Mangalore diaries

 I hardly remember if I had visited Mangalore as a child. So I can consider this as my first visit to the city.  A close friend of mine is from Mangalore and hence the trip. We booked an overnight sleeper bus on a Sunday night. I was very excited for 2 reasons - 1. I was travelling by a night bus after a decade 2. I was travelling with my friend. We boarded the bus from Rajajinagar metro station around 10.30 pm on a rainy night.

We settled down on our sleeper coach, chatting away. I could not sleep the whole night as I felt my body move with every roll of the tyres . But it was a very memorable experience. The bus stopped around 12.30 at Kamath for a washroom break and we reached Mangalore around 6.30 am.

We took an auto from the stop to my friend's place. We freshened up, had breakfast and tea and stepped out to visit the famous Mangala Devi temple. The city has derived the name from Mangala Devi temple. We spent time leisurely here. The Devi moorthi was huge and peaceful and we sat here for sometime. After having fresh sugarcane juice outside the temple we headed back home. 

We went out for a walk nearby in the evening. I am always in awe with how different almost every single place looks and feels, whether it is within the state or within a country. We enjoyed the walk, did some shopping and got back home. 

We hopped into an auto again to visit the famous ice-cream shop of Mangalore - The Pabbas   I fell in love with ice-cream all over again 

The next day, I woke up early and headed out for an amazing walk. Felt so good to be outside in a new place, it felt like a different country! 

Kingfisher

Got back home and ate yummy Neer dosas that my friend had made. We had planned to go out to Kateel and Polali. My friend's friend runs a car service and it was very generous of him to take us to these places. We first went to Polali and visited the most beautiful, huge and gorgeous Rajarajeshwari Devi temple. I could not take my eyes off the Devi who was adorned in a red saree! There was no rush, and we could sit here for sometime. The idol is made out of clay and is said to be 5000 years old.

After Polali we went to Kateel to see the famous Durgaparameshwari temple. We had a good darshan of the Devi at the temple. The Devi is udhbhava moorthy - meaning, formed naturally. One of the many things I remember from visiting old temples during my childhood is eating at the temple. I was thrilled to have lunch at the temple, where we sat down and were served hoooot rice, rasam, sambhar, buttermilk and payasa on a steel plate. After a sumptuous prasad lunch we walked down to the river flowing by which is the Nandini river. 

We headed back home and rested for a while. I could not leave Mangalore without seeing the sea . Our friend came to pick us up again, this time we went in an auto to Panamburu beach. 

I loved dipping my toes/feet/legs in the water . The sun was setting and the view was beautiful! I was covered in sand and water. 

We came home, changed and had dinner. Soon it was time for me to leave. Bidding goodbye to my friend I left and boarded the bus around 9.45 pm. It was a solo journey back home. 

This time I tried sleeping better. We stopped at Sakleshpur for a quick washroom break. The bus reached Bangalore earlier than expected. It was still dark at 5.30 am when I got off the bus and I was home by 6 am. 

It was a short and sweet visit. Thanks R for this amazing trip!