Old Mangalore

Mangaluru has long been a roadstead along the Malabar Coast. It became engaged in trade with the Persian Gulf region in the 14th century, and it was occupied by the Portuguese in the mid-16th century. Under the Mysore (Mysuru) sultans (1763) it became a strategic shipbuilding base, which was ceded to the British in 1799 after numerous sieges.

The contemporary city, heavily dotted with coconut plantations, has a deceptively rural appearance. It is a busy transshipment centre; ships must anchor 3 miles (5 km) offshore because of sandbars, but a deepwater port has been developed for the shipment of mineral ores, petroleum products, and other commodities as well as containers. Cashew nuts, coffee, and sandalwood are brought from the Mysuru and Kodagu (Coorg) regions. Rice, areca nuts, coir yarn (coconut fibre), fish, and cardamom are local products. In the 19th century the German Basel Mission introduced cotton weaving and tile manufacture, and Mangaluru remains an important producer of roofing tiles. Other industries include boatbuilding, coffee curing, pottery manufacture, and the making of brick kilns. The suburb of Ullal produces hosiery and coir yarn. Mangaluru maintains a large bazaar near its coastal landing place.