What to expect
Highlights
- The temple that gives Mangaluru its name.
- The Kerala–Tulu tiled-roof architecture.
- Its central role in the city’s Navaratri and Dasara.
Mangaladevi Temple
The Mangaladevi Temple gives Mangaluru its very name — the city is "Mangaluru", the town of Mangaladevi. Dedicated to the goddess Mangaladevi, a form of Shakti, it dates in tradition to the 9th century and the Alupa dynasty.
Practical guide
Plan Mangaladevi Temple
Who's going?Tailor Mangaladevi Temple to your trip
Before you go to Mangaladevi Temple
Check entry arrangements. Ask temple staff about visitor entry, dress requirements and access to the inner shrine before you travel, especially if you are visiting as a non-Hindu.
Dress respectfully and follow the institution’s admission and photography rules.
Typetemple
Nearest baseMangaluru
DistrictDakshina Kannada
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed30 to 45 minutes
EntryFree
Places to visit11→Built in the Kerala–Tulu style with a tiled roof and a wooden mandapa, it is central to the city’s Dasara, when the goddess is worshipped through the nine nights of Navaratri.
Getting there
How to visit
- In the Mangaladevi neighbourhood, ~3 km from the city centre; a short auto ride.
- A living temple — footwear off and modest dress; mornings and evenings are the ritual times.
Distance by road
- Udupi60 km
- Kasaragod50 km
- Madikeri (Coorg)135 km
- Mysuru250 km
- Bengaluru350 km
Road km to Dakshina Kannada; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; Navaratri/Dasara (Sep–Oct) is the great festival.
Weather in Mangaladevi TempleSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Mangaladevi Temple
Sunrise6:21 am
Sunset6:10 pm
Golden hour best light5:10 pm–6:10 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:10 pm–6:35 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 260°
Moon tonight🌓 First quarter · 48%
Sunset is in about 1 hour.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- A living temple — footwear off and dress modestly.
Photos
Mangaladevi Temple in pictures
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Top experiences around Mangaluru
10 more places around Mangaluru. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.
templeKadri Manjunath Temple
4.3 km · ~11 min by auto
An ancient temple to Manjunatha (Shiva) on Kadri hill in Mangaluru, renowned for its 10th–11th-century bronze idols — including a celebrated seated Lokeshvara — a stepped tank complex and links to both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
templeKudroli Gokarnath Temple
3.3 km · ~8 min by auto
The Gokarnanatheshwara temple at Kudroli, consecrated in 1912 at the initiative of Narayana Guru for the Billava community — a bright, ornate temple famous for its grand Mangaluru Dasara celebrations.
templeKateel Durgaparameshwari Temple
21.8 km · ~36 min by cab
A revered temple to the goddess Durgaparameshwari set on an islet in the Nandini river about 29 km north of Mangaluru, reached across a bridge, famed for its Yakshagana tradition and annual festivals.
churchSt Aloysius Chapel
2.8 km · ~7 min by auto
A chapel in Mangaluru whose walls and ceilings are covered in vivid frescoes painted by the Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni in 1899–1900, often likened to a miniature Sistine Chapel.
churchRosario Cathedral, Mangaluru
1.1 km · 13 min walk
The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary at Bunder, seat of the Mangalore diocese — a domed church rebuilt in the early 20th century in a Roman style, on a site dating to the 16th century.
heritageSultan Battery, Mangaluru
4.8 km · ~12 min by auto
A black-stone watchtower built by Tipu Sultan in 1784 at Boloor on the Gurupura river to guard the approach to Mangaluru harbour; a short climb up gives views over the backwater.
beachPanambur Beach
10.6 km · ~18 min by cab
Mangaluru's most popular beach beside the New Mangalore Port — a wide sandy stretch with lifeguards, camel and boat rides and an annual kite festival.
beachTannirbhavi Beach
5.5 km · ~14 min by auto
A quieter beach across the Gurupura river from the city, reached by ferry or road and backed by a tree park — a favourite for sunsets.
beachSasihithlu Beach
8.8 km · ~15 min by cab
A scenic beach where the Shambhavi and Nandini rivers meet the sea near Mulki, north of Mangaluru, known as one of the coast’s surfing spots.
wildlifePilikula Nisarga Dhama
3.9 km · ~10 min by auto
A large nature park on the edge of Mangaluru with a biological park (zoo), a lake, a heritage village, a botanical garden and a science centre and planetarium.
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Mangaladevi Temple — at a glance
Timings~6:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 4:00 - 8:30 PM (confirm)
Best timeOctober to February; Navaratri/Dasara
Entry: Free
Getting here
How to reach Mangaladevi Temple
Mangaladevi, ~3 km from the city centre
Getting back
If you are travelling by bus or ferry, check the return service with the operator before setting out. Leave time to reach the stop or jetty after your visit.
- KSRTC— the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries.Online booking.
- Indian Railways— live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Mangaladevi Temple
If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.
If you need help at Mangaladevi Temple
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Mangaladevi Temple
churchRosario Cathedral, Mangaluru
The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary at Bunder, seat of the Mangalore diocese — a domed church rebuilt in the early 20th century in a Roman style, on a site dating to the 16th century.
1.1 km · 13 min walk · straight linechurchSt Aloysius Chapel
A chapel in Mangaluru whose walls and ceilings are covered in vivid frescoes painted by the Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni in 1899–1900, often likened to a miniature Sistine Chapel.
2.8 km · ~7 min by auto · straight linetempleKudroli Gokarnath Temple
The Gokarnanatheshwara temple at Kudroli, consecrated in 1912 at the initiative of Narayana Guru for the Billava community — a bright, ornate temple famous for its grand Mangaluru Dasara celebrations.
3.3 km · ~8 min by auto · straight linewildlifePilikula Nisarga Dhama
A large nature park on the edge of Mangaluru with a biological park (zoo), a lake, a heritage village, a botanical garden and a science centre and planetarium.
3.9 km · ~10 min by auto · straight linetempleKadri Manjunath Temple
An ancient temple to Manjunatha (Shiva) on Kadri hill in Mangaluru, renowned for its 10th–11th-century bronze idols — including a celebrated seated Lokeshvara — a stepped tank complex and links to both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
4.3 km · ~11 min by auto · straight lineheritageSultan Battery, Mangaluru
A black-stone watchtower built by Tipu Sultan in 1784 at Boloor on the Gurupura river to guard the approach to Mangaluru harbour; a short climb up gives views over the backwater.
4.8 km · ~12 min by auto · straight linebeachTannirbhavi Beach
A quieter beach across the Gurupura river from the city, reached by ferry or road and backed by a tree park — a favourite for sunsets.
5.5 km · ~14 min by auto · straight linebeachSasihithlu Beach
A scenic beach where the Shambhavi and Nandini rivers meet the sea near Mulki, north of Mangaluru, known as one of the coast’s surfing spots.
8.8 km · ~15 min by cab · straight linebeachPanambur Beach
Mangaluru's most popular beach beside the New Mangalore Port — a wide sandy stretch with lifeguards, camel and boat rides and an annual kite festival.
10.6 km · ~18 min by cab · straight linetempleKateel Durgaparameshwari Temple
A revered temple to the goddess Durgaparameshwari set on an islet in the Nandini river about 29 km north of Mangaluru, reached across a bridge, famed for its Yakshagana tradition and annual festivals.
21.8 km · ~36 min by cab · straight line
heritageBahubali Statue, Dharmasthala
A ~39-foot monolithic granite statue of the Jain saint Bahubali (Gommateshwara) on Ratnagiri hill at Dharmasthala, installed in 1973 and anointed at the periodic Mastakabhisheka.
59.2 km · ~99 min by cab · straight line
templeDharmasthala Manjunatha Temple
One of the most visited temples in Karnataka — a unique shrine where a Shiva (Manjunatha) temple is administered by a Jain Heggade family with Vaishnava priests, famed for its free meals, mass weddings and the Laksha Deepotsava.
59.3 km · ~99 min by cab · straight lineOn the map
Where Mangaladevi Temple is
Good to know
Mangaladevi Temple — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Mangaladevi Temple?
October to February; Navaratri/Dasara (Sep–Oct) is the great festival.
What are the entry fee and timings at Mangaladevi Temple?
Entry: Free. Timings: ~6:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 4:00 - 8:30 PM (confirm).
How do I reach Mangaladevi Temple?
In the Mangaladevi neighbourhood, ~3 km from the city centre; a short auto ride. A living temple — footwear off and modest dress; mornings and evenings are the ritual times.
How much time do I need for Mangaladevi Temple?
30 to 45 minutes.
What else is near Mangaladevi Temple?
Nearby you can pair Rosario Cathedral, Mangaluru (1.1 km), St Aloysius Chapel (2.8 km), Kudroli Gokarnath Temple (3.3 km), Pilikula Nisarga Dhama (3.9 km).
Read before you go
Mangaladevi Temple guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Mangaladevi Temple itself yet. These cover Mangaluru and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
Around Mangaluru
These guides explore Mangaluru and the surrounding area. Choose a visit that fits your interests, allowing separately for travel between stops.
Image credits
Photographs: Vinay bhat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Vinay bhat (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.