The coastal city of Mangalore is the headquarters of Dakshina Kannada District and it is named after Goddess Mangaladevi. A major port on the southern coast, Mangalore is a bustling commercial center. The primary exports are coffee and cashew nuts. Mangalore is also famous for its roof tiles, bidis (cigarettes), and seafood.
The prime attractions in the city are the Mangalore port, Bejai Museum, Sultan Battery, St. Aloysius Church, Jami Mosque of Zinad Baksh, the Light House Hill-Garden, Ullal Darga, Kotepur and the temples of Kadri, Manjunath, Shri Sharavu Mahaganapathi, Kudroli Gokarnath, and Mangaladevi. The main beaches in Mangalore are Tanirbhavi, Suratkal, Sasihithlu, Ullal and Someshwar. Yakshagana (a nightlong dance-drama performance) is another major attraction.
The nearby places of interest are Pulikula Nisarga Dhama, Narharigudda, Udupi, Kollur, Dharmasthala and St. Mary's Island.
Mangalore airport, also known as Bajpe airport, is situated halfway between Mangalore and Udupi. There are direct flights from Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Several trains link Mangalore to Mumbai, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Chennai. The Lal bagh bus stand, situated at Hampankatta, connects Mangalore to the major cities in the region. The best time to visit Mangalore is between October and February.
