The moment you set foot in to this port town, you are struck by its multicultural facet made apparent by the babble of languages around you. A sigh of relief! No communication barriers! Motivation enough to explore this cosmopolitan fascinating blend of cultures called Mangalore. As you look around you begin to wonder if you are in your own land - the name boards of commercial establishments (M/S Albuquerque, Rodrigues, D’Costa, Pais etc) all extensive old-tile roofed buildings, tower churches and the old well established Christian schools give you a feeling that the invaders are not out. A trend set by the Persian, Arabic & Portuguese merchants; they have left their indelible mark behind. This city, which predominately smells of fish, coconut and cashew shows it’s not far behind in the race to be modern through the distinctive tech based shopping malls, pubs, famous ice-cream parlors and hosting beach festivals.

• Location: Karnataka
• Distance: 347 kms west of Bangalore
• STD code: 0824 Language: Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, English, Hindi, Malayalam

Yakshagana Performance One of the traditional and popular vernacular dance forms of Karnataka, popular in the Dakshina Kannada region, an all night event, your trip to this place may not be complete without this