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Here's your guide to the city's top-tier museums and everything you need to know about them, including their unique collections!
Famous for its aesthetic temples and Instagrammable beaches, the city of Mangalore, also called Mangaluru, attracts travelers of all ages, tastes, and preferences year round. The city's prime location, right between the Arabian sea and the Western Ghats, gives it a pleasant tropical climate and gorgeous, lush landscapes.
Known as the Rome of the East, Mangalore is home to a fair few architectural masterpieces and heritage sites. But did you know that Mangalore also has a whole treasure chest of antiques and historical artifacts tucked away in its museums, waiting to be explored? Let's dive deep and see what riches await us!
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There is no dearth of museums and historical sites in the city. It boasts innumerable art centers, science hubs, and nature reserves. To help you navigate the overwhelming number of options, we've curated a list of the most popular and unmissable museums in the city. Here is a guide to the top 5 museums in Mangalore that are an absolute treasure trove of historical insight.
One of the most famous museums in the city, the Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum, also known as the Bejai Museum, houses a massive collection of geological and archeological artifacts. The museum is the former residence of Colonel V. R. Mirajkar, who was a medical officer in the Indian British Army.
During his many trips in India and abroad, he collected antiques and art pieces that are now proudly featured in the museum. Colonel Mirajkar later donated the building and the vast collection it housed to the government of Karnataka, and they converted it into a museum named in honor of his mother, Srimanthi Bai. The museum is built in the shape of a ship, taking inspiration from structures in Milan from the 1930s.
What to See: If you're a history buff, you'll be impressed by the museum's collection of artifacts from the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages, and some belonging to the ancient Indian civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Right from Tulunadu's Bootharathane idol and Muga to stone-age tools, ancient coins, manuscripts, and paintings, the museum holds a lot of history. You'll also discover a well-preserved collection of porcelain and metal utensils, wooden figurines, arms and armors, animal seals, wooden panels, musical instruments – the list goes on.
Things to Know:Timings:The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:30 (Tuesday to Sunday).
Entrance Fees: The entrance fee to the museum is INR 20.
St. Aloysius Museum, or simply the Aloyseum, is located on the campus of St. Aloysius College in Mangalore. It was established by a Jesuit priest in 1913. The museum depicts the history of the city – different sections are dedicated to the evolution of technology and gadgetry, the flora and fauna of the region, domestic and agricultural utensils, and much more. You'll also find an elaborate display of artifacts from various cultures around the world.
What to See: The most attractive crowd-puller of the museum is the suspended skeleton of the giant Blue Whale in the Bone Room. You'll also see seashells, fossils, and skeletons of animals like wild pigs, tigers, and various sea creatures – an impressive selection for marine-biology lovers. In addition, you will come across a variety of stones and sands from different beaches around the world, earthen utensils, a massive collection of old analog cameras, and antique telephones.
If you love vintage stamps and coins, you are in for a treat! You'll see some of the most ancient ones here. You also have a chance to see some rare collections in the exhibition halls, like pieces of the Berlin Wall, paintings by renowned European artists, arrows from Abyssinia, Mangalore's first car and generator, and old musical instruments. Something for everybody, right?
Things to Know:The museum is just opposite the Aloysius Chapel, which is also a must-visit where you can see the famous wall paintings.
Timings:The museum is open from 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 17:00 (on all days).
Entrance Fees:The entrance fee to the museum is INR 30.
The museum is dedicated to a German Jesuit missionary priest Augustus Muller, who came to India in the late 18th century. It honors his contribution to medical science and education in Mangalore and displays his well-preserved belongings and books.
What to See: You will see the personal belongings of Father Muller, depicting his life and the history of his selfless service. The museum showcases Father Muller's old Vatican calendar, which goes up to the year 2050. He was a homeopathic doctor and had many textbooks on the subject – these are so well-preserved that you can still read them. The museum is like a biography of old Father Muller.
Things to Know: It is worth visiting this small but well-looked-after museum and knowing about the person behind the renowned institute and hospital.
Timings: The museum is open from 17:00-19:00 on Sundays.
Entrance Fees:NA
Who doesn't love a cool science museum? The Pilikula Regional Science Centre is a humongous complex spread over an impressive 10 acres. It boasts of a Science Park and a Science Centre Building – which includes a Dinosaur Park! If that wasn't cool enough, their most recent addition is India’s first-ever 3D planetarium with a NanoSeam dome. There is also a biological park, home to wild animals like lions, tigers, snakes, leopards, cheetahs, and more.
What to See: This museum complex has something for all ages and interests. If you love astronomy, you can't miss the immersive 3D show at the Swami Vivekananda Planetarium. It shows how humans have evolved and has some splendid visual and sound effects at par with international standards.
At Heritage Village, you can watch lovingly curated showcases of the village culture of a bygone era, with models of traditional Dakshina Kannada homes and folk music and stories. It's a perfect place to show your children how things worked in the old times. You should also check out the science exhibits to learn more about day-to-day physics.
Things to Know: Please ensure that you buy the tickets for the planetarium show in advance, at least half an hour before the start of the show, as it is likely to be sold out depending on the crowd. The center remains closed on Mondays.
The science center is open from 10:00 to 17:30 (Tuesday to Sunday). The last ticket will be issued at 17:00.
Planetarium Show Schedule: Biography of the Universe (in English) - 14:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
Entrance Fees:The entry fee is INR 30 for adults and INR 20 for children/students.
The fee for the planetarium is INR 5 per person.
Mahatma Gandhi visited Mangalore thrice: once at the Canara Public School in Dongerkery in 1927 and again in 1934. He also laid the foundation of the Krishna temple. In the late 1930s, a museum was built on the premises of the school and named after Gandhi. If you are a lover of history, you can't miss this place! It houses some incredibly rare international collections and a lot of antique coins and artworks.
What to See: You get to see the letters written by Gandhi. You also learn a great deal about the iconic milestones of the journey of India’s freedom. This is a place you can take your kids to give them a look into Gandhi's life and his fight for our country. Apart from that, the museum is also home to a rich collection of various kinds of deer antlers, an elephant foot, skeletons of animals, taxidermied animals, shells, corals, traditional art and craft forms of Karnataka, African exhibits, and much more. Lots to see and marvel at!
Things to Know: The Mahatma Gandhi Museum is one of the oldest museums in the city. Some artifacts may not be on public display due to restoration work.
Timings: The museum is open from 06:00 - 09:00 and 16:00 - 20:00 (on all days).
Entrance Fees: Entry to this museum is free.
Other than these top-tier museums, we highly recommend that you squeeze in some time and add the following themed museums to your itinerary:
If you observe closely, all major museums in Mangalore have a nominal entry fee, but are quite well-preserved. It is evident that the governing bodies want more people to visit and learn the lessons the museums offer. In the digital age, when it's easy to lose touch with our roots, visiting museums is one way to reconnect with our heritage and glorious history.
Museums in Mangalore don't just pique your historical interest – they also house tons of unique and rare objects that spark surprise and wonder. So the next time you are in the city, set aside a day or two to experience these museums and enrich your travel experience with a taste of history.
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