Kudla : A City of Emotions

A decade had passed since I last felt the warm embrace of the beach, and the longing in my heart finally led me to a decision. Pondicherry and Mangalore beckoned me with their coastal allure, but in the end, I chose Mangalore, setting the stage for a new chapter in my life.

Mangalore, a city with a warm, homely charm, had always held a special place in my heart. My friend and I had been diligently saving up for this trip, cherishing the anticipation of being near the sea after such a long hiatus. The excitement in my heart reached its peak as I booked an overnight train shortly after returning from Shimoga. And so, Mangalore beckoned us once again. A week later, we found ourselves boarding the KSR Bengaluru-Kannur Express, ready to embark on another incredible journey. 

The next morning, at 7 o'clock, the train pulled into the Mangalore station, and a sense of déjà vu washed over me. It felt like coming home, even though I had never truly lived here before. The salty breeze welcomed us. It was the beginning of a beautiful, rejuvenating trip.

After freshening up at the station, we were eager to dive into our Mangalore adventure. Our itinerary was planned, and the early morning air felt crisp and inviting, making it the perfect time for a leisurely walk to our first destination. We strolled for about 15 minutes, taking in the sights and sounds of the city as it began to wake up.

Our first stop was the Shri Sharavu Maha Ganapati Temple. It was a magnificent sight, standing proudly in Kerala-style architecture with its long, steep sloping roof and frames crafted from hard wood timber. The entire temple complex exuded opulence, filling our hearts with devotion and reverence for our age-old traditional beauty. Inside, we offered our prayers and took a moment to bask in the serenity and grandeur that surrounded us. It was a fitting start to our journey.

Right beside the temple, we stumbled upon a delightful surprise – Ideals Cafe. Although it wasn't initially planned for such an early visit, our growling stomachs couldn't resist the temptation. We stepped inside, excited to try what was most recommended – the chocolate tiramisu and gudbud ice cream, along with some sandwiches.

The first bite of the ice cream was pure bliss. It exceeded every expectation and lived up to the hype. The flavors danced on our taste buds. It was, without a doubt, the best ice cream I had ever tasted. As for the sandwiches, they were slightly on the expensive side for their portion and taste, but the ice cream made up for it in spades. It was a perfect beginning to a memorable adventure, and we couldn't wait to see what else Mangalore had in store for us.

Our journey in Mangalore continued as we hopped into an auto to visit the famous Kadri Manjunatha Temple nestled in the Kadri Hills. This ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, had a rich history dating back to the 10th century. As we approached, we marveled at the temple's magnificent courtyard, which was adorned with numerous smaller temples. At the center of it all, stood the main temple of Lord Manjunatha, a sight to behold with its intricate architecture and spiritual ambiance.

After offering our prayers and taking in the temple's beauty, we decided to rest for a while, especially as it had started to rain outside. We sat within the temple complex, listening to the soothing sound of the raindrops on the ancient stones, feeling utterly blessed.

Once the rain subsided, we gathered our spirits and embarked on another adventure. We climbed the stairs that led us to a temple perched atop Kadri Hills. Here, amidst the serene woods, we encountered a colossal statue of Hanuman. The sheer size of the temple complex drained our energy a bit.

As we descended the hill, our next plan was to head to our pre-booked hotel through OYO, freshen up, and then decide whether to have lunch or head to the beach. However, an unexpected setback dampened our spirits. The hotel staff denied us entry because I was a few months underage, despite having clarified this issue during our booking and receiving assurances of a hassle-free stay from OYO's customer service. Frustration mounted as my friend and I made countless efforts to convince the staff and resolve the situation, but our pleas fell on deaf ears.

Exasperated and running short on time, we engaged in a heated argument with OYO's customer service to no avail. More than an hour slipped away, and we found ourselves in a hopeless situation. Ultimately, we were forced to search for another hotel, paying nearly three times the cost of our previous booking. Our budget was stretched thin, and our moods had taken a significant hit.

Despite the setbacks, we managed to secure a hotel room, checked in, and sank into the comfortable beds. Exhausted from the day's adventures and the frustrating ordeal with the hotel, we decided to take a short nap to regain our energy and composure before venturing out again. Our Mangalore journey had thrown us a curveball.

After our much-needed nap, we woke up in a hurry, well aware that we were running late and didn't want to miss the stunning sunset that Mangalore had to offer. We quickly got dressed and made our way towards Tannirbhavi Beach, a place we had been looking forward to visiting. Our budget constraints prompted us to opt for the local bus as our mode of transportation, so we asked the friendly locals for information on the buses and routes to the beach.

Our journey led us to Sultan Bathery, and from there, we needed to take a ferry to reach Tannirbhavi, crossing the Gurupura River backwaters. Thankfully, our timing was just right, and we arrived at Tannirbhavi with the sun still shining brightly. However, another disappointment awaited us as we learned that it was an alert period, meaning the beach was closed to visitors. We could only admire the sea from a distance and were not allowed to go near the water.

Despite this setback, we were determined not to let it spoil our day. Instead, we decided to make the most of the situation. We captured numerous photographs to preserve the memory of the beach, took leisurely strolls along the shore while holding hands, and ate raw mango with masala from a local vendor. Sitting together on the sandy shore, we gazed out at the horizon, eagerly anticipating the sunset.

As the sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, we felt a deep sense of connection and intimacy. It was a beautiful and serene moment. The disappointment of not being able to swim in the sea had been overshadowed by the magic of the sunset.

We then left Tannirbhavi Beach and made our way back to Sultan Bathery. We boarded the bus bound for the city area, reflecting on the day's ups and downs. As hunger gnawed at our empty stomachs and exhaustion from the day's adventures weighed us down, we knew it was time to replenish our energy. The weariness from our train journey seemed to persist, but our determination to satisfy our taste buds overpowered it.We got off bus midway and found our way to Machali Restaurant, a place that had come highly recommended by nearly everyone we had spoken to. As a Bengali and a seafood enthusiast, I was particularly excited to indulge in the hyped cuisine of Mangalore. The restaurant was bustling with people, and the atmosphere was electric with activity. 

Amidst the hustle and bustle, we secured a table and quickly placed our order, opting for a fish thali, prawn, squid and chicken ghee roast, and a biryani. To our surprise, the food arrived at our table almost immediately. Our initial annoyance at the behavior of a rather rude waiter faded away swiftly as we took our first bites of the mouthwatering dishes. Being a lover of prawns, I was on cloud nine as I savored each bite. The flavors were a delightful explosion in my mouth. We devoured the meal until we were satisfyingly full, and yet, there was still a considerable amount of deliciousness left on our plates.

Despite it being only 7:30 in the evening, we decided to pack the remaining food, excited at the prospect of enjoying these leftovers later in the comfort of our hotel room. We headed back to our accommodation, yearning for the warmth of our blankets and the cool embrace of the air conditioning.

After a refreshing shower, we snuggled under the cozy blankets, ready to savor the food once more. With the leftover food before us and watching episodes of "Modern Family," we relished the simple joy of a relaxed evening. Our bodies, weary from the day's adventures, welcomed the early night's rest, knowing that we needed to recharge for the exciting experiences ahead.

The next morning began on a delightful note as we indulged in a hearty breakfast at our hotel. I particularly relished the famous Mangalore bun paired with a steaming cup of tea. With our appetites satisfied, we wasted no time in getting ready for our visit to Panambur Beach.

After checking out of our hotel, we made our way to the city bus stand and hopped onto a bus bound for Panambur Beach. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the fisherwomen who were selling an array of fresh and tempting fish varieties. However, to our disappointment, the beach was once again fenced off, preventing visitors from entering the turbulent sea. We found solace on a bench under the shade of our umbrella, gazing at the vast expanse of the beach. With limited options at hand, we decided to make the most of our time by building sandcastles. One by one, we constructed numerous intricate figures with the soft, golden sand and collected a few seashells as keepsakes. Time seemed to slip through our fingers, and before we knew it, the afternoon sun was high in the sky. Reluctantly, we parted away from our sandy creations and decided to visit a souvenir shop to purchase some gifts for our friends and family. As the day at the beach drew to a close, we couldn't help but reflect on the beauty of the sea, even though we hadn't had the chance to take a swim.

On our way back to the city, I couldn't resist buying some crabs from a vendor just outside the beach. My plan was to take them back to Bangalore and prepare a dish just like my mother makes. Our journey back on the bus, however, turned out to be a nerve-wracking experience. The driver's reckless driving transformed the ride into something akin to a roller coaster. Seated in the last row, we were jolted around as if the bus itself was taking flight. The experience was simultaneously frightening and painful, and it was with great relief that we finally reached our destination.

As we got off the bus, our cravings led us back to Pabba's, the parent cafe of Ideals, where we had first tasted that incredible ice cream. The demand for their tasty ice creams was evident as we joined a queue, eagerly awaiting our turn. We ordered different ice creams, savoring each spoonful slowly, determined to etch the flavors into our memory forever. It was a sweet and satisfying experience. After indulging in our ice cream delights, we stumbled upon a row of book stalls on the footpath. Being a passionate book lover, I couldn't resist the temptation, so I ended up purchasing three books at a reasonable price after some friendly bargaining. Our shopping continued in the city market, where we picked up a few things. The humid weather was taking a toll on us, especially with the weight of our luggage in tow. Feeling exhausted and drained, we decided to seek refuge from the heat at the City Centre Mall, providing us with some much-needed relaxation. However, our time of leisure was short-lived, as we had to rush to the railway station earlier than expected. As we bid farewell to this beautiful city that had captured our hearts, we couldn't help but feel a sense of attachment to Mangalore.

 I have named my blog "Kudla - The City of Emotions" because Mangalore reminded me of my hometown, offering a comforting sense of warmth and love despite being miles away from home. This city, so different from my own, had not failed to provide us with its own unique form of love and care.

We boarded the Kannur-Bengaluru Express at Mangalore Central, embarking on our journey back home. We arrived the next morning around 6:30. However, we encountered another challenge as the crab we had purchased began to emit a foul odor due to the warm weather. Our closed AC compartment soon became permeated with the unpleasant smell, and we faced difficulties, even being denied entry onto the metro due to the odor. Desperately trying to mask the scent with continuous sprays of perfume, we finally managed to reach our destination and cooked the crab. As we enjoyed the flavors of the crab, it served as a reminder of our extraordinary yet chaotic trip to Mangalore, also known as Kudla. The memories we had made, the people we had met, the challenges we had faced, all combined to create an unforgettable journey. Mangalore had left a mark on us, a city of emotions that we would forever carry in our hearts.

Stay tuned for my next blog, which promises to be a unique and overwhelming experience, unlike a typical travel blog. Till then, see ya!