Mangalore | Mangaluru | The Port City Of Karnataka

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Mangalore is a major port city that is sandwiched between the Arabian sea on one side and western ghats on another. This fascinating city situated on the backwaters formed by the Netravati and Gurpur rivers is the Headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

Apart from this, this port city has been a major pit stop for international trade for many centuries. In fact, Mangaluru or Mangalore got its name from the goddess Mangaladevi temple present in the same locality. Mangaluru is best Known for beautiful beaches, coconut palms, churches, age-old temples, water sports, and of course seafood. 

What To Eat While In Mangalore

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Since Mangalore is a beach town, seafood forms the staple diet for most of the Mangaloreans.

Spicy seafood dishes like Mangalorean Fish Curry, Kane Fish Rava Fry, Fried Roe Fish Curry, Fish Fry, Prawn Fry, and Prawn Ghee Roast are sure to tickle all your taste buds. Along with it, other non-vegetarian dishes like Pork Roast, Sanna-Dukra Maas (Small idli with Pork), Pathol Bakri, Pork Bafat, Pork Sorpotel, Chicken Sukka, Neer Dose With Chicken Curry, And Chicken Ghee Roast are some of the local favorites.

Girimanja’s, Narayana Hotel, Gajalee, Palkhi are some of the best places to gobble down some seafood.

Outside of this, as the place is near Udupi, restaurants here also serve some of the delicious vegetarian Udupi cuisines. Udupi cuisines include dishes like Cashew Upkari, Beans Upkari, Rava Upma, Idli, Dosa. Rasam Rice, Majjige Huli, Pickles, Kosambari

Apart from this, evening snacks like Chakli, Khara Sev, Kodubale, Mangalore Bun, Goli Baje, Masala Vade, Masala Avalakki, and Mangalore Bonda

If you have a sweet tooth then do not miss out on Patholi, Besan Ladoo, Rava Ladoo,  Shankarpali (Shakkarpara),  Paayasa,  and Halwa. Some desserts are cooked using Ole Bella (Palm Jaggery) which is considered to be healthy.

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Last but not least, never miss an opportunity to Gudbud or fruit Parfait ice cream in Mangalore. Pabba\’s in Mangalore City, Diana Restaurant in Udupi, and Sapna Ice cream parlor are a few places to taste lip-smacking ice creams. In Fact, Gudbud was first invented in Hotel Diana.

Best Time To Visit Mangaluru

You can head to this place in the months of September to March i.e. after the monsoon. When the Sun and rain gods show mercy with a pleasant climate. Try to spend a relaxing and peaceful vacation on sun-kissed and sandy beaches with your bae or friends.

Also, read: Places To Visit In Mangalore

Kodagu Tourism | Coorg | The Scotland Of India

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Coorg, officially Known as Kodagu is an exotic hill station that lies amidst serene mountain ranges of western ghats, Karnataka. As you step into this land aromatic coffee plantations would welcome you with open arms. Surreal Kodagu hosts everything from green rolling hills to misty mountains to wandering streams to waterfalls to dense forests to caves to temples to forts to museums. Hence, this slice of heaven is also known as the “Scotland Of India”.Besides this, Kodagu is known for its unique culture and tradition people follow. People who belong to this region are called “Kodavas” and they are basically nature worshippers. No wonder why Coorg has maintained all its glory and charm all these years. Never miss an opportunity to witness Kodavas Marriage, dance, Sword Fight, and martial arts. This post will take you through the places you can visit and things you can do while in Coorg.

Outside of this, tourists can indulge in various activities like river rafting, trekking, Hiking, Boating, Safari, bird watching, and rappelling.

Festivals In Kodagu

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You can witness some of the popular festivals like Keil Poldhu (worship of weapons), Cauvery Sankramana (return of the river goddess), and the Huttari (harvest).

Try staying in a homestay in remote places as much as possible to get an authentic experience. Else stay in any of your friend\’s houses to get a better view of Kodavas culture and tradition.

What To Eat In Coorg

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Kodavas have their own local cuisines that would excite any foodie. Usually, they are Non-vegetarians and they love their Pandhi curry( pork), meat, and fish. Pandhi Curry is one such dish you will find in almost all the festivals and ceremonies of Kodavas.

Rice is the major staple diet food in Kodagu and surrounding regions. Sannakki(rice) is used to prepare many dishes like Akki Roti (Rice chapatis), Nool Puttu (Rice Noodles), Votti (Rice Roti), Kadumbuttu (Rice Dumplings), a huge variety of Pattus (a steamed dish), Pulvas. And they are usually served with pork curry, dried fish, crab meat, Baimbale Curry ( Bamboo Shoots curry), Kumm Curry (wild mushrooms curry), and Chekke curry (unripe jackfruit). and Koli Curry (Chicken Curry).

Apart from this, you will find a wide range of chutneys here. You will even come across unique pickles of pork, fish, mushrooms, bitter orange, and tender bamboo.

Indeed, Kodagu is an ideal destination for everyone, whether you are a foodie, an explorer, an adventurer, a backpacker, a shutterbug, or a peace seeker. Above all, pleasant weather here makes this a popular Honeymoon destination among the South Indians.

Also, read: Places to Visit In Kodagu or Coorg

Shimoga Tourism | Shivamogga | Gateway Of Malenadu

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Shimoga or Shivamogga is a beautiful district filled with greenery in the Malnad region of  Karnataka. It acts as a gateway to the hilly regions of the western ghats, hence it is also known as” Gateway Of Malenadu”. Adorned with stunning waterfalls, misty landscapes, lush green forests, mighty mountains, and amazing biodiversity, this place is sure to delight all the travelers. Along with it, there are plenty of rivers that flow here and add to the charm of this region namely Tunga, Sharavathi, Kumudavath, Tungabhadra, and Varada. In addition, these rivers make this land fertile and encourage agriculture, hence Shimoga is known as the ‘rice bowl of Karnataka \’.If you are roaming, you can mostly spot palm trees dancing and endless stretches of paddy fields throughout the Shimoga. This post will shed light on Places you can visit and Things You can do in Shimoga.

Not just that, Shimnoga also has a rich heritage, culture, tradition, and history attached to it. This untouched beauty was ruled by mighty empires of Karnataka like Chalukyas, Kadambas, Gangas, and Hoysalas. Yakshagana, a dance drama, is one of the art forms that are popular in Shimoga. Besides this, there are many local cultures and art forms that add feathers to the cap of tourist in Shimoga

No worries, if you are a wildlife enthusiast, nature lover, history fanatic, adventure freak, shutterbug, or a religious traveler, Shimoga has something for everyone. You can experience fun activities like hiking, trekking, swimming, kayaking, Jeep safari, and bird watching. It is one such place which can be visited at any time of the year. But, if you want the best of everything then head to this place post-monsoon from September To February.

 Shimoga got its name from the word ‘Shiv-Mukha’ which means ‘Face of Lord Shiva’.

Sightseeing And Things To Do In Shivamogga 

Jog falls, Unchalli falls, Kunchikal falls, Magod falls, Hebbe waterfalls, Kodachadri Hills, Dabbe falls, andAgumbe are some of the must-visit places in Shimoga.

What To Eat In Shimoga (Malenadu Dishes)

The Staple food of Shimoga is rice, hence most dishes are made with the use of rice grains. You can see the influence of Udupi cuisines in their eating habits. For breakfast, you will be served with Akki Roti, Chapati, Bisi Bele Bath, Avalakki, Saaru, Paddu, Jolada Rotti, Sambhar, Idli, Vada, Benne Dosa, Masala Dosa, Uppittu, and Kesaribath.

Usually, a typical meal of Shimoga is served on a banana leaf and will consist of Kosambari, Palya, Pickle, Gojju, Dessert, Raita, Chitranna,  Happala, Sandige, Ghee, Rice and Thambli (masala buttermilk). Besides this, Appe Huli or Appe Rasa ( mango rasam) and Midi Kayi – Uppinakayi pickle made of tender mango are locals\’ favorite. 

When it comes to non-vegetarian dishes, you will be served with Keema Unde, Mutton Sukka, Kozhi Saruu With Suggi Kadubu, or Ragi Mudde.

Special Cuisines Of Shimoga

Dessert Or Popular Sweet Dishes In Shimoga

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Some popular sweet dishes you can munch on are Chiroti, Obbattu, Dharwad Pedha, Holige, Mysore Pak, Gasagase Payasa, A Poppy Seeds Kheer, and Seeme Akki Payasa, 

Outside of this, there are some special local desserts without which your trip to Shimoga is not complete. In fact, Thotadevvu Using Sugarcane), Genesale, Halasina Hannina Kadubu (Using Jackfruit), Kayi Kadabu, and Kobbari Burfi (coconut) are the things you shouldn’t miss.

Snacks In Shimoga

You gotta try  snack items like Hesaru Kaalu Masala, Masala Mandakki, Benne Dose, Patrode( Sweet, Sour, Spicy), Halasina Kayi Papad, Kara Kadubu, And Mandakki Fry ( With Menasina Bajji).

Conclusion

Shimoga is a treasure of Karnataka that has something in it for all kinds of travelers. So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip, book your tickets, and get ready to spend some time in the arms of nature.

 

Hampi: The Architectural Gem Of Karnataka

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Hampi, the architectural marvel and epitome of ancient civilization is situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra in Ballari, Karnataka. The city of ruins which is spread over 41.5 sq km was the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It is an open museum with 100’s of locations surrounded by 500 odd ancient monuments or structures to explore. This place was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1986.

Hampi was considered one of the richest and largest cities in the world during the heydays of the Vijayanagara empire from the 15th to 16th centuries. It is home to ancient temples, ruins of palaces remain of aquatic structures, monolithic structures, ancient bazaar streets, royal pavilions, bastions, royal platforms, forts, treasury buildings, and several other architectural surprises spread over a vast area. All these ancient monuments showcase the exceptional architecture and unmatched craftsmanship and Workmanship this kingdom possessed. The Virupaksha temple, Vittala temple, stone chariot, Elephant stable, Lotus Mahal, and queen’s bath should be on top of your list. Apart from this, this was also the major trading center for cotton, spices, and gemstones.

Outside of this, Hampi which is full of rugged terrains and rocky boulders has the adventurous side attached to it. You can witness adventurous activities like trekking, rock climbing, cliff jumping, coracle rides,  etc. Try climbing the small hillocks around the cities to have a better view of the ruins of the Vijayanagara kingdom.

Hampi is a delight for tourists, Backpackers as well as the people who seek religious blessings, thus is considered among the best places to visit in Karnataka.

Shopping 

If you are a shopping freak then head to Streets next to Virupaksha temple which is flooded with shops on either side. These shops offer antique coins, traditional costumes, handicrafts, artifacts, colorful bags, jewelry, silk clothes, cotton clothes, etc. Do not miss out on stuff with Lambani prints which is the specialty in this region. Also, try hitting the place in the morning to skip the hustle-bustle of travelers and tourists in the evening.

What To Eat While In Hampi

As tourists and travelers from various corners of the world pay a visit to Hampi, you can witness a variety of cuisines. However, as Hampi is a temple town, the scope for non-vegetarian food is limited. Nevertheless, don’t miss an opportunity to gobble down on Spicy south Indian dishes.

Hampi Utsav

You can visit this place during Hampi Utsav or post-monsoon in the months of October to February. Hampi Utsav is a 3-day cultural festival which is organized by the tourism department of Karnataka every year. This festival showcases the rich history and culture of Vijayanagara in the form of dance, drama, songs, music, etc. Usually, you will be able to see the whole town flooded with travelers and being lit up with colorful lights.

How To Reach Hampi

Hampi, being one of the most popular sites, is well-connected from major cities of Karnataka. The City of ruins “Hampi” is situated just 12 kilometers away from the Hospet town in the Ballari district. You can either take frequently available buses or trains from Bangalore to Hospet. From Hospet, you can hire an auto-rickshaw to reach historic town Hampi

Also, read: Places To Visit And Things To Do In Hampi

 

Yakshagana The Traditional Art Of Karnataka

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Yakshagana is an art of telling stories in the form of dance, music, and dialogues. Stories narrated in these plays give a positive message to humanity and we can also learn a life lesson through it. This theatre style can be experienced in parts Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, and Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. The word Yakshagana is derived from the regional Kannada language, which means song of nature-spirits. Not just Karnataka, you can also see similar kinds of art form in neighboring states like Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Andra Pradesh.

Usually, during a performance, you can see artists wearing massive headgears, vibrant costumes, facial makeup, masks, and ornaments. From earlier days these plays are presented in open-air from dusk to dawn. We can witness the usage of instruments like chenda,thaala, maddalam, chakratalk, harmoniun, and cymbals.

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The performers are divided into 3 groups namely Himmela, Bhagavata, and Mummela.

Himmela is a background group that comprises musicians. The Bhagavata plays a key role and acts as a narrator or storyteller who introduces the plot for the audiences. Mummelas are the ones who will be performing or enacting the stories through dance and dialogues. All the components, be it music or dialogue or acting or narration can be improvised depending on which actor or scholar is performing.

Yakshagana Origin

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The origin of this traditional Indian theatre form traces back to the coastal districts of Karnataka. Apparently, it evolved from pre-classical music and theatre form during the Bhakti movement from the 7th to the 10th century. However, it was established as a prominent art form during the 15th century. In the olden days, performances were based on stories drawn from Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Bhagavata, and many other great epics of ancient Indian Mythology. However, a lot has changed now, we can notice new scripts and stories taken from various Kannada plays being enacted on stage.

 

Also, read:  Kambala Race In Mangalore.