Apr 22, 2002 06:34 AM
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(Updated Apr 22, 2002 06:37 AM)
South Kanara is a unique region of Karnataka. Before the formation of Karnataka, this region had a lot to do with Bombay, and even today it is culturally more akin to the western portion of Karnataka. Mangalore is the capital of South Kanara.
Mangalore was the major seaport and shipbuilding centre of Hyder Ali's kingdom. Today, it is a centre for the export of coffee and cashew nuts. It has a languid tropical atmosphere and a strong Roman Catholic influence. The roof tops of houses are made of pink coloured tiles, known in the rest of the country as Mangalore tiles. Mangalore is hilly and has windy, disorienting streets
There is a very descent beach at Maravanthe, approximately 10km north of Kundapura, where a sand spit has formed at the Sauparnika river delta. There is another beach, known as Gudachi, which is close by.
The Shiravati river drops 253 meters at Jog Falls in four separate waterfalls known as the Rani, the Rocket, the Raja and the Roarer. The falls are highest in India and are located approximately 50km from the coast, midway between Udipi and Karwar. The best time to see the falls is just after the monsoon, better in December and January.
The unspoiled town of Gokarna, 50km south of Karwar, attracts an unlikely mixture of Hindu pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars, beach loving travellers and a hardcore hippy element who shifted here when things got difficult for them in Goa. It has Kerala style wooden houses. It leads to the sacred Mahabaleshwara Temple, home to a revered Shiva lingam.
I had learnt a lot about pretty South Kanara from Indira Manjeshwar, who was with me at Gandhigram in 1955. Subsequently, Ms. Vishalakshi, the District Social Education Organiser (DSEO) of South Kanara invited me to visit her, and I did. It was at her home that I had enjoyed a good traditional meal of South Kanara. Again I had visited Mangalore to receive an official Guest, who was coming to Mysore after visiting Bombay.
South Kanara, as I have said before, is a picturesque region having beautiful beaches, hilly towns, the Jog Falls, Temples, wooden houses and beautiful women. It is nature's own region !
