Mangalore lies on the backwaters of Netravati and Gurupura rivers. It was once declared as the eight cleanest city in India. Lying between Arabian Sea and Western Ghats, Mangalore still remains as an important port of India. Its also one of the main pilgrimage centers with many important temples , church and mosques situated here. Some major ones being Mangladevi temple, Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Gokarnatha Temple and many more.

KADRI MANJUNATH TEMPLE

Kadri Temple is situated 4 km from the city. This is one of the oldest temple in Mangalore said to be built during the 10th or 11th century, dates back to about 1068 AD. It is a square temple located on the hill with nine tanks surrounded by a garden. This is the temple of lord Shiva. The bronze statue of lord shiva is considered to be the best bronze statue in India. There are also some caves on the hill top, known to be Pandavas cave.Behind the temple of Manjunatha, on to the west is the temple of Goddess Durga. To the Northern side is the temple of Lord Ganesha.There is also a Mutt called jogi mutt. Kadri temple has attracted hundreds of tourists very year.Several festivals are celebrated with devotion and joy at Kadri throughout the year. During Kadiruthsava on the bhadrapada shuddha thadige, Ganesha chathurthi,Navarathri, Karthika Maasa and from Deepavali to Paththanaaje special poojas and religious ceremonies are held. Flag hoisting in Makara Sankranthi, nine days of annual fair and Rathothsava, Dhanurmaasa pooja, Shivarathri, Ugadi are meticulously and religiously celebrated. Every Monday Rudrabhisheka is held. In 1988 from April 17th to 23rd Brahma Kalashothsava was held in great pomp and grandeur after a long time. It’s a practice to hoist the 40 feet Garuda to the 62 feet tall flagpole during the annual fair. The other places to visit around the temple are Udhbhava Linga, Akshaya pond, the 5 feet tall statue of Thrilokeshwara and Deepasthamba. You can get there by bus 3A, 4C, 6B, 14, 22, 30A, 30B and more

KUDROLI GOKARNATHESWARA TEMPLE

This temple around 3 km from the bus stand. This is considered to be the most beautiful temple in Mangalore. Earlier it was a very small temple with a small Garbagudi of lord Shiva, 8 years back this temple was renovated. Today it is a massive temple with ample space in and around the temple laid by white marble and gorgeous scandal air. You can find beautiful statues carved in Plaster of Paris of various avatars of lord shiva. At the entrance it has 2 massive elephants made of plaster of paris as though guarding the temple gates. Daily pooja and offerings takes place for lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanium, Goddess Annapoorneshwari, Lord Krishna, Lord Bhairava and Lord Shani. You can also see the beautiful chariot of Arjuna and Krishna depicting a scene of Geeta Upadesha from Geeta. The whole temple is painted in Gold and Maroon colour. In the evening with the sparklingly lights of neon it looks magnificent. It has become a very important tourist place in recent times, people come from all nearby states and also from North.

SHRI SHARAVU MAHAGANAPATHI TEMPLE

This is situated around 2 kms from the city. This is exclusively Lord Ganapathi temple. There is a small scared idol of lord Ganapathi. At the entrance there is the garbagudi of Lord shiva. There will be special poojas and offerings on Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankasti.

MANGALA DEVI TEMPLE

This temple is situated about 3 kms from the city. This is a temple of a goddess Mangaladevi. This temple attracts hundreds of tourists every year. Tradition takes the place name, Mangalore, to the 10th century. It originated from the Mangaladevi temple built in memory of a famous princess of Malabar, Mangala Devi, who is said to have accompanied Mathsyendranath of the Nath Sect to Mangalore. The sculpture of goddess Mangaladevi is perhaps the earliest of the Durga sculptures in the district . You can get there by bus 27, 27A and 29A

VENKATARAMANA TEMPLE

This temple is situated about 3 kms from the city. It is located in a place called Car street. Lord Venkateshwara is worshipped here. This is a very important temple for Konkani community. You can get there by bus 13, 13A, 7, 1A, 1B
Venkataramana Temple on the web

URVA MARI GUDI TEMPLE

This temple is situated in a place called urva around 4 kms from the city. Here goddess Mari is worshiped here. every year during the month of early March Mari Pooja is held with great pomp and show. People gather from all nearby towns in Mangalore. Special Pooja takes place for 3 days. Preparation for the celebration of Mari Pooja starts almost from 1 week. This day the goddess will be decorated with Kgs of gold. This temple is very important for the Fishermen Community. Every year the Fishermen community will offer gold to the goddess. It is a happy moment for everyone, people come here in the evening to see the fair which is the special attraction of this event. You can get there by convenient bus 31, 31A, 31B

ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH

This church is situated just 1 km from the city bus stand, it is few steps from the Light House hill. This church was built way back in the year 1900. The main attraction of this church is the beautiful paintings of an artist named Anthony Moshaini from Italy. It is a architectural gem of Mangalore and often compared to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. One should not miss the beautiful paintings brushed on every inch of the wall and ceiling of the church. Behind the church there is St. Aloysius Church. The central row of paintings on the wall depicts the life of Aloysius Gonzaga to whom the college ad the Church is dedicated. This man gave his life time service to 5000 students studying in the campus. The rest of the painting shows the birth and life of Jesus from the day he was born to his crucification. This is indeed a masterpiece painting. Due to heavy rains and water seepage some of the parts of the paintings are spoilt and lost colors. But the church authorities have taken steps to restore the paintings from time to time maintenance.

MILAGRES CHURCH

This church is situated in the heart of the city. It is a massive structure visible from ay part of the city. This church is said to be built by a bishop named Thomas de Castro in 1680. Attached to the church is the chapel of St. Monica. This church too has the french paintings of St. Monica and her son St. Augustine. The Church is probably one of the many artistic houses of prayer in the District. The Church also contains the miraculous shrine of st. Anthony of Padua, the great Wonder Worker. The Shrine has attained an all India fame and attracts on enormous congregation every Tuesday at the weekly devotions and the two feasts of the Saint on 4 February and 13 June.

ROSARIO CHURCH

The three oldest churches founded in South Kanara in 1526 were the Our Lady of Rosary at Bolar, one at Fajir and another at Farangipet. The church at Bolar, with its large and imposing structure is a standing tribute to architecture. This is the only church in the diocese which has a magnificent dome crowning the spacious sanctuary. This dome was built on the pattern of the one at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

ULLAL DARGA(Mosque)

The famous darga of Mangalore is Ullal Darga, situated about 10 kms from the city. This darga is dedicated to saint Sayyid Mohammed Shareeful Madani draws hundreds of pilgrims in and around Mangalore. There are many stories associated with saint Madani and his miraculous powers. The muslim community residing in Mangalore and the neighbouring states consider this mosque as the central Jumma Masjid. Not only muslims but people from all community come here to seek blessings. The Sayyid Madani Dargah observes Uroos (Fair) once in a five years which attracts pilgrims from all over the country and it has earned the name of Ajmer Dargah of the south. The Dargah is at present managed by a registered Trust which runs an Arabic College, a Technical Education Institute, a charitable hospital also. You can reach there by bus or taxi. Bus numbers are 41, 41A, 41B, 41C