway on the Mumbai to Mangalooru route. The railway station is 6km away from the town.

Kundapura

Kundapura (Kannada: ಕುಂದಾಪುರ) is a city in Udupi district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarter of the Kundapura taluk and is about 36 kilometres from Udupi. Kundapura is noted for its 95,000 solar lighting installations by Selco Solar, a Bangalore-based social enterprise.

This name can be traced to the Kundeshvara temple built by Kundavarma in the vicinity of the Panchagangavalli river. Kundapur is also described as the 'town of the sun'. The name may be derived from Kunda, meaning jasmine, owing to the abundance of jasmine-trees in the area. According to others, Kunda means 'pillar', and here refers to the traditional method of constructing houses. Kunda has another meaning, indicating a high place. Up to 18th century, nearby Basrur was important town and Kundapura (a place in high place) was built later, particularly during British period. Kundapur town is surrounded by water from three sides (North - Panchagangavali river, East - Kalaghar water, river, West - Kodi back waters, and further west, Arabian sea), leaving south side as main connecting land mass.

History

It was the principal port of the Rajas of Baindoor who came to prominence after the decline of the Vijayanagara power. The Portuguese and German Missionaries settled here in the 16th century and built a fort. A well-built redoubt constructed by Hyder Ali commands the entrance to the river. After the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the town was taken over by the British.

Getting there

Kundapur is well connected by Road to Parts of the country.Kundapur is also connected by Konkan Railway which runs through Mumbai, Mangalore. Kundapur Railway station is about 4 km from city. The nearest air port is Mangalore Situated around 100 km from kundapur.

Places of interest in Kundapura taluk
Kundeswara temple is within the town, with big arches. Kundapura town is surrounded on three sides by water / back water - and as such one can find good scenes of water and coconut trees all around. The boat point to Gangolli is one such beautiful place, with vast area of back waters of Haladi river, which joins Arabian Sea nearby. From this point, the range of Western Ghats at a distance of 20 km, including highest peak Kodachadri is a beautiful sight. The three-sides- water- town concept of Kundapur is not exploited to develop tourism industry in this area. There are good number of lodges in this town and well connected by Highway to Mumbai, it has good potential to develop as a scenic place.
Sri Vinayaka (Ganesh) Temple at Anegudde, between Kota and Koteshwar towns. (5 k.m. from Kundapura) The area where the temple stands is called Kumbhashi. Among the several temples in Kumbhashi Anegudde, Sri Vinayaka Temple is the oldest, and it is also the most popular in this region. This Ganesh temple is on a small hillock, giving the name Anegudde, "Ane" meaning elephant and "Gudde" meaning a hillock (in kannada).
Mekekattu Nadhikeshwara temple is interesting place, about 20 k.m.from Kundapura. It is nearer to Barkuru chowlikere temple. It is considered as the creation of sage Parashurama. With the passage of time the area where the temple is situated has been called by different names. According to the legends, when drought hit this area sage Agastya came here to perform Yajna to please the rain god. During the Yajna, the Asura Kumbha started bothering the sages. To rescue the sages Bhima killed the demon with the help of the sword gifted by lord Ganesha. It attracts several thousand visitors every year. Striking feature of Mekkekattu temple is a collection of coloured, wooden idols which measure up to 10 feet height! Most of the wooden statues are in warrior dress, giving an impression that this entire row of wooden statues are made to remember an incidence of war that would have taken place here during 1600-1700 AD (no historic evidence for this war is found yet, but can be linked to Mogul / Bahamani Invasion). Some of the statues are like Muslim soldires, some like maratha soldies. Some even hold a replica of old gun, some carry swords and ready for war. All wooden statues are given local mytholigical name and there are tiger, crow, moneky also in the row. Yettinahatti, very near to Mekke kattu is interesting place where bulls are worshiped, and may have some historical links with Mekke Kattu.
Padukone is a coastal village located approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) north of the taluk center. Part of the village is surrounded by the Souparnika River.
Basrur - Many temples are located here on the southern banks of the river Varahi. History says Basrur is main and center place of Kundapura Taluk and it has several historical structures.
Uppinakudru - Uppinakudru or salt island is located at 6Km towards north of Kundapura which is a taluk headquarters in Udupi District (Karnataka , India) .
Hoovinakere - It is the birthplace of the philosopher Vadiraja, who preached Dvaita philosophy after Madhvacharya.
Koteshwara - The Koteshwara temple is a historical and religious centre. Here the lake adjascent to temple is far bigger than the main temple itself! This lake has several legends, which are interesting and one legend, which states that there is an underground tunnel to Vandaru Kambala Gadde which is at a distance of 20 k.m. is most interesting!

Saligrama Village - A small village with a historic temple of Narasimha(Gurunarasimha) and hanuman
Hattiangadi has another well-known temple of Lord Ganapathi (Ganesh), and many other ancient temples besides.
Kirimanjeshwara - Located about 22 km from Kundapur, it has the Kirimanjeshwara temple amidst beautiful surroundings. There is another old temple called the Agastyeshwara temple, named after Sage Agastya.
Shankaranarayana - village located about 32 km to the east of Kundapur, it is traditionally called Krodha Kshetra and is one of the seven places of pilgrimage in the region mentioned in the Skanda Purana.
Trasi - Located about 12 km to the North of Kundapur, Trasi has a beautiful 1 km long beach with Turtle Bay and Beach Resort.

Maravanthe One of Karnataka's most beautiful beaches. It is about 55 km from Udupi. NH-17 runs right next to the beach and the Suparnika river flows on the other side of the road, creating a spectacular scenery. A boat ride from Maharajaswami temple of Maravanth to Padukone is enjoyable. The river Souparnika, which almost touches Arabian sea hear, makes a U turn and goes eastward to join the Sea only after a journey of more than 10 kilometers, which is a geological wonder.
Kollur is one of the Shakti Pithas established by Shankaracharya. Souparnika river flows here midst of dense forest. Several lodges are available in Kollur, which would make a memorable stay almost within forest. Kodachadri hill with a height of about 3800' at the backdrop is trekkers' paradise. Trekkers can start trekking from Nagodi village near Kollur and reach Kodachadri peak after about three hours trek. Thick forest, sholas, grass lands and cool air are a specialty of this place. There is moola stana (original place) of Kollur Goddess at Kodachadri. An Iron pillar, said to be ancient weapon used by Goddess Mookambika to kill Kolasura, a demon, stands in front of small temple near Travelers Bungalow and the antiquity of this Iron pillar makes interesting sight. But present priest says that this Iron pillar might have been installed during Mysore Wodeyar's regime or during British period to identify this place from distance as an Iron Ore deposit indication. Kodachadri is one of the most beautiful spots of Western Ghats, as described by Dr. K. Shivarama Karantha. Sunset from Kodachadri Peak during winter is most beautiful and unforgettable sight. Even though there is a Travellers Bungallow, other facilities like food etc. are rudimentary and thouse who want to stay overnight should be prepared for basic facilities at minimal.
Ottinene - This is a sunset point on the seashore, near Byndoor village on the National Highway. The Kshitija Nature Resort, a beach, and sunset point are favorite spots with travelers here. Byndoor is also a beautiful village near the sea.
Kodi Beach This is a nice beach located about 4 km from Kundapur. The Kinara Restaurant is a nice place to spend the time, while enjoying the beauty of Arabian Sea.
Bhandarkars college is a first grade university located in Kundapura. The college campus with adjascent cricket ground makes good sight.
Gangolli,even though very near to Kundapura, one has to travel more than 15 km to reach this place as Panchagangavali river separates this from Kundapura town. One can also take boat ride, which depends on High tide timings! This is a beautiful place located at bank of 5 rivers and Arabian sea. Fishing is main activity. Veereshwara Temple is one of the oldest temple of Gangolli.
Rattadi This place is between Halady and Amasebail, Named after god `Ratteshwara`.
Maranakatte This is a place located at a distance of about 18 km from Kundapura and known for its Temple of "SRI BRAMHALINGESHWARA", which is located in the bank of river Souparnika. It has a mythological connection with the Kollur "MOOKAMBIKA" temple, this being the place where the Goddess of Kollur killed Mookasura, the Rakshasa(Demon).
Halady a village at a distance of 22 k.m. from Kundapura town is known mainly as a junction of roads leading to Shankaranarayana, Amasebail and Hebri. An old Tiles factory was busy burning red tiles during 1980s in Halady, but this industry has become obsolete and outdated because of dwindling forest cover, from where the logs were supplied to bake tiles. The Halady River or Varahi River is flowing besides this village. Marlu chicku is one deity of Halady which attracts large number of people from far off places, and another temple is of Laxmi Narasimha with 7 feet stone statue. The river in front of this temple is beautiful scene.
Vakwadi This is a small village located between Anegudde and Huvinakere and about 2 k.m. from Koteswara. A temple of Mahalingeshwara about 2 km from Anegudde is there to serve.
Bidkalkattethis is a small village near halady.this place is between molahalli and hunsemakki. it has govt.high college & hospital.

this is on the state highway kundapur-shimoga & udupi-shimoga.
Molahallithis is a small village near bidkalkatte.it is a birth place of 'sahakari pithamaha' M.Shivarao.shivaraya temple located in this place.'KAMBALA'of molahalli is famous in k'pura taluk.
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Distance from Kundapur to major cities
Bangalore-445 km
Chennai-785 km
Kannur-255
Kochi-530 km
Mysore-355 km
Panaji-274 Km
Mangalore-100 Km
Udupi-36 Km
Mumbai-960 Km
Shankat-23 Km

Hebri

Hebri is a small town in Udupi district of Karnataka, en route from Udupi to Agumbe. Hebri is at the foot of the Western Ghats of India in Karnataka state. It is a junction of roads leading to Brahmavar, Karkala, Shimoga and Udupi. The place is scenic and splendid with evergreen forests. Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is located nearby. This sanctuary houses some of the endangered species like the Lion-Tailed Macaque.

Its local language happens to be Tulu, though Kannada also is prominently spoken. The local deity (also known as the Grama Devaru in kannada ) is "Ananthpadmanabha".

Kudlu Theertha Falls

How to go - 20 kms from Agumbe, take a left detour before 6 kms to Hebri, another left after another 3-4 kms. The road will end at the banks of river Sita. There is a burma bridge on the right side to cross the river(dont try to swim across). After that one has to walk for 4 kms inside the jungle. There will be a small stream which has to be crossed to reach the foothills. Trek 3-4 kms  and you will reach the most beautiful falls in the entire state.

Mode of transport - If one wants to go there by public transport, then he can either go to Shimoga and catch a mini bus(which piles at frequent intervals to Hebri) and get down at the Koodlu gate. From there catch another minibus which will go upto a place called Dargas. Dargas is around 6 kms from the banks of river Sita. So one need to walk that extra 6 kms also. The other option is to go to Hebri(the bus will go via Dharmastala, Karkala,etc) and there you can catch the mini-bus to Nellikatte and get down at Dargas.

Someshwar

Someshwar, in Karnataka, is a small town in Udupi District, at the foothills of Agumbe ghat section and about 8 km from Hebri town. Name can be traced by the somanath temple in the town. There is also a Maha Ganapathi temple right opposite to the bus stand in the town. Its a main junction for Udupi, Kundapur & Shimoga.

Kabbinale

Kabbinale, a village at the foot hills of the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) Agumbe range, is situated in Karkala taluk of the Udupi district of Karnataka state, India. In the Kannada language, kabbinale means "abundance of sugarcane ". This small village is around 50 km from UdupiTown, and the nearest town is Hebri, which is around 20 km from Kabbinale. The area is covered by thick rain forests, evergreen, and populated by wild animals. The scene of ghats is worth seeing during monsoon season. There is only one way to enter the village, as further you go its a dead-end, the road enters the forests and the ghats. The last settlement, called Kuchur, is around 1500 feet above sea level. Korth Baill is the highest, and last point of village Kabbinale. It can be reached from Hebri via Mudraadi or Bachappu or Ajekar via Munniyal.Kabbinale village has been included into the Kuduremukha National Park Project.

Kabbinale village is considered an ideal place for breeding, reproduction and habitation for the King Cobra.

Mythology

This village has been inhabited by people for thousands of years past. Traces of stone age culture dating back to at least 6000 years are visible around the village. The houses are scattered and found up to 2000 feet above sea level and some of the settlements are virtually inside forest and national park.

Kabbinale had a lot of Jain settlers in the initial times, that is a few thousand years back, but the latest settlers (a few hundred years back) are Sthanika Brahmins, families who migrated from a place called Sulkod or Suligod, a place close to Kollur.

Few families migrated here, as they had a major family feud with other parts of their families.

Today, the maximum number of population and families are Sthanika Brahmins. One can find small number of Shivalli Brahmins, Bunts, and Billavas as all of the families settled here.

But it can be easily told that this village belongs to the Sthanika Brahmins families, who were the early settlers, as now the migrated family have grown to more than 90 individual houses/families.

Kabbinale Village is one of the populated settlements of Sthanika Brahmins families. All these families have a common Surname Hebbar.

The main occupation of the Hebbars are agriculture, they grow a lot of cash crops like betel nut, vanilla, coconut, coco & spices of various kinds, cardamom, black pepper, clove, ginger, etc. Kabbinale village is one of the highest contributors of milk to Manipal KMF Dairy.

The Hebbars are very intelligent, hardworking, smart and brave people. The life in Kabbinale is not so easy, as it rains for almost 5-6 months, it receives a very heavy downpour, as it is in the foothills of Agumbe Ghat.

There are wild animals in this hilly region, and the village is infested with leeches, poisonous snakes and other smalltime animals. Some of the families have a licensed gun for self protection.

There are two temples in Kabbinale; these temples are called Mathas. Both these temple deities have a unique story behind them.

Life

Serpentine paths lead to several houses, which will be usually in the midst of arecanut garden. As this village was considered very remote, education facilities are minimal. Several elders even today are not well versed with letters. But with difficulties, they learnt to read. Almost all house holds depend on garden produce for livelihood. People are very descent and cordial to new comers. Even though some private buses ply up to half of village, the other half still depend Auto rickshaw or trekking for conveyance and the total length of village is more than seven miles!

The Natives of kabbinale are very much attached to their village. It is the Hebbars, who are the land owners, and the care takers of the Forest. They take care of the natures blessings, and look after the surroundings.

In summer when there is an accidental fire in the Forests, the Villagers themselves fight like the Fire Fighters and take utmost care of the forest and douse the flames, without any help from the government or outsiders.

Today most of the families have their children's, who have done very well in academics and are based out of Kabbinale, few of them are software professionals, engineers, MBA's, and have a very highly placed jobs, in Pvt, Govt & Banking Sectors.

The Hebbars of Kabbinale are related to each other, and have a great bonding as they all belonged to a single family, once upon a time.

The Hebbars, are pure vegetarians, and pray all the Hindu Gods, and also worship Spirits. Bhoota worship and Naga worship is common in each and every household of Hebbars.

Every Hebbars House, in Kabbinale has Bhootadaa Kotegee, and a Naga Bana. The Kuldevatha of Hebbars is Lord Subramanya the serpent God.

They have Unique names for their Houses/Estates. The houses are inside their estates, and distance between each houses are average 1-2 km away from each other.

Few Estate names are MelleMane, KellaMane, Sampige, KellaKemmolli, Gubbimaar, KhajiKal, Korth Bail, Honna Koppalla, Guleall, Kepan Makki, Kollegee, Perla, Kuchur, Kotebettu, Kajaane, Bayarbettu and all these are very interesting and worth studying in linguistic angle.

Kollur

About 135 Kms from Mangalore and 80 Kms from Udupi, in the valley of Kodachadri peak of Western Ghats nestles a serene town Kollur. Here is seat of  very  famous Mookambika Temple on the banks of the never drying river Sauparnika This attractive Mookambika temple with gold plated crest and copper roofs attracts thousands of devotees.This is a well known temple in the Weat Coast of Karnataka and is one of the most important places of pilgrimage attracting pilgrims from all over India. The temple is dedicated to Mookambika and stands on a spur of the Kodachadri peak. The Goddess Mookambika is in the form of Jyotir-Linga incorporating both Shiva and Shakthi. The Panchaloha image (five element mixed metal) of the Goddess on Shree Chakra is stated to have been consecrated by Adi shankaracharya during his visit to this place. There is an exquisite sculpture of Panchamukha Ganesha.  Kollur is regarded as one of the Seven Muktislala pilgrimage sites in Karnataka which are (kollur), Udupi, Subrahmanya, Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna.Kollur is known for its association with Aadi Sankara. Mookambika is said to have appeared before Aadi Sankara here, and he is said to have installed her image at this shrine. There is a room near the sanctum - enshrining the Sankara Simhasanam which is regarded as the very spot where he meditated and had a vision of Mookambika. Mookambika is regarded as a manifestation of Shakti, Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi. The Kudashadri hill houses sites such as Ambavanam and Chitramoolam where Adi Sankara isbelieved to have meditated..The temple has been patronised by ancient Hindu Kings and several parts in it are still believed to contain valuable treasures. This was the state temple for the Nagara or Bednore Rajas and many jewels now adorning the idol are said to have been presented by them and by their overlords of Vijayanagar. During the Mahratta raids in this district in the 18th century these freebooters are believed to have carried away gold, silver and gems worth crores of rupees.

The installation of the idol at Mookambika temple has a history as ancient as about 1200 years. As suggested by Rani Chennammaji, the feudal lord by name Halugallu Veera Sangayya has covered the inside of the temple with stone. When we look at the temple structure, we find the sanctorum, then entrance hall and then the Lakshmi Mantapa. There are four pillars at Lakshmi Mantapa and on upper portion of each of these pillars, we find beautifully carved images of various gods

There are couple of places worth visiting in the vicinity of the temple. One of them is Arasina Makki, a famous waterfall. The Kudachadri  is a very beautifull mountain range and offers a breath taking view of Arabian Sea and attracts a large number of mountaineers and trekkers.A trek to the peak of the Kodchardi  and a hike to the Govinda Theertha waterfalls are noteworthy trips from Kollur.

St. Mary's Island

St. Mary's Islands (Kannada: ಸಂತ ಮೇರಿಯ ದ್ವೀಪಗಳು), are a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka, India. They are known for their distinctive geological formation of columnar basaltic lava (pictured).

Scientific studies indicate that the basalt of the St. Mary’s Islands was formed by sub-aerial subvolcanic activity, because at that time Madagascar was attached to India. The rifting of Madagascar took place around 88 Ma.

The islands form one of the four geological monuments in Karnataka state, out of the 26 ‘‘Geological Monuments of India’’ declared by the Geological Survey of India in 2001. The monument is considered an important site for "Geo Tourism".

History

According to folk legend, in the year 1498, Vasco da Gama landed at St. Mary's Islands on his voyage from Portugal to India, fixed a cross on the island and named one of these islands, El Padron de Santa Maria, as a dedication to Mother Mary, before he proceeded to Kozhikode in Kerala. It is from this name that the islands have got their current name.

Geography and topography

Out of the four islands which form St. Mary’s Islands, the northernmost island has a basaltic rock formation in a hexagonal form, the only one of its type in India. The island covers an area which is about 500 m (1,640.4 ft) in length with a width of 100 m (328.1 ft). It has prominent coconut trees, its cover reflecting in an azure south sea colour, and hence the island is also called Coconut Island. There is no habitation on the islands.

The north-south alined islands are in a non continuous chain. The four large islands are Coconut Island, North Island, Daryabahadurgarh Island and South Island..

The type of rock formation seen on Coconut island is also found atn the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. The stretch of sea between the islands and the long curve of the beach at Malpe is serene and calm.

The islands are generally aligned parallel to the coast line, which provide clues to the phenomenon of uplift of the west coast of India. The islands’ terraces and elevated beach deposits along with the tide gauge data at the dead oyster beach in Suratkal beach (further south of the islands) have been deduced as proof of the reported fall in sea level of about 1 mm/per year.

The highest elevation at Coconut Island, which has generated interest among geologists and tourists, is about 10 m (32.8 ft) above msl with surrounding areas in the form of platforms in the elevation range of +6 m (19.7 ft), +3 m (9.8 ft), +1.5 m (4.9 ft) and + 0 m which are stated to have been formed by wave action pointing to an “episodic sea level rise or fall of land”.

General information

The western coasts of the islands are a seashell haven with seashells of various shapes and sizes littered along the coast. There is no sand beach to swim and relax since it is scatted with basaltic rocks. But there are flat slabs to sit and enjoy the serenity of the place. The beach has security guards who ensure that visitors do not venture into danger zones of the islands. Watching Sun set at the Islands is also a special sight.[12]. It is a popular picnic spot with locals and tourists alike. December to March is the best season to visit the Islands.

All links to the island are only through the mainland town of Malpe, which is a major fishing harbor. The beach at this location is enlivening. It is located at a distance of 5 km west of Udupi town, the administrative headquarters for the Islands. Apart from the Islands, Malpe too has tourist attractions such as the Vadabhandeshwara Temple and an image of Sri Balarama consecrated by the saint Madhwacharya the founder of Dvaita Philosophy.

A detailed description of the natural flora and fauna of the Islands and the Deria Bahdur Ghur, have been compiled in a manual by John Sturrocks who was the district collector of Mangalore at that time in 1894.
Flora and fauna

Colonies of Gulls, Scolopacidae (sandpipers) and a few crows have been sighted on the Islands. But on the approach to the Islands from the Malpe beach, Brahminy Kites (Haliastur indus)), Great White Egrets, Grey Egrets (breeding plumage) and groups of large Green Bee-eaters have been recorded.
Visitor Information

The Islands are bereft of buildings, fences, shops. There are no domestic animals either. There are only covered pavilions with park benches on the shore and further inland. Visitors can wander around freely and enjoy the hexagonal formations from vanatge locations. Visitors have to carry drinking water and sun screens since the climate is either very hot or hot. Since the last few yards of the approach to the island involves wading, it may be preferable to avoid wearing sneakers.

Access to the islands

The only way of getting to the islands is by boat. Regular ferry service ply the 6 km distance from the Malpe fishing harbor (which has a ship building yard also) to the islands. However, the frequency of these boats may vary depending on the number of tourists visiting. It is 58 km (36.0 mi) to the North of Mangalore, the coastal city of Karnataka, which is also the nearest airport. The famous religious town Udupi, is about 60 km (37.3 mi) West North West of Mangalore. Mumbai, Udupi and Thiruvananthapuram are linked to Malpe, by the West Coast Railway.[1] The Konkan Railway (map pictured) passes close to the Islands, starting from Mangalore passing through Udupi, Kundapura, Goa, Ratnagiri and Roha close to Mumbai. Malpe is 4 km (2.5 mi) from Udupi town.

Kalasa

Image by arun barboza via Flickr

Kalasa (Kannada: ಕಳಸ) is a holy temple-town located in Chickmagalur district in Karnataka. Kalasa is home to the Kalaseshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kalasa lies 92 Kilometres South-west of Chickmagalur and is located on the banks of the Bhadra River.

Origins and Etymology

The origins of Kalasa are traceable to Mythology. Although unsubstantiated, local myths attribute the origin of Kalasa to an event mentioned found in the Skanda Purana.

Accordingly, the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvathi in Varanasi caused a shift in the Earth's rotation because of the attendance of all Gods and Goddesses. To restore the Earth's balance, Lord Shiva requested Sage Agasthya to travel South. Agasthya however, expressed his wish to witness the wedding. Lord Shiva assured to grant divine vision to the sage, which would enable him to witness the wedding from any part of the world.

Agasthya travelled southward and resided in Kalasa from where he watched the wedding. Local legends state that a pilgrimage to Kalasa brings greater religious merit (punya) than a visit to Varanasi.

The Girija Kalyana (marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvathi) is celebrated in Kalasa every year to commemorate this tradition.

Other legends also state that Sage Vasishta had lived in a hermitage near Kalasa as also the Skanda Dwaya.

Etymology

The word Kalasa is a corruption of the Sanskrit root, Kalasha, which means a waterpot or jug. In the context of Hindu temple architecture, every temple should have a round pinnacle placed at the top, known as the Kalasha.

Geographically, Kalasa is surrounded by the Bhadra river on three sides with the Duggappana Katte hill at the South. Viewed from an altitude, the town resembles a pot, hence the name. The Kalaseshwara temple is located at the base of this hill.

Characteristics

Kalasa is chiefly a temple town, and a tourist spot. It is considered a place of pilgrimage by most visitors who arrive in Kalasa to offer their prayers in the Kalaseshwara, and other temples. A typical trip includes visiting Sringeri, Kalasa, and Horanadu, all in the same day.

Kalasa largely has an agricultural economy and heavily depends on the Bhadra river to meet its water needs. Chief produces include a variety of spices, Coffee, and Ayurvedic medicine. Situated in the heart of the Western Ghats, Kalasa enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year although summers are slightly hot.

Tourist Places

Although Kalasa is pilgrimage spot, it abounds in several tourist attractions such as water spots and of late, private resorts.

Temples

The Kalaseshwara temple is the chief temple of the town. It is currently managed by the Government of Karnataka. Kalasa is notable for these temples:
Kalaseshwara Temple
Hanuman Temple
Venkataramana Temple
Ranjal Mahalakshmi Temple
Vasishta Ashrama

Horanadu

Horanadu (Kannada: ಹೊರನಾಡು) is a hindu holy city located in Chickmagalur district, Karnataka, India. The deity at the Annapoorneshwari Temple at Horanadu is Annapurneshwari. The idol of goddess Annapurneshwari was established in 1973 in the temple.

Horanadu lies amidst beautiful Malnad at a distance of 330 KM from Bengaluru. Distance from Sringeri is 75 Kilometers. Direct buses run from Bengaluru to Horanadu everyday. Bus services are provided by KSRTC and private companies.

Feature

Everyone who visits Horanadu Annapoorna temple is provided with a three course vegetarian meal (including a dessert made from Dhal or Lentils) irrespective of their religion, language, caste, or creed. Male visitors to the temple have to remove their shirts and banians and preferably cover their shoulders with a towel or a shawl as a symbol of respect and humility in front of god.

The main deity of Annapoorna is made of gold and she looks very beautiful. A sense of fulfilment is felt when a person visits this temple and it is said that a person who seeks the goddess' blessings would never have any scarcity for food in life. It is believed that lord Shiva once had a curse and that this curse was reversed when the lord visited Goddess Annapoorna and sought her blessings.

The route to the temple traverses ghats, amazingly dense forests and vegetation. It feels like the most beautiful route one can ever take, with nature in all Her resplendent glory. A trip to the Horanaadu Aadishaktiyatmaka Annapoorneshwari temple would be most fulfilling if all pilgrimage spots en route to the temple are also included in travel plans. Some of the places that will be encountered in that order would be Kukke Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala, Sringeri, Udupi Krishna temple and Kollooru Mookaambike, Kalaseswara temple in Kalasa, and then the Horanaadu Annapoorneshwari temple. Such a trip would be the most purifying and humbling experience of one's life. The tranquility, the warm and courteous people, the feeling of oneness with God, the peace of having God's food in the Kukke, Dharmasthala, Sringeri, Horanaadu Annapoorneeshwari temple halls is a blessing that each one of us can die for.

It is a great fortune indeed to be born an Indian, and to be blessed with the privilege of visiting these divine places on this great, hallowed land.

Kudremukha

Kudremukh (Kannada: ಕುದುರೆಮುಖ) also spelled Kuduremukha is a mountain range in Chikkamagaluru district, in Karnataka, India. It is also the name of a small town situated near the mountain, about 48 kilometers from Karkala and about 20 kilometers from Kalsa. The name Kuduremukha (as it is known by the natives) literally means 'horse-face' (in the local language Kannada) and refers to a particular picturesque view of a side of the mountain that resembles the same.

The town of Kudremukh is primarily an iron ore mining town where the government run Public Sector Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) operates. It is noted for its scenic beauty. Owing to the dense forests, sighting wildlife can be challenging, though the area is rich in wildlife. Nonetheless the drive through the forest ranges can be enchanting and exhilarating. Three important rivers, the Tunga, the Bhadra and the Nethravathi are said to have their origin here. A shrine of goddess Bhagavathi and a Varaha image, 1.8 m within a cave are the main attractions.

The Tunga river and Bhadra river flow freely through the parklands. Kadambi waterfalls area definite point of interest for anyone who travels to the spot. The animals found there include the malabar civet, wild dogs, sloth bear and spotted deer.

Hanumana Gundi Waterfalls

Located 32 km from the Kalasa, the water fall has water falling onto Natural rock formations from a height of more than 100 feet (30 m). Getting into falls involves some trekking. The best time to visit this place is between October and May.

Kudremukh Peak 

Shola Forests of Kudremukh

Kuduremukha forest

view from top

Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) is a government run company which mines iron ore from the Kudremukh hills. KIOCL has been conducting its operations on an area of 4,604.55 ha for over 20 years. Opposition to its activities has built up over the years from environmentalists and wildlife conservationists who are concerned about the threat to the region's flora and fauna, and farmers who are affected by the pollution of the streams that originate in the mining area.

The rainfall in Kuduremukh, which is perhaps one of the highest for any open cast mining operation in the world, greatly accentuates the impacts of siltation as claimed by environmentalists. The topographic and rainfall characteristics in combination with the open cast mining of low grade iron ore and other land-surface disturbances caused by the KIOCL operations results in very high sediment discharge, with over 60% of the total siltation in the Bhadra system being contributed by the mining area which forms less than six per cent of the catchment. With high quality practices adopted by KIOCL to mine, the flora and fauna remained intact, causing no adverse affects on the nature.

KIOCL sends iron ore through pipes running through districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada and is converted to pellets at their plant in Panambur.These pellets are exported to countries like China, Iran, Japan, etc by ships.

Agumbe

Agumbe (Kannada: ಆಗುಂಬೆ) is a village located in the Shimoga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Lying in the Thirthahalli taluk and the Malnad region, Agumbe is among the places in India that receive very heavy rainfall earning it the sobriquet, "Cherrapunji of the South".[1] It is also the home of the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, the only permanent rainforest research station in India.[2] The renowned herpetologist, Romulus Whitaker called Agumbe the capital of King Cobra.[3] An area near Agumbe has been converted into a protected area for Medicinal Plants to help in their conservation.

Since 2005, Naxalite activity has been observed near Agumbe and hence, a lot of Karnataka State Police personnel have been deployed and checkposts created in all intersections. This however has not hindered visitors from visiting the region to enjoy the natural beauty of Agumbe and its surroundings.

Attractions

Sunset Point

Agumbe has a sunset point which receives lot of visitors. On a clear day, one can see the sun setting over the Arabian Sea though the sea is at quite a distance from Agumbe.
A fog-filled valley, view from sunset point

Waterfalls
Kunchikal Falls

Kunchikal Falls is the second highest waterfall in India and ranks 116th in the list of highest waterfalls in the world. Its total height is 1493 ft/455 mts. It is formed by the Varahi river.

Barkana Falls

Barkana Falls is the 10th highest waterfall in India with a height of 850 ft/259 mts. It is formed by the Seeta River.

Onake Abbi Falls

This is another waterfall near Agumbe. In the Kannada language, "Onake" means a pounding stick which is used to pound grains in villages.
Jogigundi

This is a small water fall which is very near to Agumbe, it takes about 10 to 15 min to reach this place.

Getting there

Agumbe is near the town of Thirthahalli which lies on the National Highway NH-13. From the state capital of Bangalore, Agumbe can be reached by taking NH-4 till Tumkur, then NH-206 till Shimoga and then NH-13 to Thirthahalli (a total distance of about 380 km.). Udupi on the Konkan Railway is the nearest railhead. The nearest airport is the Mangalore International Airport.

It can also be reached from Bangalore via Hassan ~ Belur ~ Chikkamagalore ~ Shringeri ~ Agumbe. As of today, this is the best road to reach there. The road is very good and a lot of places like Belur, Chikkamagaluru and Shringeri can be seen on the way.

Malgudi Days

Malgudi Days is a famous television serial which was directed by Shankar Nag and is based on the novels written by R. K. Narayan. Many episodes of this serial were filmed in Agumbe. In 1985, a new set of episodes of Malgudi Days have also been filmed at Agumbe under the direction of Kavitha Lankesh.

Maravanthe

Maravanthe (Kannada: ಮರವಂತೆ) is a beach near Kundapura, Karnataka, India. It is 50 kilometers from Udupi. The national highway NH-17 passes close to this beach (around 100 meters from the shore) and a stretch of a kilometer of this highway is flanked by the seashore of Arabian sea on one side and the Sauparnika River on the other.

Mangalore

Mangalore (pronounced /ˈmæŋɡəlɔr/ ( listen); Tulu: Kudla, ಕುಡ್ಲ; Kannada: ಮಂಗಳೂರು, Mangalūru; Konkani: Kodial, ಕೊಡಿಯಾಲ್; Beary: Maikala, ಮೈಕಾಲ) is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bounded by the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, Mangalore is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada (formerly South Canara) district in southwestern Karnataka.

Mangalore derives its name from the local Hindu deity Mangaladevi. It developed as a port on the Arabian Sea – remaining, to this day, a major port of India. Lying on the backwaters of the Netravati and Gurupura rivers, Mangalore is often used as a staging point for sea traffic along the Malabar Coast. The city has a tropical climate and lies on the path of the Arabian Sea branch of the South-West monsoons. Mangalore's port handles 75% of India's coffee exports and the bulk of the nation's cashew exports.[4]

Mangalore was ruled by several major powers, including the Kadambas, Vijayanagar dynasty, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, and the Portuguese. The city was a source of contention between the British and the Mysore rulers, Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan. Eventually annexed by the British in 1799, Mangalore remained part of the Madras Presidency until India's independence in 1947. The city was unified with the state of Mysore (now called Karnataka) in 1956.[5]

Mangalore is demographically diverse with several languages, including Tulu, Konkani, Kannada, and Beary commonly spoken and understood. The city's landscape is characterized by rolling hills, coconut palms, freshwater streams, and hard red-clay tiled-roof buildings.

Etymology

Mangalore was named after the local Hindu deity Mangaladevi, the presiding deity of the Mangaladevi temple.[7] According to local legend, Matsyendranath, the founder of the Nath tradition, arrived in the area with a princess from Kerala named Parimala or Premaladevi. Having converted Premaladevi to the Nath sect, Matsyendranath renamed her Mangaladevi.[8] After her death, the Mangaladevi temple was consecrated in her honour at Bolar in Mangalore.[9] The city got its name from the Mangaladevi temple.[10]

One of the earliest references to the city's name was made in 715 CE by the Pandyan King Chettian, who called the city Managalapuram.[11] The 11th-century Arabian traveler Ibn Battuta referred to Mangalore as Manjarur in his chronicles.[12] In Kannada, the city is called Mangalūru, a reference to Mangaladevi (the suffix ūru means town or city in Kannada).[9] During the British occupation in 1799, Mangalore (anglicized from Mangalūru), stuck as the official appellation.[13]

Mangalore's diverse communities have different names for the city in their languages. In Tulu, the primary spoken language, the city is called Kudla meaning junction, since the city is situated at the confluence of the Netravati and Phalguni rivers. In Konkani, Mangalore is referred to as Kodial. The Beary name for the city is Maikala, meaning wood charcoal, an attribution to the early practice of producing charcoal from wood on the banks of the Netravati river.[9] On the occasion of Suvarna Karnataka (Golden Karnataka) in 2006, the Government of Karnataka stated that the city would be renamed Mangalooru, though this change in name is not implemented.

History

The area that is now Mangalore has been mentioned in many ancient works of Hindu history. In the epic Ramayana, Lord Rama ruled over the region, while in the epic Mahabharata, Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas, governed the area.[9] Arjuna, the hero of Mahabharata, also visited the area when he travelled from Gokarna to Adur, a village near Kasargod.[17] Mangalore's historical importance is highlighted by the many references to the city by foreign travelers. Cosmas Indicopleustes, a Greek monk, referred to the port of Mangalore as Mangarouth.[18] Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian, made references to a place called Nitrias,[19] while Greek historian Ptolemy referred to a place called Nitra.[20] Ptolemy's and Pliny the Elder's references were probably made to the Netravati River, which flows through Mangalore. Ptolemy also referred to the city as Maganoor in some of his works.[21]

In the third century BCE, the town formed part of the Maurya Empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor, Ashoka of Magadha. The region was known as Sathia (Shantika) during the Mauryan regime. From second century CE to sixth century CE, the Kadamba dynasty ruled over the region. From 567 to 1325, the town was ruled by the native Alupa rulers.[22] The Alupas ruled over the region as feudatories of major regional dynasties like the Chalukyas of Badami, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas of Kalyani, and Hoysalas.[23] Mangalapura (Mangalore) was the capital of the Alupa dynasty until the 14th century.[24] The city, then an important trading zone for Persian merchants, was visited by Adenese merchant Abraham Ben Yiju.[25] The Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, who had visited the town in 1342, referred to it as Manjarun, and stated that the town was situated on a large estuary.[26] By 1345, the Vijayanagara rulers brought the region under their control.[23] Later, the Jain Kings and the Muslim Bangara Kings ruled the town as feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire, and brought the town firmly under an efficient and centralised administration.[22] In 1448, Abdul Razak, the Persian ambassador of Sultan Shah Rukh of Samarkand, visited Mangalore, and was amazed at a glorious temple he saw in the city, en route to Vijayanagara.[27]

European influence in Mangalore can be traced back to 1498, when the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed at St Mary's Island near Mangalore.[28] In 1526, the Portuguese under the viceroyship of Lopo Vaz de Sampaio succedded in defeating the Bangara King and his allies and conquered Mangalore.[29][30][31] The trade passed out of Muslim hands into Portuguese hands.[22] In the mid-16th century, Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Roman Catholics from Goa migrated to Mangalore as a result of Goa Inquisition.[32][33] In 1640, the Keladi Nayaka kingdom defeated the Portuguese and ruled the town until 1762. The Portuguese were allowed to have trade relations with Mangalore.[22] In 1695, the town was torched by Arabs in retaliation to Portuguese restrictions on Arab trade.[34]

Hyder Ali, the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, conquered Mangalore in 1763,[36] consequently bringing the city under his administration until 1767. Mangalore was ruled by the British East India Company from 1767 to 1783,[37] but was subsequently wrested from their control by Hyder Ali's son, Tippu Sultan in 1783.[38] The Second Anglo–Mysore War ended with the Treaty of Mangalore, signed between Tippu Sultan and the British East India Company on March 11, 1784.[39] After the defeat of Tippu at the Fourth Anglo–Mysore War, the city remained in control of the British, headquartering the Canara district under the Madras Presidency.[13][40][41]

The city was largely peaceful during British rule, with urban and infrastructural developments being affected during the period. Mangalore flourished in education and in industry, becoming a commercial centre for trade.[22] The opening of the Lutheran German Basel Mission in 1834 brought many cotton weaving and tile manufacturers to the city.[42] When Canara (part of the Madras Presidency until this time) was bifurcated into North Canara and South Canara in 1860, Mangalore was transferred into South Canara and became its headquarters.[13] South Canara remained under Madras Presidency, while North Canara was transferred to Bombay Presidency in 1861.[43] The enactment of the Madras Town Improvement Act (1865) mandated the establishment of the Municipal council on May 23, 1866, which was responsible for urban planning and providing civic amenities.[17] Roman Catholic missions to Mangalore like the Italian Jesuit "Mangalore Mission" of 1878 played an important role in education, health, and social welfare.[44] The linking of Mangalore in 1907 to the Southern Railway, and the subsequent proliferation of motor vehicles in India, further increased trade and communication between the city and the rest of the country.[45]

As a result of the States Reorganisation Act (1956), Mangalore (part of the Madras Presidency until this time) was incorporated into the dominion of the newly created Mysore State (now called Karnataka).[5] Mangalore is a major city of Karnataka, providing the state with access to the Arabian Sea coastline. Mangalore experienced significant growth in the decades 1970–80, with the opening of New Mangalore Port on May 4, 1974 and commissioning of Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited on March 15, 1976.[46][47] The late 20th century saw Mangalore develop as a business, commercial and information technology (IT) centre, although the traditional red tile-roofed houses are still retained in the city.

Transport

Mangalore's location makes it accessible via all forms of transport. Transport systems in Mangalore include private buses, KSRTC buses, trains, taxis and autorickshaws.

Three National Highways pass through Mangalore. NH-17, which runs from Panvel (in Maharashtra) to Edapally Junction (near Cochin in Kerala), passes through Mangalore in a north–south direction, while NH-48 runs eastward to Bangalore. NH-13 runs north-east from Mangalore to Solapur.[137] National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is upgrading the national highways connecting New Mangalore Port to Surathkal on NH-17 and BC Road junction on NH-48. Under the port connectivity programme of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), a 37.5-kilometre (23.3 mi) stretch of these highways will be upgraded from two-lane to four-lane roads.[138]

Mangalore's city bus service is operated by private operators and provides access within city limits and beyond. Two distinct sets of routes for the buses exist – city routes are covered by city buses, while intercity routes are covered by service and express buses. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates long distance bus services from Mangalore to other parts of the state.[139] The other key players who run bus services from Mangalore are the Dakshina Kannada Bus Operators Association (DKBOA) and the Canara Bus Operators Association (CBOA).[140] These buses usually ply from the Mangalore Bus Station. White coloured taxis also traverse most of the city. Another mode for local transport is the autorickshaw.

Rail connectivity in Mangalore was established in 1907. Mangalore was also the starting point of India’s longest rail route.[45] The city has two railway stations – Mangalore Central (at Hampankatta) and Mangalore Junction (at Kankanadi).[141] A metre gauge railway track, built through the Western Ghats, connects Mangalore with Hassan. The broad gauge track connecting Mangalore to Bangalore via Hassan was opened to freight traffic in May 2006 [142] and passenger traffic in December 2007.[143] Mangalore is also connected to Chennai through the Southern Railway and to Mumbai via the Konkan Railway.[144]

The Mangalore Harbour has shipping, storage, and logistical services, while the New Mangalore Port handles dry, bulk, and fluid cargoes. The New Mangalore Port is also well equipped to handle petroleum oil lubricants, crude products and LPG containers. It is also the station for the coast guard. This artificial harbour is India's ninth largest port, in terms of cargo handling, and is the only major port in Karnataka.[52][145]

Mangalore International Airport (IATA: IXE) is near Bajpe, and is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-east of the city centre. It is the second airport in Karnataka to operate flights to international destinations

Moodbidri

Moodabidri (Tulu / Kannada:ಮೂಡಬಿದ್ರಿ) (also called Mudbidri, Moodbiri), an ancient center of Jain learning, is a small town 37 km northeast of the Dakshin Kannada district headquarters, Mangalore, in Karnataka, India.

Because of widely grown bamboo in ancient days, this place got named as Moodabidri. Moodabidri comes from two words Moodu and Bidiru. Moodu means East and Bidiru means bamboo. This place was also known as Mooduvenupura (Kannada: ಮೂಡುವೇಣುಪುರ).

Its average elevation is 147 metres (482 feet).

Location

Moodbidri is on National Highway 13. Moodabidri is accessible from Mangalore by bus. Just 38 km away. You can reach Mangalore by train, bus or air. Mangalore Airport is just  20 away from Moodbidri. It is 53 km away from Udupi, place of world fame Sree krishna temple. Also it is near to another jain centric place called Karkala. The other nearby places are Venoor, Kudremukh.

History
Typical Yakshagana Artist
Gowri Temple located at heart of the city is the oldest temple in Moodbidiri. The temple is said to have been built in 7th century.
Hanuman Temple located at heart of the city is the most famous temple around Moodbidri. People from many religions including Hindus, Muslims and Christians offer prayers to the Lord Hanuman.

There are 18 temples, 18 lakes, 18 Jaina Basadis and 18 roads connecting various villages in Moodbidri.

During 14th–16th centuries this town emerged as a center of Jain religion, culture, art and architecture. 18 Jain temples, snown as Basadis, were constructed during this period. The Jain Math at Moodabadri is headed by a Bhattaraka belonging to the Mula Sangh order.

The most famous among them are Guru basadi, Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi and Ammanavara Basadi.
Guru basadi is the earliest of the Jain monuments. A stone idol of Parshwanatha, about 3.5 metres tall, is installed in the sanctum of this basadi. Here the rare Jain palm leaf manuscripts of 12th century A.D. known as ‘Dhavala texts’ are preserved.
Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani basadi is the largest and the most ornate of the Jain temples of this region. The common people also call this temple as Thousand pillared temple (Savira Kambada Basadi) . This is a large granite temple built in 1430 A.D. The 2.5 metres tall bronze image of Lord Chandranatha Swami in the sanctum of this basadi is considered to be very sacred. This three storeyed construction was supported by the rulers, the Jain Bhattaraka Swamiji, merchants and the common people. The temple is famous for the open pillared hall in front, consisting of a large variety of ornate pillars decorated with carvings typical of Vijayanagara style. A 15-meter tall single stone pillar called manastambha stands in front of the basadi.

Ratnakara Varni, the medieval Kannada author of Bharatesha Vaibhava belonged to this place. The famous Jain canonical texts known as Dhavala texts and also a number of palm leaf manuscripts of historical and literacy value are preserved in the Jain Math (monastery).

Moodabidri was the seat of the Chowtas, a Jain ruling family, who were originally located at Puthige, about 5 km from here. They moved their capital to Moodabidri in the 17th century. The remains of the 17th century Chowta Palace is known for its carved wooden pillars and ceilings.

Dharmasthala

Dharmasthala (Kannada/Tulu:ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳ) is a temple village on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangadi taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.[1]

The temple is devoted to Shiva and houses a linga of gold. The temple is unusual in that it is run by a Jain administration and poojas are conducted by Hindu priests of Madhva order. Lakshadeepa- the festival of lights is the annual festival of Dharmasthala comes off in November-December[2]. On an average the flow of pilgrims is about 10,000 people a day. A mechanised kitchen provides free food for all pilgrims and there are guest houses with modern amenities.

Legend

It has been told in Dharmasthala that the Shiva Linga in Dharmasthala was brought to Dharmasthala by a man named Annappa. Legend is that he used to work for the Heggade family. Once when the Heggade he was serving wanted to worship Lord Shiva, Annappa had assured him to get one linga and vanished from the sight. Surprisingly next day morning, by the time all woke up, he had already established the linga in Dharmasthala, a few metres away from Heggade's house.

Later it was known that the Linga was from Kadri near Mangalore, from the Kadri temple. By then, Annappa had vanished and he was never again sighted in the vicinity. Now people in Dharmasthala worship Annappa as Annappa Panjurli, a local god deva and a hero.

Dharmasthala has not been content being a source of inspiration to the devout. Having expanded the meaning of Dharma to encompasses the advancement of society at large, it has played an active role in bettering the lives of communities far and wide. Its initiatives have aimed at renewing the Paid and hope within, so that people may be helped to help themselves.

800 Years ago, Dharmasthala was known as Kuduma in Mallarmadi[3], then a village in Belthangady. Here lived the Jain Chieftain Birmanna Pergade and his wife Ammu Ballathi in a house called Nelliadi Beedu. Simple, pious and affectionate people, the pergade family was known for its generosity and hospitality to all.

According to the legend, the guardian angels of Dharma assumed human forms and arrived at pergade's abode in search of a place where Dharma was being practiced and could be continued and propagated. As was their habit, the pergade couple hosted these illustrious visitors with all their wherewithal, and great respect. Pleased by their sincerity and generosity, that night the Dharma Daivas appeared in the dreams of Pergade. They explained the purpose of their visit to him and instructed him to vacate his house for the worship of the Daivas and dedicate his life to the propagation of Dharma.

Asking no questions, the Pergade built himself another house and began worshiping the Daivas at Nelliadi Beedu. This continues even today. As they continued their worship and their practice of hospitality, the Dharma Daivas again appeared before the Pergade to build separate shrines to consecrate the four Daivas — Kalarahu, Kalarkayi, Kumaraswamy and Kanyakumari. Also, Pergade was instructed to choose two persons of noble birth to act as the Daivas's oracles and four worthy persons to assist Pergade in his duties as the Executive Head of the Shrines. The oracles of Daivas are called Delampadithaya and Manavolithaya. In return, the Daivas promised Pergade protection for his family, abundance of charity and renown for the Kshetra. Pergade, as desired, built the shrines and invited Brahman priests to perform the rituals. These priests requested Pergade to also install a Shivalinga beside the native Daivas. The Daivas then sent their vassal Annappa Swamy to procure the linga of Lord Manjunatheshwara from Kadri, near Mangalore. Subsequently, the Manjunatha temple was built around the linga.

Around the 16th Century, Devaraja Heggade invited Shri Vadiraja Swami of Udupi to visit the place. The Swamiji gladly came but refused to accept Bhiksha (food offering) because the idol of lord Manjunatha had not been consecrated according to vedic rites. Shri Heggade then requested the Swamiji to reconsecrate the Shivalinga himself. After doing so, Swamiji arranged for the pujas for the Shivalinga according to Madhwa practices.

Pleased by the observance of the vedic rites and Heggade's charity to all, the Swamiji named the place Dharmasthala, the abode of religion and charity. Thus, the roots of charity and religious tolerance established by the Pergades 600 Years ago have been nurtured and strengthened by the Heggade family, Heggade being a derivative from Pergade. And today's Dharmasthala blossoms with the fruit of this selfless dedication.

Anna dānā

The average flow of pilgrims is about 10,000 people everyday.Every one of the thousands of pilgrims who daily visit shri Kshetra Dharmasthala is an honored guest irrespective of caste, creed, culture or status.The "Anna Daana"(free food) is perhaps one of the most impressive events that takes place at the holy temple.Free food is provided to devotees who come in thousands every day.The temple has modern machinery and makes quality food continuously through out the day.Temple does not differentiate between the rich and the poor for the Anna Dhaana.The dining hall is known as "Annapoorna" .

Vidya dānā

Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala by the SDMCET Society manages a 25 institutions ranging from primary schools, Gurukula to teach yoga, Sanskrit, and professional courses in Engineering, Medicine, and Dental Sciences in Dharmasthala, Ujire, Mangalore, Udupi, Dharwad, Hassan, Mysore and other places of Karnataka state.

The Siddavana gurukula started by the Late Manjayya Heggade has become a model educational institution. Over 250 students are provided free lodging and boarding and learn yoga, Sanskrit in addition to basic school curriculum. The specialty of this institution is its endeavor to teach values based on Indian Culture.

Educational Institutions
SDM College, Ujire
SDM College of Engineering and Technology,Dharwad
SDM College of Medical Sciences,Dharwad
SDM College of Dental Sciences , Dharwad
MMK and SDM Women’s College, Mysore
SDM Institute for Management Development, Mysore
SDM Law college, Mangalore
SDM BBM college, Mangalore
SDM Ayurvedic college, Udupi
SDM Secondary School, Ujire
SDM English Medium School, Ujire
SDM College of Ayurveda, Hassan
SDM Ayurveda Hospital, Hassan
Rathnamanasa Vidhyarthi Nilaya, Ujire

Aushada dānā

In the field of health care, the medical trust also provides services to eradicate and prevent many diseases in local villages. The mobile hospital established by poojya shri Heggade is fully equipped to deal with emergencies and to provide medical treatment to the rural folk in remote parts of the Malnad area. A modern tuberculosis sanitorium was built by Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Medical Trust to give relief to the patients of tuberculosis. It has since been converted into a general hospital. The Ayurvedic Hospitals at Udupi and Hassan provide Ayurvedic medicines as per the ancient text. The Nature Cure Hospital, built on the banks of the Netravathi River, uses a system based on the five elements of Air, Earth, Ether, Water and Light.

SDM Eye Hospital at Mangalore, is a modern scientific eye treatment centre. The SDM Dental Hospital serves regular dental needs and provides specialised treatments such as oral implants, surgery for cleft lip and other orthodontic surgeries.

Shri Heggade has been actively involved in propagating the practice of Yoga, the ancient system of fitness. Surya Namaskara Camps are regularly organised where Yoga is taught. Further 250 high school teachers are trained in Yoga every year, who in turn teach at least 100 students each.

Abhaya dānā

Free mass weddings which were started in 1972 have gained popularity. Every year hundreds of couples are getting married (Saamoohika Vivaha Mahotsava) here. Following the tradition of the Kshetra where all religions and castes are welcome, hundreds of couples are married in accordance with their personal religious rite. The expenses of the wedding dress, Mangalsutra and Wedding feast for a limited number of the couple's guests are borne by the Kshetra

Heggade family

The present head of Dharmasthala, Padmabhushan Dr.D. Veerendra Heggade, the 21st in succession to the Dharmadhikari Peetha, has launched several socio-economic programmes such as free mass weddings which were started in 1973.

In 1973 a statue of Lord Bahubali carved out of a single rock, was installed at Dharmasthala on a low hill near the Manjunatha temple. It was about 39 foot (12 m) high and weighed about 175 tonnes.

More than 25 institutions from primary schools to professional colleges are run in and around Dharmasthala. Old and decrepit temples have been renovated, taking care to preserve the traditional architecture. Ancient manuscripts and paintings have been painstakingly restored and preserved for posterity. A museum of antique objects has been established. A car museum houses a rare collection of vintage cars. Every year, a Sarva Dharma Sammelan (multi religious meet) is held at Dharmasthala, which attracts spiritual leaders from various faiths and schools, and patrons of art and literature.

Dharmasthala is also among of the few pilgrim centers in India which provides free boarding and lodging to all the visiting devotees.