Mangalore Udipi Tour Package - Famous Port city of South India

Mangalore Tour Package: Overview

Mangalore is located about 371 km from the state capital Bangalore. Mangalore is also known as port city of the state Karnataka. Mangalore is the most popular tourist place in Karnataka state. Its green hills and golden beachfront together with the emerald backwaters  makes Mangalore a popular tourist destination for nature lovers. There are so many places to visit in Mangalore such as Sri Mangala Devi Mandir, Panambur Beach, Sammilan Shetty's Butterfly Park etc.

Udipi Overview

Another near by attraction is Udupi. Udupi is a land of celestial beauty and lies between the abundant mountains of the Western Ghats on the east and the immense calm Arabian Sea on the west. Udupi also known as ‘Parashurama Srishti' is very popular for its huge cultural inheritance. HolidayTravel organises special 3 days package tour for family, friends and loved once.

What is unique in Mangalore and why?

Mangalore is well known for its amazing beaches, seaports and a diverse culture.  It is a chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka which dates back to the 14th century. It is believed that the city got its first port, when the local rulers started trading with the kingdoms of Persia.  Being a historically important place, Mangalore also famous for its rich heritage temples like Mangaladevi Temple, Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, St. Aloysius Church. Mangaladevi Temple is very famous among all other attractions as Mangalore was named after this temple. Mangala Devi is the deity of the royal family of Mangalore with temple formed with name of Mangaladevi. Mangladevi temple was established in the 19th century by the King of the Ahepa dynasty. 

What is unique in Udipi and why?

Suggested Mangalore Tour Package: Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival Mangalore

Arrive Mangalore and check in at hotel. Later visit Sri Mangala Devi Mandir, Panambur Beach, Sammilan Shetty's Butterfly Park.Overnight stay at Mangalore.

Day 2 - Mangalore - Udipi (60 km / 1.5 hours)

After breakfast leave for Udupi and explore Malpe beach and St. Mary's Island. St. Mary's Islands also known as Coconut Island, A set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast in Udupi. They are known for their distinctive geological formation of columnar basaltic lava. Overnight Stay at Udipi.

Day 3 - Udipi - Mangalore (60 km / 1.5 hours)

After breakfast check out from hotel and proceed to Mangalore airport/ railway station for your flight / train for onward/return journey.

                                                                                 (courtesy kannadigaworld.com)

How to Reach Mangalore

By Air

Mangalore International Airport located approximately 20 kilometers north-east from the center of the Mangalore city, near Bajpe. This airport offers domestic flights to Goa, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai and Kozhikode. International services are provided by Air-India Express to Doha, Kuwait, Sharjah, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, and Muscat.

By Rail

Mangalore is a major railway junction and is well connected to the rest of India by several trains. The main station is the Mangalore Central Railway Station (Mangalore Railway Station) in the heart of the city. You can catch the Malabar Express, Mangalore Mail, Parasuram Express and Matsyagandha Express from this station. The other station is Mangalore Junction at Kakanadi.

By Bus

Mangalore is extremely well connected by road to the rest of India. Two important national highways (NH 17 and NH 48) pass through Mangalore. There are state-run and private bus services to Mangalore from all parts of Karnataka as well as neighbouring states such as Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa. If you choose to drive to Mangalore, you will come across scenic vistas on the coastal highway.

Places to visit in Mangalore

Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park : It is located in village of Belvai. This open-air butterfly conservation park is spread across 7.35 acres of land, located at the foot of Kanthavara Forest in Belvai. The place, situated amidst Western Ghats, hosts more than 100 species of butterflies, including some of the endemic and most dazzling butterflies of the world. With its lush greenery and a large number of butterfly species, the park also offers great vistas for photography enthusiasts.

Shri Manjunatha Temple: It  is a beautiful temple complex with scenic views of Mangalore and the surrounding forests. The temple evokes a sense of peace and spirituality and it is said that the idol of the main deity--Lord Shiva is around 1000 years old. The temple itself is one of the oldest in the city. The temple complex has many temples within the premises, including a Ganesha Temple. The temple is situated atop a hillock, with a fountain of fresh water streaming down the mountains. There is also a swimming pool where devotees can take a holy dip. The temple is a must-visit when in Mangalore.

Sri Mangala Devi Temple : This temple was built by Gorakhnath, a disciple of Matsyendranath, spiritual leader of the Nath sect prevalent here in the 9 and 10 CE. The temple was built for Goddess Shakti. The deity came to be known as Mangala Devi. The temple came into prominence under the Alupa dynasty of Kundavarma (10 CE).

Resplendent in a silk sari and adorned with ornaments, her abhaya hasta reassuring her devotees of her eternal protection, the bimba (true form) of the devi is revealed only in the morning, before the puja commences. There are three ancient pipal trees on the premises, one of which has a platform for nagapratisthe.

Panambur Beach : Panambur Beach serves as the site of kite festivals during the last week of April for a group of kite makers and kite flyers. Apart from New Mangalore Port, Mangalore Chemical and Fertilizers Factory and the Kudremukh Iron Ore Factory are also located near the beach.

                                                                                (courtesy www.tripadvisor.in)

Things to do in Mangalore

Mangalore has lots of sites and religious structures. The things to do list include visits to these religious structures. Drive or walk by the shore line of the rugged sea or simply enjoy the beach. Shop till you drop in Mangalore. Buy coir and coconut handicrafts, metal idols, jewellery etc and after shopping treat yourself with some spicy Mangalorean cuisine. Don’t forget to try some really spicy and sumptuous coconut based seafood and non-vegetarian curries.

Shopping in Mangalore : Mangalore is well-known for silk saris, gold and silver jewelleries that are intricately designed. The beautifully carved ivory and sandalwood artefacts make for some great souvenir items. The other shopping options include handicraft items and furniture that are worth purchasing.

Outdoor activities: In Mangalore you can do some outdoor activities which include various water sports at the Ullal beach here. Some of the activities that you can enjoy here are dolphin watching, kayaking and jet-skiing among others.

Where to Eat in Mangalore

Ayodhya Restaurant: It is situated at Nav Bharat Circle is great for breakfasts and light lunch. A variety of dosas, must-eat Mangalore buns, biscuit rottis and idlis are all available from 6:30 AM. The ambience is comfortable and cozy. The food is excellent and the service is efficient here. The restaurant is famous for its authentic Mangalorean cuisine. You must try different flavours of ghee dosas, appams, vastad roti and parotas. Give your palate a Mangalorean twist at this place, You are sure to be surprised at the sheer goodness of food!

Kadal: Experience the fresh tastes of Mangalorean cuisine with beautiful views of the city below at Kadal. The fresh prawn ghee roast, chicken uruval and the 'specialty of the day' are highly recommended. The fine-dining restaurant offers great cuisine with great views! The warmly-lit interiors create an inviting ambience where you can dine in leisure.

Chutney : It is an in-house multi-cuisine vegetarian restaurant at Hotel Deepa Comforts. This restaurant serves great South Indian food along with a selection of yummy North Indian and Chinese cuisine. The humungous South Indian thali is worth a try served with the unusual but delicious addition of thick tomato soup. The starters are delicious, especially the Paneer Malai Tikka and chaats from the chaat menu. The staff at the restaurant is professional and gracious. The ambience is soothing and warm. For the main course, Gobhi Shanghai, Punjabi Thali and Paper Masala Dosa come highly recommended.

Festivals & Events in Mangalore

Kambla or buffalo races held in December is a unique festival in Mangalore. When the paddy fields are full of water, the buffaloes are brought sleek and shining for this very important event in the year’s calendar. Water and mud spraying all over, the buffaloes charge off towards the finish line. For anybody who has had these huge creatures take hours to amble out of the way of their car, a surprise waits!