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Welcome to a vista of winsome beauty where verdant mountain slopes play with lush plains, swaying palms dance around sparkling beaches and winding rivers silently slithers into a mighty ocean. Tradition based on a legend has it that the sage Jamadagni and his wife Renukadevi with their four sons lived long ago. Jamadagni, was a man of violent temper. On returning home one day, Jamadagni noticed that Renukadevi was steeped in thought and failed to greet him. In a fit of blind rage, at what he thought was a slight, he ordered his eldest son to kill his mother. He refused and was cursed to be a stone. The sage then turned to his second and third son each to do likewise. They too refused and were turned into stone. Jamadagni then asked his last son Parashurama to kill his mother. He did this with an axe and won the approval of his father.

As a reward for his obedience, Jamadagni promised to fulfil any three boons his son would request.
The first boon Parashurama asked was that his father should cool down. The wish was granted and the father realized his folly. Next he requested that his brothers be returned to him alive. This was also granted. Finally, he wanted his mother back alive. The last wish too was granted.

Remorse for killing his mother weighed heavily on Parashurama's mind and try as he would; he could find no solace. He then went on a 'theertayatra' (pilgrimage) to all holy places in the world to find peace for his turbulent and troubled mind but found none. No where he could clean the blood that was stuck to his axe. It is said some where in the mountains when he washed his axe in one of the rivers, the blood was cleaned. So as to build a world of his own, which cradled peace for his mind, he hurled an axe towards the sea which moved back to create before him this beautiful expanse of land, now called Parashurama Sristi.

Hidden within its beauty lies a vast cultural heritage with glimpses of an ancient civilisation.

Facts at a glance

Name of the destination:

Dakshina Kannada/South Canara and Udupi District.

Environment:

Coastal Karnataka border Goa in the north and the state of Kerala in the South. A 180-km. coastline encloses it on the west while a range of mountains known as the Western Ghats separates it from the east. The coastline has a stretch of sparkling clean beaches ideal for sun bathing. Quite a few beaches are safe to swim.

The mountains, which peak to 1800 with the deep valleys and lowlands, abound in a variety of fauna and flora.

Fauna:Tigers, Panthers, Flying squirrels, Bisons, Different Snakes, Wild Boar Deers, Sambar etc.

Birds: Night Heron, Pied Kingfisher, Sand plover, Blue Tailed Bee Catcher, Scarlet Minivets, Hornbill etc.

Flora: Sandalwood, Rosewood, Teak, Jack, Cashew, and many wild trees.

Medicinal Plants: There are over 480 species of medicinal plants and around 180 types of plants of high nutritional value regularly used in food locally. 

Flowers: Rose, Jasmin and wild flowers.

Cultivated crops: Coconut, Arecanut, Pepper, Vanilla, Cashew, Mango, Banana, Sapota (Chikku), Jackfruit, Mangosteens, Rambutan, Durians, Rice, Areca, Pineapple etc ...

Industries: Mangalore Roofing Tiles, Fisheries, Food processing, Banking , Restaurants & Hotels.

Weather:

Culture:

South Canara is very rich in culture. South Canara has its own traditional Folklore music for different season and different work. Sports wise the villages have Buffalo Race, cock fights, fish/crab hunting etc. As far as religion is concerned South Canara is dominated by Hindu population. In the interior villages, there is Spirit worship, Mass Possession etc. on which some foreigners have done doctorate thesis. Of course in addition to this there is modern music like HardRock, Reggae, Rock ’n’ Roll, Sufie etc.  

Languages: The three major languages in this area are Kannada, Tulu and Konkani, which uses the Kannada script. English is widely Spoken and Hindi is understood by almost every one.

Many vegetables are grown here. Sea food is abundant with fish, shrimp, muscles shell fish, oysters, squid. However Fish appears on most of the menus, common Mangalorean food includes fish curry rice, Chicken, Mutton, Pork with various breads and for vegetarians, graner pees curry of vegetables with rice and curds (sour yoghurt) with Potatoes and coconut in most of the dishes On your visit, you must try cashew fruit, (where the seed grows outside the fruit) Mangoes, Pineapple and Jackfriut, Rambutan, Mangoestin,  Passionfruit etc. at Soansfarms

South Karnataka has a culture of its own which has developed over the centuries. Hinduism is the faith of the vast majority. The popular Temples of this area is Udupi Temple with its 8 matts. Kollur Mookambika Annegudde Ganapathi, Katel Temple etc.

Jainism found refuge here centuries ago and their presence is evident in small pockets near Karkala.

Muslim conquests in later years brought in the Muslim faith. Muslim culture is woven into the fabric of society in various places.

With the advent of the Portuguese and years later the Basel Mission, the Christian faith established itself in and around Mangalore.

In interior areas, one comes across spirit worship, mass possession and similar forms of worship during certain seasons.

Music: Folk music has a charm of its own displaying a freshness and spontaneity suited to the location and occupation of the performer. The modern music like Western Hard Rock, Reggae, Rock & Role, Sufie are popular in the Hotels or in the students townships. Other popular music is the Konkani songs which has a Portuguese flavour. This is similar to Goan music.

Cuisine:

The vegetarians has an unlimited spread of vegetarian fare from which to choose. Greens, beans, Peas, lentils, yams, sprouted grains and split pulses (dhals) jostle with cabbages, carrots and cauliflower. These are cunningly merged with spices, rice, coconut and curd (sour yoghurt) to tickle any palate.

Those who would rather have meat and fish need not despair. The sea along our coast abounds with a variety of tropical fish, shrimps, prawns, Mussels, crabs, oysters and squids. Add to these the finest pork, chicken and meat and you have the answer to a gourmet’s prayer. With spices and coconut mouth watering dishes as Kori Rotti steeped in mouth watering curries, Kundapur Chicken, Kane or Naked Lady Fish curries are served with Dosas, Chapatis, Rice, Roties etc. On your visit, you must try cashew fruit, (where the seed grows outside the fruit) Mangoes, Pineapple and Jackfriut, Rambutan, Mangoestin, Passionfruit etc. at Soans Botanical Garden

During the months of November to March, special cultural events take place. These are well worth attending. Some of these are:

Buffalo races, Fish hunting.

Fire festivals.

Mass possession, Spirit worship, Serpent worship.

Masthakabhisheka of Bahubali. (Takes place once in 12 years).

Pariyaya of the Udupi Matt (Takes place once in two years).

Car festivals.

Some useful information for foreign visitors:

Visa: A valid visa to visit India is essential.

Health risks: Sun burn, diarrhea, But medical help is easily available at a reasonable cost.

Time: GMT + 5 ½ hours GMT

Electricity: 220 – 440 Volts, 50 Hz.

Weights & Measures: Metric

Currency: Indian Rupee (US$ 1=Rs. 45/= approx.)

Ideal time for visit: October to March.

Mobile Phones: BSNL, AirTel, Hutch, Spice, Reliance Infocom

Getting there and going around:

South Karnataka has a domestic airport in Mangalore. Air travellers could use this facility. Travellers could choose to travel by train from Mumbai (Bombay) or Goa on the Konkan Railway. The stretch between Goa and Mangalore or the State of Kerala and Mangalore offers a breath taking view. It is a journey well worth the effort. Mangalore could also be reached by road using the national highway NH # 17.

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