Excursion Mangaluru city orientation tour at Mangalore

Mangalore - known as Mangaluru in the local language, was once a famous port, known in the 6th century as a major source of pepper. It was mentioned in writings of the 14th century Arab traveller Ibn Batuta, who noted its trade in pepper and ginger, and the presence of merchants from Persia and Yemen. Perhaps some of its good luck is due to its name, which comes from Mangladevi, the Goddess of Fortune.

Mangalore and Cashew Factory

Travel through this small town, past government buildings and private homes, rice paddies and fertile fields, to learn more about one of the world's most popular nuts - cashew nut. Visit a cashew factory, where you will see the various stages of processing, from peeling the outer and inner skin, to segregating the nuts according to their size and colour. If you are one of those who fish for cashews in the mixed nuts, you might want to treat yourself to a big bag of the real thing which is available for sale.

Kadri Manjunath Temple

Your next stop will be at the 11th century Kadri Manjunath Temple, an important centre for the worship of Lord Shiva (one of the holy Hindu trinity), and the Natha-Pantha cult - an outgrowth of Hinduism. Enshrined in the unusual square and towered sanctuary are a number of superb bronzes. There is also a Shiva lingam that is believed to have the power to fulfil a wish made while pouring water on it. The main temple is surrounded by nine water tanks, and a number of smaller shrines dedicated to other gods, including Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed god who is the remover of obstacles, and the frightening goddess Durga.

The temple also has traces of Buddhist influence, including a life-sized, three-faced, six-armed figure of a seated Bodhisattva with enamelled eyes and an intricately carved crown.

St. Aloysius Chapel and GokarnathTemple                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Next visit the Romanesque-style St. Aloysius Chapel on Lighthouse Hill, sometimes referred to as the Sistine Chapel of South India. Its 19th century frescoes, painted by the Italian-trained Jesuit priest Moscheni, envelope the walls and ceilings in Biblical scenes. Whether or not it is due to his influence, the town does have a Roman Catholic population of about 20%, extraordinarily high for an Indian city.

Your last stop is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Hoysala style Gokarnath Temple was built by a Hindu businessman for the non-Brahmins of Mangalore, who were denied entry to Brahmin Temples. After your tour of the temple you will return to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest: Mangalore, St.Aloysius Chapel, Kadri Manjunath Temple, Gorakhnath Temple

Note

Please Note: The tour involves a moderate amount of walking for approximately 1.07 miles (about 1.7 kilometres), at times over uneven surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and the visited sites. Proper attire is required to visit the temple. Shorts and short skirts are not allowed. Women must have their shoulders covered. Shoes must be removed prior to entering the temples. We suggest bringing along a pair of thick socks because the pavement might be hot. No photography is allowed inside the St. Aloysius Chapel and the sanctum sanctorum of the 1000 pillar temple. Sites may be crowded. Guests are advised that infrastructure is basic and local conditions may be challenging: coaches, guides, hotels, restaurants, equipment, and services are the best-available in the area, but may not be up to the standards of those found on other excursions. Guides are not licensed. They are English speaking housewives, teachers and locals. therefore, we urge flexibility and understanding. The factory will be noisy due to the machines with the cashew shell dust in the air. All processes will be viewed from a distance for safety. Guests should exercise caution when walking in the factory.