Mangaluru

Mangaluru (Mangalore), in coastal Karnataka, has a long history shaped by the Arabian Sea, rivers and spice trade. Lying between the Netravati and Gurupura rivers, it was part of ancient Tulu Nadu, ruled early on by local chiefs and the Alupa dynasty, who acted as feudatories to larger powers like the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. Its natural harbours and river mouths made it an ideal outlet for pepper, rice, coconut and timber, attracting Arab traders centuries before European arrival.

From the 16th century, Mangaluru came under Vijayanagara influence and then increasingly into the orbit of Portuguese power, who tried to control coastal trade and Christian missions. In the 18th century, it became a key port for Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who clashed with the British over this strategic coastline. After Tipu’s defeat in 1799, Mangaluru passed firmly into British control as part of the Madras Presidency and grew as a commercial, educational and missionary centre, with new churches, institutions and port facilities.

In the 20th century, Mangaluru’s modern port (New Mangalore Port), banking sector, cashew processing, tile factories and educational institutions transformed it into a major commercial and educational hub. Today its history is visible in a mix of temples, churches, mosques, tiled-roof houses and a strong trading and coastal culture.