The City of Mangalore

A few days ago I met my friend Parminder. While talking he asked me to write to him describing the city of Mangalore, where I am currently working. So I thought I might as well share it with all of you. Although it’s just been over a month in this city, but I shall try! 

Talking about facts, the coastal city of Mangalore gets its name from Hindu Goddess Mangala Devi, and more importantly, gets the third highest rainfall in India (which is a lot!). For more of the regular stuff, you can refer to -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangalore

They say that the first flight seals the bond. My first interaction with the city was in form of a bus ride to the company campus (which is situated about 23 Kms from the city) from the airport. Oblivious as to how our life in this city would be in the near future, we were excited! Since during this journey we hardly ventured into the main city, the entire ride passed through relatively desolate countryside with hardly any people to be seen. That was the initial impression. The ever-present grey clouds during the monsoon season adding to that feeling.  And the countryside is extremely green,  mainly due to the incessant rains. But the city itself is pretty crowded, so the social interaction needs can be satisfied.

While going to the office, one has to cross the Nethra river. The large number of fishing boats in the river show that the life in this area is mostly centered around water and the fishing business. According to the interaction I’ve had so far, the people of Mangalore appear to be nice and warm-hearted and are extremely happy living a simple life. But it’s going to take me a while to get used to the way people in south (actually everywhere apart from North) look curiously towards a guy in turban!

The city has a lot to offer to each and every kind of person. If you are in for some solitude, you can spend hours (as I did once) watching the high tides crashing at the shore at Ullala beach. The desolate beach almost appears to be of a post-apocalyptic era! The Panambur beach, on the other hand,  is alive with hustle and bustle of the‘conventional’ tourists. For travelling, I usually prefer to go to less crowded places. But due to an uncanny reason, I felt myself at peace at Panambur among so many people. The murals of St. Aloysius church are not to be missed if you are in Mangalore.

The majority of people in Mangalore are hindus, but this area has a sizeable population of Muslims and Catholics, all living in harmony with each other. Although the city is on the Western Ghats, but nothing beats the Himalayas of the North. I do miss going to the mountains for a ride!

Mangalore walks at its own pace. It doesn’t have the madness of Mumbai or the dazzling speed of Delhi. Every morning when you wake up, you can feel the tranquility in the air.

There is just so much to see and explore in and around Mangalore and in form of weekend drives, and the time is less. But as they say, all the good things in life have to wait. The wait makes your life a bit more interesting. Life's taken some unexpected turns and by the initial looks of the events, I’ll shortly develop a habit of travelling and wandering off on my own, which reminds of a song by Eddie Vedder –

Have no fear, For when I'm alone
I'll be better off than I was before

I’ll keep you posted with my exploring of the city and my travels if and when I undertake them.

All said and done, the feeling that I’m a part of this city, like an indifferent friend, still eludes me!