Mangaluru (also known as Mangalore) is a major port city on the Arabian Sea coast of the Indian state of Karnataka. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district and is the largest city in coastal Karnataka. The city is an important commercial, industrial, educational, and maritime hub of the region historically known as Tulu Nadu.
| Name | Mangaluru |
|---|---|
| Former name | Mangalore |
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Dakshina Kannada |
| Region | Tulu Nadu, coastal Karnataka |
| Civic body | Mangaluru City Corporation |
| Coast | Arabian Sea |
| Major rivers | Netravati, Gurupura (Phalguni) |
| Languages | Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Beary, Malayalam |
| Major port | New Mangalore Port |
| Airport | Mangaluru International Airport |
The name Mangaluru is derived from the local deity Mangaladevi, whose temple in the Bolar area gives the city its name. In Tulu, the city is called Kudla, meaning "junction", referring to its location at the confluence of the Netravati and Gurupura rivers. It is known as Maikala in Beary, Kodial in Konkani, and Mangalapuram in Malayalam. The Government of Karnataka officially renamed the city from Mangalore to Mangaluru in 2014.
Mangaluru is located on the western coast of India, with the Western Ghats forming its eastern hinterland and the Arabian Sea to its west. The Netravati and Gurupura rivers meet near the city before draining into the sea. The city has a tropical monsoon climate, receiving heavy rainfall during the southwest monsoon, typically among the highest in Karnataka.
Mangaluru has a long recorded history as a port. The Greek geographer Ptolemy is believed to have referred to a port on this coast called Nitrias, while later Arab travellers and Italian visitors such as Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo recorded the importance of the harbour for trade in pepper and other goods.
The region was successively ruled by the Kadambas, Alupas (a long-standing local dynasty closely associated with the Tulu coast), Vijayanagara Empire, the Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri, and later the rulers of Mysore. Under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, Mangaluru became a strategic naval base. The Treaty of Mangalore was signed in the city in 1784 between Tipu Sultan and the British East India Company, ending the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
Following the defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the area passed into British control and became part of the Madras Presidency as the headquarters of South Canara district. After the reorganisation of states in 1956, Dakshina Kannada was transferred to the newly formed Mysore State, which was later renamed Karnataka.
Mangaluru's economy is built around its port, banking, education, healthcare, information technology, and processing industries.
Mangaluru is a major educational centre in southern India, with notable institutions including:
Mangaluru is one of the most religiously and linguistically diverse cities in Karnataka. Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Beary, and Malayalam are widely spoken. The population includes Tuluvas (including Bunts and Billavas), Mangalorean Catholics, Konkani Saraswats and Gowda Saraswats, Beary Muslims, Jains, and others. The city's cuisine is known for seafood, the Mangalorean Catholic dishes such as sanna and pork bafat, Bunt cuisine including kori rotti and neer dosa, and the Beary culinary tradition.
Major festivals include Krishna Janmashtami celebrations centred on the Sri Krishna Matha at Udupi (in the neighbouring district), Mangaluru Dasara at Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple, the Bhuta Kola ritual performances of Tulu Nadu, Yakshagana theatre, Monti Fest among Catholics, and Ramzan and Bakrid among the Muslim community.
Mangaluru's strategic coastal location has made it a centre for maritime trade since antiquity, while its diverse communities have given it a distinctive cultural and culinary identity within Karnataka. As the principal urban centre of Tulu Nadu and a leading hub for banking, education, and petrochemicals, it plays a major role in the economy of coastal Karnataka.