Hafen
New Mangalore (Mangalore)

Explore Karkala, a town of historical importance and the thousand pillar temple of Moodabidri. Enjoy a scenic drive to Karkala, a historically important town and pilgrimage center for Jains, followers of one of the oldest religions in the world. The town is famous for its second largest monolithic stone statue of Lord Gommateshwara which dates back to 1432 AD. You’ll have free time to explore the site and take photos.

Visit a farm recognized for innovative agriculture and see its multi-story mixed cropping and the wide variety of tropical fruits and spices that are grown here. Enjoy a light refreshment before boarding your coach and driving to Moodabidri and its thousand pillar temple - Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi. Visit the largest and the most ornate of the Jain temples of this region built in 1430 A.D. Moodabidri is an immense granite structure famous for its open pillared front hall that consists of a thousand elaborately carved pillars.

Discover the past and present of Pilikula, a relatively unexplored South Indian city known for its folklore and cultural beliefs, for an authentic South Indian experience. Visit this rural district in the Western Ghats recognized as a biodiversity hotspot in the world that is home to rare flora and fauna. You’ll have the opportunity to visit the Moodushedde tribal village, an artisan settlement in which sustains traditional livelihoods and art forms that are threatened with disappearance.

As you tour the village you’ll encounter blacksmiths, potters and conventional weavers at work. Enjoy refreshments at 'Guthu Mane', the ancestral home of coastal landlords, with elaborately carved ceilings and columns. Witness the dressing of a Mangalorean sari and dhoti, a man's sarong, and participate in the application of Henna designs, which are popular during marriages. You’ll experience the present of Mongalorean living as you leave the village and visit the city center of Mangalore, Hampankatta. Here you’ll be able to experience the busy lives of the city center Mangaloreans and wander the marketplace as you discover the colors of silks, spices, jewelry and even fruits and vegetables.

Mangalore - known as Mangaluru in the local language, was once a famous port, known in the 6th century as a major source of pepper. It was mentioned in writings of the 14th century Arab traveller Ibn Batuta, who noted its trade in pepper and ginger, and the presence of merchants from Persia and Yemen. Perhaps some of its good luck is due to its name, which comes from Mangladevi, the Goddess of Fortune.

Mangalore and Cashew Factory

Travel through this small town, past government buildings and private homes, rice paddies and fertile fields, to learn more about one of the world's most popular nuts - cashew nut. Visit a cashew factory, where you will see the various stages of processing, from peeling the outer and inner skin, to segregating the nuts according to their size and colour. If you are one of those who fish for cashews in the mixed nuts, you might want to treat yourself to a big bag of the real thing which is available for sale.

Kadri Manjunath Temple

Your next stop will be at the 11th century Kadri Manjunath Temple, an important centre for the worship of Lord Shiva (one of the holy Hindu trinity), and the Natha-Pantha cult - an outgrowth of Hinduism. Enshrined in the unusual square and towered sanctuary are a number of superb bronzes. There is also a Shiva lingam that is believed to have the power to fulfil a wish made while pouring water on it. The main temple is surrounded by nine water tanks, and a number of smaller shrines dedicated to other gods, including Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed god who is the remover of obstacles, and the frightening goddess Durga.

The temple also has traces of Buddhist influence, including a life-sized, three-faced, six-armed figure of a seated Bodhisattva with enamelled eyes and an intricately carved crown.

St. Aloysius Chapel and GokarnathTemple                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Next visit the Romanesque-style St. Aloysius Chapel on Lighthouse Hill, sometimes referred to as the Sistine Chapel of South India. Its 19th century frescoes, painted by the Italian-trained Jesuit priest Moscheni, envelope the walls and ceilings in Biblical scenes. Whether or not it is due to his influence, the town does have a Roman Catholic population of about 20%, extraordinarily high for an Indian city.

Your last stop is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Hoysala style Gokarnath Temple was built by a Hindu businessman for the non-Brahmins of Mangalore, who were denied entry to Brahmin Temples. After your tour of the temple you will return to the pier.

Explore New Mangalore at your leisure during your full-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore New Mangalore at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore New Mangalore at your leisure during your full-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore New Mangalore at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Moodabidri and Chandranatha Basti 1000 Pillar Temple

Moodabidri is a Jain holy city, home to 18 temples, although the Jains are only a tiny minority of the local population. The largest of the temples is the 15th century Chandranatha Basti containing 1,000 pillars, carved in astonishingly fine detail - no two are alike. It also has a valuable collection of metal and jewel-encrusted images of Jain prophets.

At the entrance is the huge monolithic pillar called the "Manasthambha", believed to guard the temple and meant to remind all who enter that they must leave their egos at the door, in order to be received by the Almighty once inside.

Jainism began in the same border region of India and Nepal as Buddhism, and at about the same time. The essence of this belief system is that all life is sacred, and that every living entity, even the smallest insect, has within it an indestructible and immortal soul.  For this reason they are strict vegetarians. The value Jains place on doing no harm has contributed to their importance in business, as they regard nearly all occupations except banking and commerce as "violent".

Soans farm and refreshments

Next you can pay homage to Mother Nature's bounty as you encounter the heady scents of Dr. Soans farm. This hundred-acre spread is home to a variety of spices - pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg; paddy fields (rice), bamboo (one particular species is believed to grow a foot a day), pineapple (the major cash crop), bananas, and a variety of other fruits. If the aromas of the spices and tastes of the fruit give you an appetite it is just as well, as a glass of fresh pineapple juice will be served during your stay.

Thereafter you return to the pier to join the ship.