Know Your Land: Exploring Mangalore

October 20, 2013

Mangalore, a city that I call “Land of Derived Dreams” is located on the coastal region of Karnataka. Cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and those in the Gulf get their human resources from this tiny yet fruitful city. Great traditions originate from this happy-go-lucky city from food to fantasy. When people picturize Mangalore, the mind depicts an empty ghost town whose events are either monotonous or unproud.

Here I am, writing this article falsifying the above statement and sharing my eye with you. Everytime I leave my town to join my college in Bangalore (I am an engineering student of BMSCE) I long to be back to the place I belong to.

Coming to the geography of Mangalore, two rivers flow through it, namely the Nethravathi and Gurupur rivers. Places that exist in Mangalore range from lush green plains to deserted sand lands. This article is going to be about the places that I’ve explored in Mangalore and a little beyond. By the end of this write-up I am certain that you will be convinced of how marvellous Mangalore is through my lens. So tag along and join me as I take you to my six years’ experience of a “New Mangalore”.

Since I mentioned lush, green gardens I shall therefore begin from there on. It is also chronologically the first place that I discovered. I still remember that day as if it were yesterday. It was a bright, blissful sunny afternoon with the sky bleeding blue. Three ordinary boys, which also include me, set out on an alien mission to find something extra-ordinary with the eldest boy being 13 years old. Three boys, three cycles and an unknown journey. This called for an adventure and that’s exactly what we were looking for. Marching from Swarnagiri Layout, we cautiously moved towards Shaktinagar where the road suddenly dipped so steeply, a little more of it could have made it a cliff. After solving the maze of roads, we reached a spot where I stood breathless!. There was before me, a stunning green pasture with vibrant green invading three fourth of my vision. The lush verdant grass spread generously over a land of no bounds. I was so awe-struck with innumerable emotions that my heart could not process them. I ran into the grasslands as if it were freedom; it was love at first sight. I found a part of myself sitting right there, waiting for me.

The three of us instantly started counting our precious breaths while we stood rooted to the ground. After three hours of this amazing experience, we headed back to our homes with a fire that burns within us to this very day.

After our first successful encounter with nature, my body burst out with an adrenaline rush, an appetite for adventure. So this time I dared to explore this quiet yet mystical river Gurupur. This river glides along the valley to meet the mighty sea. The adventure started at Padavinanagady and we headed towards Vamajoor through bumpy roads,spotting out peacocks, birds of vivid colours, on our journey with nature beginning to show its true self. From Vamanjoor, we took a small detour through roads that narrowed down by the minute. At last after playing hide and seek with nature, it revealed its real beauty to us.

Three distinct things appeared in this exquisite reality:

• The river
• A narrow bridge
• A train track
 

The moment just caught me into a soothing fit. It was an eye-arresting, a heaven on earth feeling!

Eyes to see the picture, ears to listen to the gushing of the waters, a sense of touch to feel the wind and the taste and smell of the coffee that we brought just perfected that moment. The static bridge and a speedy train running along the river made the scenery speak for itself. There stood I, by the bridge wondering about the origin of this wondering beauty. Places like these make you philosophical and connect with “The Whole”. Your wisdom and understanding expands tenfold and your senses stay as sharp as Bruce Lee. The feeling of finding places such as these, one after another is like getting addicted to a legal drug.

I stood there as it poured cats and dogs, felt every moment of Mother Nature’s love. I journeyed back home with thoughts which beckoned me to reason about life and its unanswered questions.

Chronologically, the third place that I have been to during the walk of my adventures was surprisingly within the reach of everyone but yet unknown. This place is called “the Pandava Cave”. I guess this was the only treasured spot which had a name. Located in the most obvious place i.e opposite Kadri Park this man built cave had gained my interest. This cave was used during war and is indeed a wonderful strategy. Legend has it that if anyone entered its myriad masked doors he/she would get lost forever.


 
Now the inner doors are closed except for two and people are not allowed to enter them.

Has anyone of you ever thought of how it would feel to stand at the bottom of an empty well? Does this ring a bell? “Dark Knight Rises” maybe?

Well, look no further. This place can give you this out-of-the-ordinary-experience. Placed close to the anonymous roads of Kulshekar, lies the Konkan Railway Tunnel. This two and half kilometre stretch is sandwiched between evergreen hills whose beauty abounds beyond measure. Halfway through this coal dark tunnel exists a wide hole, placed right above your head. When I saw it for the first time, it looked like a doorway to heaven and the warm rays of the sun entering the empty dark passage is beauty beyond imagination. Two trains pass by: one at 12:47 pm and 5-6 pm. You can expect goods trains too at any time of the day.

 
Thoughts tingling your brain as to where these places lie?

Is all this fictional or is it really true?

Continue reading this article and I will answer those questions along the way.

 
Moving on after finding these places, I must tell you that life was still like an empty sheet waiting to be filled. I was certain that I could carve my future with more exciting places and therefore I extended my search to the interiors of Mangalore. To my amazement, our next location,was in a place which I knew like the back of my hand. The mighty Lord has blessed this small isle near Padil with all the goodness of this world. After solving a knot of geographical equations, my eyes feasted on a hanging, unbalanced, flimsy looking bridge. Yes, my dear readers a hanging bridge. My dreams became a reality when I had a rendezvous with this bewitching isle. A magical isle, as I would call it had a homely church standing out from its surroundings. There lay a part of Mangalore, I had never seen before. The lifestyle of the people, the trees and the houses were simple and untainted by civilization. People were friendly and considered me a strange looking hippie boy. But the moment I started speaking in Konkani, they welcomed me with the purest warmth.

I would like to take this opportunity to describe the picture to you. From here, Ullal covers the latter of my view. Blue waters merging with the sand as though the waters are an extension of the land. The sand was so pure and the area was so spread out that it took me to I the Arabian Lands. The purity of this enchanting land stirred my soul. Oh, what a great joy I experienced! I could hear my breath whistle and it echoed back to me. I felt ecstatic as the time clocked four. Fishing was their bread and butter. Smiling faces lit up the place. Their fulfilled lives melted my heart and made me wonder how lucky I was to live to see this day. Thoughts and expressions stretched till the horizons; there I stood still, skipping a few heart-beats, forgetting that I was alive and yet feeling every moment with my senses. I did not want to go back; I stayed there till the sun gave up on me and returned home with all the boundaries of my mind broken down.
 
My dear readers, we have been the residents of Mangalore for years but these places have not been revealed to us and there must be some reason for it. In Wordsworthian language “the world is too much with us.” Nature is rich and has a lot to reveal and teach us, but we are not open to “the Giver.”. To find scenic places one must make time for oneself and understand the significance of nature in our lives. How much of Mangalore do we really know ? Let us move out from our cozy homes to meet and greet Mother Nature which so serene, life-giving and rejuvenating. We all say that we know Mangalore like the back of our hand and yet these places are kept far away from us. Similarly, we assume that we know our lives and never stop to spend time on ourselves, maybe if we do that life can surprise us with pure happiness and peace. So why not take some time off maybe a day, a few hours or minutes and spend time with yourselves and your loved ones and what better way to do this than be with nature, who knows you may find better places than I have found.

I hope you enjoyed this article just as I did while penning it for you. Thank you for your nourishing support and would be delighted for your feedback. My email id is rainercdsouza@gmail.com. This is me, Rainer Carlton D'Souza signing off wishing you fair weather and fair skies. Thank You.

 

 

By Rainer Carlton D'Souza
Rainer Carlton D'Souza hails from Swarnagiri layout, Padavinangady, Mangalore, and is currently pursuing his engineering in Bangalore.
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Comment on this article

  • Rainer, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 27 2013

    Thank you everyone for your heart warming comments and for people who have suggested me few things, I will always keep in mind and thank you again.. I will write more. I thank daijiworld and Mrs. Phyllis Mam for helping me through this. :)

  • shane, mng/dxb

    Fri, Oct 25 2013

    Well crafted article Dear Rainer. But You have forgotten one issue beyond Mangalore city is @ Our native city is among few cities in whole India which offers Intl Airport, World class Sea Port and Easy Road/Train connectivity to its public/Tourists. Regret Our Political Leaders Still not understand the value of our city and hence they overlook it in providing basic necessities to its public and no tourist attracting agenda in MCC Portfolio.

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Thu, Oct 24 2013

    Natives normally take the aesthetics of their habitat for granted, it a takes an outsider to appreciate the beauty of any locale and tourism works on this principle. For instance, until the scenic beauty of lush green fields of Niddodi was highlighted in the media recently, how many of us were aware of such magnificent landscapes in our neighborhood? No doubt, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and camera lens also plays a major role here.

  • Swaroop Jashwanth, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 24 2013

    Hey Rainer a gr8 article indeed :) :) :) Loved reading it and experienced it as me being you.... I too have been to almost all the places what u have mentioned in the article wid ma buddies n had hell of a time.... Mangalore ROCKS!!!!!!

  • John D'silva, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    Beautiful article dear Rainer.As far as natural beauty is concerned there is no difference between Kerala and our districts.Difference is Keralites developed the area,focusing on tourism and called it as God's own country.We too have scenic backwaters,lush green fields,beautiful estates,dense forests and beautiful beaches.For so many years we ignored the beauty at our own backyard.

  • Robert George, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    Indeed, these little-known areas of Mangalore are still unexplored or grossly neglected, especially by the youth, who mostly run towards the city centre for entertainment. This reminds me of my teens, some three decades ago, when I enjoyed trips with my friends to places then none would venture out. I thank you Rainer for a well-written travelogue.

  • Oliver Sutari, Manipal

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    Wow! The pictures of the railway tracks and particularly the one leading into the tunnel are so mystical, almost ethereal. One can sense the enthusiasm behind the author's efforts. A beautiful photo-essay indeed.

  • Roopa, Mangalore

    Mon, Oct 21 2013

    Beautiful article Rainer_Ozzy,Gerty &fly

  • Sharal Fernandes, Mangalore

    Mon, Oct 21 2013

    Good Article rainer.....God bless u

  • Jacinta Fernandes, Manglore/Ahmedabad

    Mon, Oct 21 2013

    While reading this articles, I felt like I was virtually in Managalore going from one place of scenic beauty to another. I am really refreshed. Want to know about Madkeri. Pls write if possible.

  • brijesh, bangalore

    Mon, Oct 21 2013

    lovely .. cant get enough of our land
    great artilce !!!

  • Lawrence Pinto, Siddakatte/Canada

    Sun, Oct 20 2013

    Wonderful job dear Rainer. Beautiful pictures with contents. Keep it up and Good Luck

  • Shareena, Manaus, Amazon Brazil

    Sun, Oct 20 2013

    Excellent article dear Carlton.. it gave me feeling of home coming.. explicitly more of island at adyar.. Pavoor Uliya. Pure atmosphere.. tranquility... far from noisy world... hats off to ur great work dear friend.. God bless u..

  • John DSouza, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 20 2013

    Dear Rainer, it is really beautiful, a heaven on earth feeling
    Excellent articulation of wonderful art of the Almighty God
    The nature here is extraordinarily exciting during monsoon
    Though it looks like a dreamland, it is our great homeland

    In fact we live in selfish, competitive, comparative mind set
    We pay high for fuel to get polluted air & disturbing sound
    Sacrifice to survive life with extensive pressure and tension
    Concerned to follow style and fashion of culture & tradition

    Though landline is history with wireless, mobile and www
    Our surface transport has become complex & problematic
    Best wishes to be a successful engineer with innovations
    For peaceful society, stable economy & clean environment

  • Maureen Palanna, Valencia, Dubai

    Sun, Oct 20 2013

    I agree with your Lydia. Thank you Rainer D'Souza to have enlightened us with beautiful Mangalore, I am proud of.

  • Prashant F., Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 20 2013

    Nice snaps...Specially from Adyar, Pavoor Uliya...Thank you Rainer Dsouza

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Sun, Oct 20 2013

    Dear Rainer,

    I can't describe the joy I felt reading your article. Wonder how will it be if I practically experience what you did ! You are right - we are born, grown-up and will some day die in this beautiful place but we hardly take a break from our daily race to explore our own place.

    You indeed inspire me. My well wishes are with you to continue exploring and fuel up my enthusiasm so that I too get down to peeping through corners that I ignored all this time.


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