History of Mangalore


Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. Mangalore was named after the local Hindu deity Mangaladevi, the presiding deity of the Mangaladevi temple. The History of Mangalore dates back to the Mythological times and is accounted to as part of Parashurama Shristi. As for other mythological connections, Rama was the Lord of Tulu Nadu during the days of the Ramayana. Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas, was the Ruler of this place during the days of the Mahabharatha. The Pandavas had made Banavasi their abode during their exile visiting Sarapady near Mangalore. Mangalore is mentioned in the manuscripts of the Great Library at Alexendria, Egypt. Roman history defines it as a port on the mouth of the river Nitras.

In the third century BCE, the town formed part of the Maurya Empire, headed by the Buddhist emperor, Ashoka of Magadha. The region was well-known as Sathia (Shantika) during the Mauryan regime. From second century CE to sixth century CE, the region was under the rule of Kadamba dynasty. From 567 to 1325, the town was ruled by the native Alupa rulers. Mangalapura (Mangalore) was the capital of the Alupa dynasty until the 14th century. By 1345, the Vijayanagara rulers took the region under their control. Later, the Jain Kings and the Muslim Bangara Kings ruled the town as feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire, and brought the town securely under an efficient and centralised administration. European influence in Mangalore can be traced back to 1498, when the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed at St Mary's Island near Mangalore. In the mid-16th century, Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Roman Catholics from Goa migrated to Mangalore as a result of Goa Inquisition. In 1640, the Keladi Nayaka kingdom gained victory over the Portuguese and ruled the town until 1762. In 1695, the town was set on fire by the Arabs in retaliation to Portuguese restrictions on Arab trade.

Hyder Ali, the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, ruled Mangalore in 1763, consequently bringing the city under his administration until 1767. Mangalore was headed by the British East India Company from 1767 to 1783, but was subsequently seized from their control by Hyder Ali's son, Tippu Sultan in 1783. The Second Anglo-Mysore War came to an end with the Treaty of Mangalore which was signed in Mangalore between Tippu Sultan and the British East India Company on 11 March 1784. The English again captured Mangalore in 1791, but Tippu attacked it in 1793 and the English surrendered the city in 1794. With the death of Tippu Sultan and the fall of Srirangapatna during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799, the city again fell into the hands of British, and it continued to be under British administration till India's independence in 1947.The city had a smooth administration under British rule and permanent visible improvements effected during this period. The initiation of the German Basel Mission in 1834 brought cotton weaving and tile manufacturing industries into the city. The association of Mangalore, in 1907, with the Southern Railway and later the advent of motor vehicles further increased the trade and communication with the city. After India's independence in 1947, Mangalore which was belonging to the Madras Presidency was merged into a unified Mysore State in 1956. Thereafter, Mangalore attained an important position in the state since it gave the erstwhile Mysore state the benefit of a coastline. Mangalore is a major city of Karnataka, offering the state with access to the Arabian Sea coastline.

Geography of Mangalore


Mangalore is located at 12.87N 74.88E in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. It has an average elevation of 22 metres (72 ft) above mean sea level. It is the legislative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district, the fourth largest city in the state and the largest urban coastal center of Karnataka. Mangalore is situated on the west coast of India, and is surrounded by Arabian Sea in the west and the Western Ghats to its east. Mangalore is also one of the cleanest cities in India. Mangalore lies on the backwaters of the Netravati and Gurupura rivers. These rivers completely cover the city, with the Gurupura flowing around the north and the Netravati flowing around the south of the city. The most pleasant months in Mangalore are from December to February, during which time the humidity and hotness are at their lowest. It receives about 95 per cent of its total annual rainfall within a period of about six months from May to October, while remaining acutely dry from December to March. The topography of the city ranges from plain to undulating, with several hills, valleys and flat areas within the city. The geology of the city is characterized by hard laterite in hilly tracts and sandy soil along the seashore.

General Information
Total Geographical Area in Hectares477149
Total Male Population9,38,434
Total Female Population9,59,296
Total Population18,97,730
SC Population1,31,160
ST Population62,396
Sex Ratio1022
Literacy Rate83.4%


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