Mangalore is known as Karnataka’s chief port city which sits between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. The city gives you the chance to admire its long historical and religious heritage with lush green hills and beautiful beaches. There are a lot of places to visit in Mangalore in 1 day.
Mangalore has the vibe of a hectic city but is a tropical paradise with relaxed beaches. The top attractions here are various beaches like Sasihithlu Beach, Someshwara Beach, Surathkal Beach, Tannirbhavi Beach, Ullal Beach, and Panambur Beach. You can have a relaxing day here surrounded by the soothing sounds of waves and beautiful views of green landscapes.
There are many temples in Mangalore where devotees can offer prayers like Thousand Pillar Temple, Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple, Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple, Mangaladevi Temple, Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Kateel Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple, and Kudroli Gokarnath Temple. These are also historical temples renowned for their beautiful architecture and associated with interesting stories.
Mangalore offers a blend of culture, religion, and natural wonder making it ideal for an exciting one-day trip. You can take a stroll along the slope which has various tea, coffee, and spice plantations. You can also visit various churches including Rosario Cathedral, Milagres Church, and St Aloysius Chapel. A walk along Kadri Hill Park and Pilikula Park will soothe your senses. A visit to the Pilikula Regional Science Center, and Bejai Museum is perfect if you want to educate yourself or your kids.
- Mangalore Places to visit in 1 Day - Option 1: Kadri Manjunatheswarar Temple, Kadri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, Kudroli Sri Bhagavathi Temple, St. Aloysius Chapel
- Mangalore Places to visit in 1 Day - Option 2: Someshwara Beach, Ullal Beach, Someshwara Temple, Mangaladevi Temple
Mangalore is a pleasant city offering much to explore for all types of travelers. Here is the list of places to visit in Mangalore in 1 day:
1. Kadri Manjunatheswarar Temple
Kadri Manjunatheswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Manjunatha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Situated on the Kadri hills in Mangalore, the temple consists of various other deities like Machendranath, Gorakhnath, Shringinath, Lokeshwara, Manjushri, and Buddha.
The elevated point of the temple complex has many water ponds and a natural spring called Gomukha. Many people take a bath here as it is believed that the water here flows from river Bhageerathi in Kashi which would clean away all negativity. A dip in the holy water is auspicious before entering the temple to worship. There is a 5 feet tall Deepasthambha in front of the temple. It is illuminated with Diyas during Deepothsava which is a beautiful sight to behold.
2. Someshwara Beach
Someshwara Beach is a serene getaway located in coastal Karnataka. The beach has a long and beautiful coastline with shining sand and is filled with rock boulders called Rudra Shile. The beach is named after Lord Somanatha whose temple is located on the seashore.
It is a rocky beach with a great horizon view in the evening, so you can enjoy viewing the sunset with your loved ones. It also has a hill named Ottinene Hill where you can view the river Netravati confluence with the Arabian Sea, forming a beautiful scenic spot of the Ullal Delta. The beach is great for relaxing and observing the ocean as swimming is dangerous here due to currents and rock boulders.
3. Kadri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple
Kudroli Gokarnath Temple is a revered temple in Mangalore dedicated to a form of Lord Shiva named Lord Gokarnanatheshwara. It is beautifully decorated with murals that show mythical stories and sculptures of various gods and goddesses. The massive compound of the temple has beautiful marble flooring.
Kadri Gokarnanatheshwara temple hosts many festivals like Maha Shivaratri, Krishnashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nagara Panchami, Deepavali, Navaratri, and Sri Narayana Jayanthi. The Navratri and Dussehra celebration are very prominent in this temple popularly called Mangalore Dasara. The idols of Sharada Matha and Maha Ganapati, life-size idols of Nava Durgas are later taken for a grand procession through the city which attracts many people.
4. Kudroli Sri Bhagavathi Temple
Kudroli Sri Bhagavathi Temple is a historical temple located in Mangalore. It is dedicated to the worship of Shri Cheerumbha Bhagavathi. It is beautifully designed and renovated with black granite and intricate wood carving by various artists. You can also admire the beautiful single-stone granite carving called Veerastambha which records heroic deeds. You can also see the statue of Shri Narayana Guru carved in white marble which is famously situated at the entrance here.
The Kudroli Sri Bhagavathi Temple holds a Nadavali festival once every year in the month of March. The temple also hosts a grand festival called Kaliyata once in 25 years which is a mix of all festivals held in 17 other temples spread across Udupi. These festivals are attended by many people from all over India.
5. St. Aloysius Chapel
St Aloysius Chapel is a Christian chapel located on Lighthouse Hill in Mangalore. The interior of the chapel is beautifully decorated with paintings by Antonio Moscheni that cover almost all of the walls. It has a line of circular pillars that holds an arched ceiling with oil paintings that depict the life of Aloysius Gonzaga to whom the chapel is dedicated.
St. Aloysius Chapel is an architectural and artistic marvel that attracts people from all over the world. Other paintings in the chapel beautifully depict the life events of Jesus Christ like birth, baptism, the wedding feast at Cana, and the crucifixion of Jesus. This chapel also offers panoramic unobstructed views of the Arabian Sea as it is located at an elevation.
6. Mangaladevi Temple
Mangaladevi Temple is a revered temple located at Bolara in Mangalore. It is a Hindu shrine dedicated to the worship of the goddess Shakti. The presiding deity of the temple is the form of Goddess Mangaladevi and Mangalore city gets its name from her. The temple is beautifully designed with a two-storeyed gopura in which the upper floor is used as a hall of drum beating during various festivals.
Built with laterite, the temple has a beautiful conical roof made of terracotta tile supported from inside by a wooden structure. This temple is famous for hosting special pujas during Navratri and the Rathothsava during Dussehra. The goddess is mounted on the grand chariot and pulled with thick ropes by a large number of devotees in a procession that goes to Marnamikatte, where the goddess and the Shami tree are worshiped together.
7. Ullal Beach
Ullal Beach is a popular tourist spot in Mangalore near the Western Ghats. It gives a panoramic view of the coastline of the Arabian sea. The coastline has sparkling sand with clear water reflecting the blue sky. It has spots for capturing beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
The views from Ullal Beach are captivating. You can spend hours on the beach as it is less crowded than other beaches. It is surrounded by stretches of coconut trees, tall lush casuarinas, and dense palm trees. You can also visit the ruined fort of Abbakka Devi and the Jain temples located along the coastline. The famous Dargah of Sayed Mohammed Shereful Madani is also located nearby.
8. Someshwara Temple
Someshwara Temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. The deity is believed to be residing in the temple in the form of Lord Somanatha. The temple is located on Someshwara Beach near the Arabian Sea at the Western Ghats in Ullal.
Someshwara Temple also acts as a pilgrimage center for performing Pitrakrayas which are the last rituals performed for the departed souls by Hindus. Many people come here to perform the last rites for their loved ones. The temple hosts the annual festival of Maha Shivaratri during Feb- Mar which is attended by many visitors. While visiting the temple you can also enjoy the beautiful coastline of Someshwara Beach.
Apart from various temples, chapels, and beaches in Mangalore, you can visit a local cashew nut factory. There is also a Bejai Museum for history buffs with collections of ancient coins, artifacts, weapons, items of daily use, paintings, and sculptures. Another attraction to visit in Mangalore is the Sultan Battery.
Mangalore is a great place to shop as there are a wide variety of items available catering to every visitor's taste. You can buy intricately carved artifacts made of sandalwood and ivory as souvenirs. There are various local handicraft items to choose from. It is famous for the exclusive pure silk sarees that are made locally here. You can also find various replica statues of gods and goddesses that are handmade by the locals.
As Mangalore is a coastal region, it is popular for varieties of fishes like Mackerel, Sardine, and Lady Fish which are found in the Arabian sea. These are popular varieties that are used to make the signature Mangaluru Fish Curry dish. You should enjoy the delicious local fish curry which is served with traditional Neer dosa and boiled rice. Other popular dishes to try here are Chicken Gussi with Kori roti. There are also local street foods that you can enjoy such as Goli Bajji, Gujje Podi, Mandakki, and Kadale Manoli with roti.
