The ancient rustic town of Mangalore is the chief port of the state of Karnataka that was a renowned port in the south of India as early as the 6th century. Even in the present times this is a bustling commercial centre and the headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada.

The name Mangalore is derived from a famous deity here of the Mangaladevi Temple. Ancient folklore says that a princess Parimala from Kerala who married Matsyendranath, the founder of Nath tradition was brought to Mangalore and was later renamed Mangaladevi and converted to the Nath sect. Following her death, a temple was built here in her honour called the Mangaladevi Temple. Mangalore is the anglicized version of ‘Mangalooru’ made up of two words ‘Mangala’ and ‘ooru’ meaning Mangala’s abode.