Mangalore in Karnataka, known for its sandy beautiful beaches, ancient temples and industries, is one of the fastest developing cities in India. A bustling major port in the Arabian Sea, Mangalore is a coastal city and a busy commercial centre. The name is derived out of its patron deity, Goddess Mangala Devi and the scenic land is dominated by distinctive coconut palms amidst the backdrop of rolling hills and majestic streams.

Mangalore is demographically diverse with several languages, including Tulu, Konkani, Kannada, and Beary bashe that are commonly spoken. The most typical food enjoyed here is the Udupi-style and South Indian cuisine, which serve the staple fare of idli, wada, a variety of dosas and coconut curry with rice. An absolute favourite and a must try is their home-grown aromatic filter coffee. Due to some of its well-known educational institutes it attracts a large number of students from various parts of India.

Best time to visit:

The most pleasant months in Mangalore are from December to February during when the humidity and temperature are the lowest.

Top five places to see:

Mangalore Beach – This picturesque beach is known for its clean surroundings and a beautiful lighthouse. It is an ideal picnic spot with clean and calm atmosphere. The silvery softy sand beach and breezy wind from Arabian Sea offers an unparalleled beauty and solitude. The view of sunset from this beach is awesome.

Sultan Battery – This is a watchtower was built for preventing entry of warships into the Gurpur River. Tipu Sultan built this miniature fortress and made provision for mounting cannons all around. Now the remaining part of the fort is called as Tipu's Well. From the top of the Battery one can enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Pilikula Lake – This is a hotspot for people who are looking forward to enjoying scenic beauty and peace. Pilikula has a huge lake and beautifully laid gardens encircling the entire lake. Boating facilities are available in the lake.

Botanical Garden, Zoo and Theme Park – A huge botanical garden comprising of a variety of trees and a zoo comprising of several wild animals marks the speciality of this zoo. Here, wild animals are not kept in cages and visitors can watch them in their natural habitat through wide trenches or wire mesh. The zoo also houses a wide variety of snakes and birds.

Mangaladevi Temple – This temple has influence on the name and importance of Mangalore. This city is called as Mangalore just because of this temple. The temple is built in memory of the princess of Malabar Mangale and the Goddess Mangale is worshiped as Shakti.