Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
St Aloysius College Chapel
(Lighthouse Hill; 9am-6pm)
Catholicism's roots in Mangalore date back to the arrival of the
Portuguese in the early 1500s, and one of the most impressive legacies is the 1880 Sistine
Chapel-like St Aloysius chapel, with its walls and ceilings painted with brilliant frescoes.
CHURCH
Sultan's Battery
(Sultan Battery Rd; 6am-6pm)
The only remnant of Tipu Sultan's fort is this small lookout
with views over scenic backwaters. It's 4km from the city centre on the headland of the
old port; bus 16 will get you there.
FORT
Kadri Manjunatha Temple
(Kadri; 6am-1pm & 4-8pm)
This Kerala-style temple houses a 1000-year-old bronze statue of
Lokeshwara.
HINDU TEMPLE
RANI ABBAKKA THE WARRIOR QUEEN
The legendary exploits of Rana Abbakka, one of India's first freedom fighters - who just so happens to be a fe-
male - is one that gets surprisingly little attention outside the Mangalore region. An Indian Joan of Arc, her in-
spiring story is just waiting to be picked up by a Bollywood/Hollywood screenwriter.
As the Portuguese consolidated its power along India's western coastline in the 16th century, seizing towns
across Goa and down to Mangalore, their attempts to take Ullal proved more of a challenge. This was thanks to
its 'fearless queen' who proved to be a major thorn in its grand plans to control the lucrative spice trade. Her ef-
forts to continually repell their advances is the stuff of local legend.
Well trained in the art of war, both in strategy and combat, she knew how to brandish a sword, and while she
was eventually defeated, this was a result of her treacherous ex-husband, who conspired against her in leaking in-
telligence to the enemy.
Her efforts to rally her people to defeat the powerful Portuguese is not forgotten by locals: she's immortalised
in a bronze statue on horseback at the roundabout on the road to Ullal beach, and has an annual festival dedicated
to her.
The shore temple that looks over the beautiful Someshwara beach a few kilometres south from Ullal was the
former site of her fort, and only sections of its wall remains intact.
Sleeping
Hotel Manorama
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