Pilikula Nisarga Dhama

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama is a large nature-and-heritage park on the eastern edge of Mangaluru at Vamanjoor. It brings together a biological park (zoo), a boating lake, a botanical garden, a heritage village, an artisan complex and a science centre with a planetarium.

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama, Mangaluru
Practical guide

Plan Pilikula Nisarga Dhama

Who's going?Tailor Pilikula Nisarga Dhama to your trip
Typewildlife
Nearest baseMangaluru
DistrictDakshina Kannada
Best timeOctober to February
Time neededHalf a day (3 to 4 hours)
EntrySeparate tickets for zoo/boating/planetarium
Places to visit11

It makes an easy half-day family outing, combining wildlife, a Tulu-Nadu heritage village and hands-on science under one entry.

What to expect

Highlights

  • The biological park (zoo) and boating lake.
  • The Tulu-Nadu heritage village and artisan crafts.
  • The science centre and planetarium.
Getting there

How to visit

  • ~12 km from the city centre at Vamanjoor; reach it by bus, auto or taxi.
  • Separate tickets apply for the zoo, boating, planetarium and museums — allow a few hours, and go early on a weekday to avoid crowds.

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; weekday mornings are quietest.

Weather in Pilikula Nisarga DhamaSeasonal guide

Live forecast loads in your browser.

Today at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama
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 · 47%
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.

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 zoo and family park — do not feed or tease the animals, and keep to the marked paths.
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Ranked guides

Top experiences around Mangaluru

10 more places around Mangaluru. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.

templeKadri Manjunath Temple

5.2 km · ~13 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

6.2 km · ~15 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.

templeMangaladevi Temple

3.9 km · ~10 min by auto

The temple to the goddess Mangaladevi that gives Mangaluru its name — a 9th-century Shakti shrine in a Kerala–Tulu style, central to the city’s Dasara festivities.

templeKateel Durgaparameshwari Temple

22.1 km · ~37 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

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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

4.8 km · ~12 min by auto

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

7.4 km · ~18 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

12.8 km · ~21 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

8.6 km · ~14 min by cab

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

11.9 km · ~20 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.

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Before you go

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama — at a glance

Timings~9:30 AM - 5:30 PM; some sections closed Mondays
Best timeOctober to February; weekday mornings

Entry: Separate tickets for zoo/boating/planetarium

Getting here

How to reach Pilikula Nisarga Dhama

Vamanjoor, ~12 km from the centre; bus/auto/taxi

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.

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 Pilikula Nisarga Dhama

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 Pilikula Nisarga Dhama
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).

Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.

Nearby

What’s near Pilikula Nisarga Dhama

templeMangaladevi Temple

The temple to the goddess Mangaladevi that gives Mangaluru its name — a 9th-century Shakti shrine in a Kerala–Tulu style, central to the city’s Dasara festivities.

3.9 km · ~10 min by auto · straight line
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.

4.8 km · ~12 min by auto · straight line
churchSt 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.

4.8 km · ~12 min by auto · straight line
templeKadri 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.

5.2 km · ~13 min by auto · straight line
templeKudroli 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.

6.2 km · ~15 min by auto · straight line
heritageSultan 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.

7.4 km · ~18 min by auto · straight line
beachTannirbhavi 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.

8.6 km · ~14 min by cab · straight line
beachSasihithlu 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.

11.9 km · ~20 min by cab · straight line
beachPanambur 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.

12.8 km · ~21 min by cab · straight line
templeKateel 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.

22.1 km · ~37 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.

55.5 km · ~93 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.

55.6 km · ~93 min by cab · straight line

All 11 places to visit in Mangaluru →

On the map

Where Pilikula Nisarga Dhama is

Good to know

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama — frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Pilikula Nisarga Dhama?

October to February; weekday mornings are quietest.

What are the entry fee and timings at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama?

Entry: Separate tickets for zoo/boating/planetarium. Timings: ~9:30 AM - 5:30 PM; some sections closed Mondays.

How do I reach Pilikula Nisarga Dhama?

~12 km from the city centre at Vamanjoor; reach it by bus, auto or taxi. Separate tickets apply for the zoo, boating, planetarium and museums — allow a few hours, and go early on a weekday to avoid crowds.

How much time do I need for Pilikula Nisarga Dhama?

Half a day (3 to 4 hours).

What else is near Pilikula Nisarga Dhama?

Nearby you can pair Mangaladevi Temple (3.9 km), Rosario Cathedral, Mangaluru (4.8 km), St Aloysius Chapel (4.8 km), Kadri Manjunath Temple (5.2 km).

Read before you go

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama guides, stories & itineraries

We have not published a story about Pilikula Nisarga Dhama 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: Aviator423, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Athulvis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.