The Alupas (ಆಳುಪರು) ruled the erstwhile Dakshina Kannada region between the 8th and 14th century CE.^[5] An Old Malayalam inscription (Ramanthali inscriptions), dated to 1075 CE, mentioning king Kunda Alupa, the ruler of Alupa dynasty of Mangalore, can be found at Ezhimala (the former headquarters of Mushika dynasty) near Cannanore, in the North Malabar region of Kerala.^[6] It is one of the oldest inscriptions available about Alupa dynasty.^[6] Before 1860, Dakshina Kannada was part of a district called Kanara, which was under a single administration in the Madras Presidency.^[7] In 1860, the British split the area into South Canara and North Canara, the former being retained in the Madras Presidency, while the latter was made a part of Bombay Presidency in 1862.^[8] Kundapur Taluk was earlier included in North Kanara but was later re-included in South Kanara.^[9]

During the Reorganisation of States in 1956, Kasaragod was split and transferred to the newly created Kerala state and Dakshina Kannada was transferred to Mysore State (present day Karnataka).^[10]

South Canara was a district under the British empire which included the present Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kasaragod districts and Aminidivi islands.^[11][12] Canara district was bifurcated in 1859 to form North Canara and South Canara.^[13] Dakshina Kannada became a district of Mysore State in 1956 which later was renamed Karnataka in 1973.^[14] Kasaragod became a district of Kerala during the Re-organization of States and Aminidivi islands later became a part of Lakshadweep.^[15] The Udupi district was formed from the northern taluks of Dakshina Kannada in 1997.^[16] Later, the Karnataka Government, for the purpose of administration, split the greater Dakshina Kannada district into Udupi and present day Dakshina Kannada districts on 15 August 1997.^[17] Three taluks of the former district – Udupi, Karkala and Kundapura – formed the new Udupi district.^[18]

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  Hilly region - Sullia Town

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  Coastal plain - Tannirbhavi Beach

The district geography consists of seashore in the west and Western Ghats in the east. The soil is mostly lateritic type, characterised by high iron and aluminium content.^[19]

The major rivers are Netravathi, Kumaradhara, Gurupura (Phalguni), Shambhavi, Nandini or Pavanje and Payaswini; all join the Arabian sea.^[20] At Uppinangadi, the Netravathi and Kumaradhara rivers rise during the monsoon and meet. This event is called "Sangam", which in Sanskrit means confluence.^[21] Near Mangalore, an estuary is formed by the union of the rivers Netravathi and the Gurupura which merge into the Arabian Sea.^[22]

The topography of the district is plain up to 30 km (18.64 mi) inside the coast and changes to undulating hilly terrain sharply towards the east in the Western Ghats.^[23] Teak, bamboo and rosewood trees are found in the hilly areas towards the east.^[24] The Geological Survey of India has identified this district as a moderately earthquake-prone region and categorised it in the Seismic III Zone.^[25] In rural Dakshina Kannada, houses are in the midst of a farm field or plantations of coconut or arecanut, separated by a few hundred metres.^[26]

Shirlalu village (in the Kudremukh range of Belthangady taluk^[27]), with a maximum elevation of 1,115 m (3,658 ft), is the highest point in Dakshina Kannada.^[28][29]

ClimateEdit

Dakshina Kannada features a Tropical Monsoon climate (Am) according to the Köppen climate classification.^[30] The average annual rainfall in Dakshina Kannada is 4,030 millimetres (159 in).^[20] The rainfall varies from 3,774.1 millimetres (149 in) at the Mangalore coast, 4,530 millimetres (178 in) at Moodabidri and 4,329 millimetres (170 in) at Puttur near the Western Ghats.^[31] The average humidity is 75% and peaks in July at 89%.^[32]

The district comprises seven talukas: Mangalore, Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal, Belthangady, Kadaba and Moodabidri. It used to include seven northern talukas (Udupi, Kundapur, Karkala, Hebri, Brahmavar, Kaup and Byndoor), but these were separated in August 1997 to form Udupi district.

Important cities and towns in Dakshina Kannada include Mangalore, Surathkal, Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal, Vittal, Moodabidri, Kinnigoli, Uppinangady, Nellyadi, Kadaba, Belthangady, Guruvayankere, Venur, Mulki, Dharmasthala, Ujire and Subramanya. The district is well known for beaches, red clay roof tiles (Mangalore tiles), cashew nut and its products, banking, education, healthcare and cuisine. Mangalore being the second largest city of Karnataka and Puttur are the largest and the major cities of Dakshina Kannada.

Dakshina Kannada District has 1 City Corporation (Mangalore), 2 City Municipal Councils, 3 Town Municipal Councils, and 8 Town Panchayaths.

According to the 2011 census, Dakshina Kannada has a population of 2,089,649, of which male and female were 1,034,714 and 1,054,935 respectively.^[1] roughly equal to the nation of North Macedonia.^[36] This gives it a ranking of 220th in India (out of a total of 640).^[1] The district has a population density of 457 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,180/sq mi).^[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 9.8%.^[1] Dakshina Kannada has a sex ratio of 1018 females for every 1000 males^[1] and a literacy rate of 88.62%. The literacy rate of Mangalore city is 94%.^[1] According to the 2011 Indian Census, the district ranks second in per capita income,^[37] second in HDI,^[38] first in literacy^[39] and third in sex ratio among all districts in Karnataka. 7.1% of the district's population is Scheduled Castes and 3.9% Scheduled Tribes.^[40]

Tuluvas, distributed among the Billava, Mogaveera, Bunt, Kulala, Tulu Gowda and Devadiga communities, are the largest ethnic group in the district. Of these the Billavas are the most numerous community.^[41] The Konkani people, Brahmins, Holeyas, the hill-tribes (Koragas), Muslims, Mangalorean Catholics and Arebhashe Gowdas comprise rest of the population.^[42] The Brahmins belong chiefly to the Shivalli, Saraswat, Havyaka, Chitpavan, Daivadnya and Kota sub-sections.^[43]

ReligionEdit

Dakshina Kannada is the most religiously diverse district in Karnataka. Hindus form the majority, while Muslims and Christians form significant minorities.

Hinduism has always been a strong religion in the district. The coastal region of Karnataka has produced large numbers of scholars following various traditions of Hindu philosophy such as Smarta, Madhva, etc. Madhvacharya, founder of Dwaita, was from nearby Udupi and his philosophy is strong in the region. The Dharmasthala Shiva temple and Kukke Subramhanya Temple are major pilgrimage sites. Non-Brahmin Hindus historically followed more distinct traditions involving ritual dancing and veneration of bhuta spirits called Bhuta Aradhane, which is mainly ancestor worship. However the gradual urbanization and the rise of Hindutva in the district starting in the 1920s has made these religious traditions conform more to Brahminical codes or disappear entirely.^[44]

Islam is the second-largest religion in the district. As the district lies along the Arabian Sea, it has always been a hub for traders from the Middle East riding the Indian Ocean monsoon. The first Muslims in the region were Arab Muslim traders who married local women. The Beary community, who make up 80% of Dakshina Kannada's Muslim population, claim descent from these unions. It is said the Masjid Zeenath Baksh, the oldest mosque in the region, was built in 644 CE, only 12 years after the death of Muhammad. Almost all Muslims in Dakshina Kannada are Sunni, following the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence.^[45] Islam in Dakshina Kannada has also had dark sides when Tipu Sultan conquered the region and forced many of the local inhabitants, especially the Mangalore Catholics, to convert to Islam.^[46] In recent years, the Bearys have been one of the main groups to travel to the Gulf for work, where they have been significantly influenced by the highly conservative Wahabi Islam followed there. This, along with the predominance of Hindutva, has contributed to the radicalization of Islam in the district.^[44]

Christianity is the third-largest religion in the district. Christianity, although having an ancient presence on the western coast due to trade, did not gain a large following in Dakshina Kannada until the arrival of the Portuguese in the early 1500s. The majority of Christians in the district are Catholics, now called the Mangalorean Catholics.They arrived during the Goan Inquisition, fleeing persecution by the Portuguese who charged them with not following Christianity. Some, mainly lower castes, were converted by Protestant missionaries in the late 1800s who established numerous educational institutions. Their activities prompted a pushback by the social elites of the day who saw this as a disturbing of society.

Historically Jainism and Buddhism were strong religions in the district, as in much of the western coast, before being eclipsed by the various denominations. Jainism was the traditional religion of the Alupas as well as the Chowtas, who long defended Dakshina Kannada from outside aggression including the Portuguese. It is speculated most of today's Bunts were originally Jain before starting to follow Hinduism. Today there are over 10,000 Jains in the district as a whole.

Communal tensionsEdit

Despite this diversity (and partially due to it), Dakshina Kannada has earned a reputation as one of the most communally sensitive districts in the country. The three religions of Coastal Karnataka were once more syncretic than they are now. For instance Muslims found important roles in paddana stories, dargahs attracted people from multiple communities, and the Muslims played significant roles in Hindu village festivities. However this soon changed at the end of British rule. The groundwork for this communalization started in the early 1920s, when some of the earliest RSS Shakas in India were introduced to the district by Gauda Saraswat Brahmins in contact with RSS founder K. B. Hedgewar. These Brahmins felt the social order threatened by Christian missionaries, who were gaining converts among both lower castes as well as some upper castes. Hindutva eventually attracted both the landlord Bunts and the lower caste masses such as Billavas and Mogaveeras, and became a strong political force. This resulted in the general marginalization of mainly Muslims but also Christians to some extent. Even today Billavas and Mogaveeras make up the vast majority of ground cadres of the various Hindutva groups in Coastal Karnataka including the RSS, BJP, Bajrang Dal, Sri Ram Sena. Partly because of this rising Hindutva, and also the nature of their constant travel to the Gulf, the Bearys began to adopt much more conservative and radical forms of Islam including aspects of Wahabism from Saudi Arabia. Communal relations between the communities have since deteriorated significantly. The rise of the extremist Karnataka Forum for Dignity, Social Democratic Party of India and Popular Front of India, which the Indian Government speculates are linked to the banned Students Islamic Movement of India, have contributed as well to exacerbating communal tensions. Communal riots over claims of cow slaughter or forced conversion are common. In recent years, the region has seen a rise in attacks and moral policing by vigilantes against interfaith couples, mainly from Hindu groups but some Muslim too, claiming the widespread presence of Love Jihad in the region. The polarization has greatly decreased inter-religious interactions.^[44]

LanguageEdit

Tulu is the main language of the district and is spoken by 48.57% of the population. It is the oldest language of the district and has a long literary tradition. Tulu has several dialects and sociolects including a Northern dialect near Udupi and Southern dialect centred on Mangalore. It is the majority language in Bantwal, Beltangadi and Puttur taluks. Many have demanded the language's inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Beary is the next largest language, spoken by c. 16.07% of the population, and is spoken by the largest Muslim community who were traditionally traders. Although in origin related to Malayalam, it has undergone significant influence from Tulu as well as Arabic, Persian and the languages of other foreign traders. It is not recognized as a language in the census. Malayalam, the third largest language, is spoken by 9.97%, by maniyani (yadava) and vaaniya community mainly in regions bordering Kerala. Konkani, spoken by 9.91%, is a major language of Mangalore city and other urban centres. The dialect of Konkani here has strong influence from Tulu and Kannada. Kannada, although the official language of the state, is only spoken by 9.27% of the population here. There are many dialects of Kannada spoken, some of which are Are Bhashe, spoken by Gowdas, and Havigannada, spoken by the Havyaka Brahmin community. Deccani Urdu and Tamil are spoken by small minorities in Mangalore city. Marathi and Hindi are also spoken by significant numbers. Koraga is an indigenous tribal language still spoken by some individuals in the district.^[48]

In Dakshina Kannada, primary and secondary education have reached every section of the society. Some of them are St Agnes CBSE school, St Theresa ICSE School and St Aloysius School, Vivekananda collage,^[49][50] A host of educational institutes offering courses in Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, Nursing, Hotel and Catering, Law and Management are in this district.^[51]

Dakshina Kannada is home to the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal, one of India's top engineering colleges.^[52] The College of Fisheries is located at Yekkur near Kankanady.^[53][54] Mangalore University is a public university in Konaje near Mangalore.^[55] It has jurisdiction over the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu.^[56]

The district is home to research institutes such as the Directorate of Cashew Research at Puttur.^[57] The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute is in Vitla in the Bantwal taluk.^[58]

The engineering colleges in the district include St. Joseph Engineering College, KVG College of Engineering, Mangalore Institute of Technology & Engineering, Canara Engineering College, P A College of Engineering, Srinivas Institute of Technology, Srinivas School of Engineering, Vivekananda College of Engineering & Technology, Shree Devi Institute of Technology, Alvas Institute of Engineering & Technology, Karavali Institute of Technology, Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, Yenepoya Institute of Technology, A J Institute of Engineering and Technology,^[59] SDM Institute of Technology, Bearys Institute of Technology and Prasanna College of Engineering & Technology.^[60]

The medical colleges in the district include A J Institute of Medical Science, Father Muller Medical College, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Kasturba Medical College, Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Yenepoya Medical College & Research Institute and KVG Medical College. Manipal College of Dental Sciences Mangalore, A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, A J Institute of Dental Sciences, Yenepoya Dental College & Research Institute and Srinivas Institute of Dental Sciences are some of the dental colleges.^[61]

Most people of this district follow traditions, customs and rituals.^[43] The district has many temples of Hindu gods and goddesses, which are ancient and have deep spiritualism attached to them. The people of Dakshina Kannada worship the Serpent God Subramanya.^[62] According to legend, the district was reclaimed by Parashurama from the sea.^[63] According to the 17th-century Malayalam work Keralolpathi, the lands of Kerala and Tulu Nadu were recovered from the sea by the axe-wielding warrior sage Parasurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu (hence, Kerala is also called Parasurama Kshetram 'The Land of Parasurama'^[64]). Parasurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached. According to legend, this new area of land extended from Gokarna to Kanyakumari.^[65] The land which rose from sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation; so Parasurama invoked the Snake King Vasuki, who spat holy poison and converted the soil into fertile lush green land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar theorised, that Senguttuvan may have been inspired by the Parasurama legend, which was brought by early Aryan settlers.^[66] Nagaradhane or snake worship is practiced according to the popular belief of the Naga Devatha to go underground and guard the species on the top.^[67] Rituals such as Bhuta Kola are performed to satisfy the spirits. Kambala, a form of buffalo race on muddy track in the paddy field is organised in 16 sites across the district.^[68] Cock fight (Kori Katta in Tulu) is another pastime of the rural agrarian people.^[69]

Yakshagana is the popular folk art of this district.^[70] The Yakshagana is a night-long dance and drama performance practiced in Tulu Nadu with great fanfare.^[71][72] Pilivesha (literally, tiger dance) is a unique form of folk dance in the region fascinating the young and the old alike, which is performed during Dasara and Krishna Janmashtami.^[73] Karadi Vesha (literally, bear dance) is another popular dance performed during Dasara.^[74][75] The people of Dakshina Kannada also celebrate traditional Hindu festivals like Bisu, Yugadi (Ugadi), Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Navaratri (Dasara), Deepavali, Aati Hunime, etc.^[76][77]

According to Kerala Muslim tradition, the Masjid Zeenath Baksh at Mangalore is one of the oldest mosques in Indian subcontinent.^[78] According to the Legend of Cheraman Perumals, the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur with the mandate of the last the ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) of Chera dynasty, who left from Dharmadom to Mecca and converted to Islam during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (c. 570–632).^{[79][80][81][82]} According to Qissat Shakarwati Farmad, the Masjids at Kodungallur, Kollam, Madayi, Barkur, Mangalore, Kasaragod, Kannur, Dharmadam, Panthalayani (Koyilandy), and Chaliyam, were built during the era of Malik Dinar, and they are among the oldest Masjids in Indian Subcontinent.^[83] It is believed that Malik Dinar was died at Thalangara in Kasaragod town.^[84] Two of them, Mangalore and Barkur lie in Tulu Nadu.^[84]

The 16th century work Tuhfat Ul Mujahideen written by Zainuddin Makhdoom II appears to be the first historical work written in detail about the contemporary history of Mangalore. It is written in Arabic and contains pieces of information about the resistance put up by the navy of Kunjali Marakkar alongside the Zamorin of Calicut from 1498 to 1583 against Portuguese attempts to colonize Tulu Nadu and Malabar coast.^[85][86][87]

Bus services in this district are run by private players namely Dakshina Kannada Bus Operators' Association (DKBOA)^[88] and the state-run KSRTC.^[89] The district had public limited (public listed) companies running transport business even before the independence of India in 1947.^[90]

The district has five national highways connecting parts of Karnataka and India. NH-66 connects the district with Udupi, Karwar, Mumbai, Goa, Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.^[91] NH-169 connects Shimoga with Dakshina Kannada.^[92] NH-75 connects the district with Vellore, Kolar, Bangalore, Kunigal, Hassan and Sakleshpur.^[93] The NH-73 connects Mangalore to Tumkur via Charmadi, Mudigere, Belur and Tiptur. Major ghat sections in Dakshina Kannada include Shiradi Ghat (Nelyadi to Sakleshpura), Charmadi Ghat (Charmadi to Kottigehara), Sampaje Ghat (Sampaje to Madikeri) and Bisle Ghat (Subramanya to Sakleshpura, popularly known as Green Route by trekkers).^[94] NH-275 also connects Mangalore with Bangalore via Mysore.^[95] It starts at Bantwal near Mangalore city and passes through Puttur, Madikeri, Hunsur, Mysore, Mandya and Channapatna.^[96] It ends at Bangalore spanning a length of 378 kilometres (235 mi).^[97]

In 1907, the Southern Railway connected Mangalore with Calicut (Kozhikode) along the coastline.^[98] This railway line helped connect the district with other places of the Madras presidency during the colonial rule.^[99] The Konkan Railway (1998) connects Dakshina Kannada with Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala by train.^[100] There are direct trains from Mangalore to Mumbai, Thane, Chennai, Margao and Trivandrum.^[101] Train services operate daily to Bangalore via Hassan and Kukke Subramanya after the conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge track.^[102]

The Dakshina Kannada district has a seaport at Panambur named New Mangalore Port. The seaport managed by New Mangalore Port Trust handles cargo, timber, petroleum and coffee exports.^[103] It is one of the major seaports of India.^[104]

The district is connected by air through the Mangalore International Airport at Bajpe. Airlines such as Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo offer daily flights to national and international destinations near the Persian Gulf.^[105]

•  

  Sri Manjunatha Temple at Dharmasthala

•  

  Kukke Subramanya Temple

•  

  Shree Durgaparameshwari Temple Kateel

•  

  Kudroli Temple in Mangalore

•  

  Mangaladevi Temple

The following are historic places to visit in Dakshina Kannada:^[20][106]

• Mangaladevi Temple: Mangalore was named after the Hindu deity Mangaladevi.
• Venur: Monolithic Bahubali statue.
• Kadri: Temple of Lord Sri Manjunatha.
• Shree Amrutheshwara Temple, Vamanjoor: Temple of Lord Shiva.
• Moodabidri: Site of the ancient Jain temples and the Bhattaraka seat.
• Krishnapura matha: One of the matha (monastery) belonging to ashta matha of Udupi.
• Dharmasthala: The temple of Lord Sri Manjunatheshwara is here.
• Kateel: Temple of Goddess Sri Durga Parameshwari.
• Kadeshivalaya: Kadeshivalaya temple at Bantwal
• Carstreet: Sri Kalikamba Vinayaka Temple Mangaluru.
• Kudroli: Gokarnanatheshwars Temple.
• Mundkur: Sri Durga Parameshwari Temple.
• Karinjeshwara Temple: Temple of Lord Shiva Parvati on a huge rock.
• Ullal: Known for the Ullal beach and Someshwara beach.^[107]
• Kukke Subramanya: Temple of the serpent Lord Subramanya is here.
• Mulki: Durgaparameshwari Temple.
• St Aloysius Chapel, Mangalore.^[107]
• Milagres Church, Mangalore^[107]
• Sayyed Madani Mosque and Dargah, Ullal.^[107]
• Sultan Battery, Mangalore^[107]
• Puttur: Temple of Lord Sri Mahalingeshwara is here.
• Uppinangadi: Sahasralingeshwara temple.
• Kepu, Ananthadi, Balnadu: Known for goddess Ullalthi temple and its unique heritage.^[107]
• Puttur karavadtha valiyullahi darga shareef
• Somanatheswar Temple: Someshwara, Ullal.
• Summer Sand Beach Resort at Ullal.^[107]
• Pilikula Nisargadhama: Pilikula, Moodushedde, Mangalore.^[108]
• Kudupu temple: Kudupu, Mangalore.^[107]
• Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple Polali: Temple of Shri Rajarajeshwari.^[109]
• Kumbladi Balasubrahmanya.^[107]
• Charvaka Kapileshwara Devasthaana.^[107]
• Shri Kshetra Daipila.^[107]
• Masjidu Thaqwa Pumpwell Mangalore.^[110]
• Bellye Palli (Big Masjid) Bunder Mangalore.^[107]
• Manjusha Car Museum, Dharmastala
• Srimanthi Bhai Memorial Government Museum

Nearby hill stations

Some of the hill stations in close proximity to this district corresponding to their elevation above sea level are Kudremukh peak 1,894 m (6,214 ft), Pushpagiri 1,712 m (5,617 ft), Madikeri 1,150 m (3,770 ft), Mudigere 970 m (3,180 ft) and Sakleshpur 956 m (3,136 ft).^[111][112]

Agriculture, which was once a major occupation of the people of Dakshina Kannada, has taken a backseat because of the influx of money from natives settled in other cities, states and countries.^[113] Significant number of people from this district work in the Gulf (Middle East) countries and other states of India.^[114] Farms and fields have been converted into residential plots and commercial (shopping) complexes around Mangalore city.^[115] Horticulture, though, has made some strides, and measures have been taken to improve the fruit plantation sector.^[116] The main crops of Dakshina Kannada are Paddy, Coconut, Arecanut, Black Pepper, Cashew and Cocoa. Rice is generally cultivated three seasons in a year, Karthika or Yenel (May–October), Suggi (October to January) and Kolake (January to April).^[117] Urad (Black gram) is grown in some areas during the season of Suggi.^[118] The Karnataka Milk Federation has a milk processing plant at Kulshekar in Mangalore. This plant processes milk procured from the cattle owned by farmers of the district.^[113]

Some of the well known Tuluva community dishes in this district include Kori Rotti (dry rice flakes dipped in chicken gravy), Bangude Pulimunchi (spicy sour silver-grey mackerels), Beeja-Manoli Upkari, Neer dosa, Boothai Gasi and Kadubu.^[119] In Coastal Karnataka, the Mangalorean Fish Curry is a popular dish.^[120] The Konkani community's specialties include Daali thoy, Bibbe-upkari (cashew based), Val val, Avnas ambe sasam, Kadgi chakko, Paagila podi, Malpuri, Patrode and Chane gashi.^[121] Mangalore bajji, also known as Golibaje, is a popular snack made from maida, curd, rice flour, chopped onion, coriander leaves, coconut, cumin, green chillies, and salt.^[122] Tulu vegetarian cuisine in Mangalore, also known as Udupi cuisine, is known and liked throughout the state and the coastal region.^[123] Being a coastal district, fish forms the staple diet of most people.^[124]

The Beary community have their own unique dishes. Pattir, Pole, Pulchepole, Kalthappa, Aapa, Neyyappa, Neypathir, Irmandappa, Pindi, Erchi pindi, Kunji pindi, and Vodupole are some of the traditional breakfast and are primarily made from rice. Various dishes made from fresh or dried fish are also extensively consumed. Molavtanni made from lentils or sprouted pulses is the traditional soup usually eaten along with rice. Kakka is the traditional gravy made from fish,chicken,egg or mutton. Like in other coastal cuisine, coconut and its products form integral part of the Beary cuisine.

Mangalorean Catholics' Sanna-Dukra Maas ("Sanna" means Idli fluffed with toddy or yeast and "Dukra Maas" means Pork) Pork Bafat and Sorpotel .^[125][126] Pickles such as Happala, Sandige and Puli munchi are unique to Mangalore.^[127]

The district along with Udupi district is known as "The Cradle of Indian banking".^[128] Major nationalised banks of India such as Canara Bank, Corporation Bank, Syndicate Bank, Vijaya Bank and private sector Karnataka Bank evolved from these two districts.^[129]

Red clay tiles (Mangalore Tiles), Cashew processing factories and Beedi industry once flourished in this district.^[130]

Dakshina Kannada district has a per capita income of Rs. 218,580 which is second only to Bangalore Urban district.^[131][132] Despite ranking 8th in the list of most populous districts in Karnataka, the district is the second largest contributor to the state's GSDP, with a contribution of 5.8%.^[131] In other words, despite a low population share of 3.4%, the district's share in state GSDP stands at 5.8%.^[131]

As the district is on the shore of the Arabian sea, fishing is one of the major occupation of many people.^[133] The major fishing places are Bunder (Old harbour),^[134] Panambur, Surathkal, Kotekar and Sasihitlu.

The major industries in Dakshina Kannada concentrated around Mangalore are Mangalore Chemical and Fertilizers Ltd. (MCF), Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL),^[135] The Canara Workshops Limited (manufacturers of Canara Springs), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL), HPCL, BPCL,^[136] BASF, TOTAL GAZ, Bharati Shipyard Limited (BSL) etc.^[137] There is a chocolate manufacturing plant at Puttur run by CAMPCO.^[138] Major information technology and outsourcing companies have their facilities in Mangalore namely Infosys, Cognizant, Atlantic Data Bureau Services Pvt. Ltd., Lasersoft infosystems Ltd., Mphasis BPO and Endurance International Group.^[139] Two IT parks have been constructed, one Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at Ganjimutt and a second IT SEZ near Mangalore University.^[140] The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plans to set up a multiproduct SEZ (Special Economic Zone) with an investment of over Rs. 350 billion.^[141]

• Mangalore
• Economy of Mangalore
• Swami Vivekananda Planetarium
• U S Mallya Indoor Stadium
• Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUDCEMP)
• Centre for Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Learning (CEOL)
• South Kanara District Chess Association (SKDCA)
• Aramboor
• Bantwal
• Belthangady
• Dharmasthala
• Kakkinje
• Moodabidri
• Puttur
• Sullia

• S. Muhammad Hussain Nainar (1942), Tuhfat-al-Mujahidin: An Historical Work in The Arabic Language, University of Madras, ISBN 9789839154801
• J. Sturrock (1894), Madras District Manuals - South Canara (Volume-I), Madras Government Press
• Harold A. Stuart (1895), Madras District Manuals - South Canara (Volume-II), Madras Government Press
• Government of Madras (1905), Madras District Gazetteers: Statistical Appendix for South Canara District, Madras Government Press
• Government of Madras (1915), Madras District Gazetteers South Canara (Volume-II), Madras Government Press
• Government of Madras (1953), 1951 Census Handbook- South Canara District (PDF), Madras Government Press
• J. I. Arputhanathan (1955), South Kanara, The Nilgiris, Malabar and Coimbatore Districts (Village-wise Mother-tongue Data for Bilingual or Multilingual Taluks) (PDF), Madras Government Press
• Rajabhushanam, D. S. (1963), Statistical Atlas of the Madras State (1951) (PDF), Madras (Chennai): Director of Statistics, Government of Madras

• Official web site
• DK Zilla Parishad