Let’s Discover Manipal and Life in Manipal

Manipal is located in the state of Karnataka in India. It is a suburb within Udupi city and is administered by the Udupi City Municipality. It is located on the rocky hinterland of the Malabar Coast of south-west India, about 8 km (5.0 mi) east the Arabian Sea. From its location on a plateau, it commands a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats to the east.

Manipal was previously part of the Shivalli village panchayat. The name is derived from ‘Mannu’ and ‘palla’, anglicised to Manipal. Mannu means mud and Palla means lake in Kannada and Tulu Languages. This 400 meter lake, after which Manipal is named is located in the middle of the town, and offers boating facilities.

• Weather in Manipal: From September – February, the weather in Manipal is tropical with daily temperatures averaging 27 °C (81 °F). From June – August, Manipal witnesses one of the most extreme monsoons in the world, with the annual precipitation ranging from 500–560 cm (200–220 in). The months of March – May are hot and humid, with the daily temperatures typically peaking at 35 °C (95 °F).

 

• Options to Reach Manipal:

 

• Flying in – The nearest airport is at Mangalore which is one and half hours’ drive by road. There are daily domestic flights from Mumbai and Bangalore. There are direct international flights to Mangalore from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha-Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Prepaid taxis are available at the Mangalore airport.
• By road – Manipal is well connected with the major cities in Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, etc. Buses run between Mangalore and Manipal frequently. Direct buses are also available from Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai and other cities.
• By train – The nearest railway stations are at Udupi (2kms from Manipal) and Mangalore (65 kms from Manipal). These railway stations lie on the Konkan route connecting the North and the South along with West Coast. Delhi and Mumbai (to the North) and Ernakulam (to the South) are linked to Udupi station. Mangalore station is connected to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Calicut, Trivandrum, Mumbai and other major cities.
• Places to visit near Manipal

• Malpe beach – It is around 10 km from Manipal. The beach is clean, peaceful and beautiful. There is a famous beach resort, which serves delicious food. The resort hosts some spectacular beach dance parties and provides excellent accommodation to visitors.
• Kapu beach – The lighthouse at this beach is famous and is not very crowded. At a distance of 15 kilometers from Manipal, it is a very popular destination, especially during weekends. The light house, built by British in 1901, is located on the shores of Arabian Sea. Since the light house is constructed on a rock it gives added visibility across the sea.
• Suspension Bridge – This is quite famous and worth a small trip. A ride on a rickshaw brings you in a jungle-like scenery with typical backwaters mood, where the suspension bridge connects a small island with the mainland. Bathing is possible here.
• End Point – At one end of Manipal is End Point, which is a cliff overlooking the Swarnariver. From this point, one can see the Arabian sea in the western horizon and the Western Ghats in the eastern horizon.
• Mary’s Island – This is a very beautiful island which can be reached from a place very near to Malpe beach. It is a small island and around 2 hours can be used to explore it before the ferry takes you back. It is very clean and very beautiful.
• Karkala – This is a historical town and for the Jains, a famous pilgrim center. The famous single stone 42-foot (13 m) statue of Gomateshwara (Lord Bahubali) is located here. The town is only about 40 kilometers from Manipal.
• Agumbe – Agumbe is a hill station which can be reached by bikes or cars. The best part of the trip to Agumbe is the ride. Beautiful sceneries on both sides will keep company all along the way. This place is about 45 km from Manipal. Agumbe is one of the highest peaks of the Western Ghats located about 60kms from Udupi.
• Kudremukh – Some 30 km from Karkala, Kudremukh is again a pleasure ride. The best thing about the trip is the ride. Kudremukh literally mean Horse face. It is so called, for its mountain ranges look like the face of a horse. This is the largest reserve of a tropical wet evergreen forest in Karnataka.
• Turtle Bay – This is a beach resort. A short distance away from the resort, on the Highway, lies a beautiful stretch of road with the sea on one side and backwaters on the other. This stretch measures a few kilometers and is a rare sight. The scenic beauty of the Arabian Sea, the calm backwaters of the River Sowparnika, breathtaking nature walks, treks along the scenic coast, clean water for snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming – that about sums up what Turtle Bay is all about!
• Murdeshwar – Home to a huge Shiva statue, this place is another 40 km from Turtle Bay. It can be visited on the way to Gokarna or Goa. The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple at Murudeshwar. The sea on three sides surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called KandukaGiri.
• Jog Falls – This is India’s highest waterfall and is about three hours by road from Manipal. The best time of the year to visit these falls is during monsoons, preferably July and August. The roaring waters of the River Sharavati drops from a height of 875 ft. to form this glorious waterfall.
• Popular Eateries in Manipal

Manipal is a heaven for foodies, as there are plenty of options to choose from for every occasion, budget and taste preferences. There is no place like Manipal for Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Malaysian, Indian, Arabian and other kinds of food.

Some of the popular eateries include Dollops, Karavali, Madhuvan Veg Restaurant, Eye of the Tiger, Attilrestaurant, Hangayosaiba, Snack Shack, Pangala Restaurant, Sizlers Ranch, Cafe 7 Bees, KMC Foodcourt, The Egg Factory, Down town Bar and restaurant, MrIdli, Thaamara, Guzzlers Inn, Basil, Charcoal Bbq Restaurant, Anupam, Swaad, Ritus Kitchen, and lots more.

Education in Manipal

Manipal University – A 60 year legacy

Manipal University is synonymous with excellence in higher education. Over 28,000 students from 60 different nations live, learn and play in the sprawling University town, nestled on a plateau in Karnataka’s Udupi district. It also has nearly 2500 faculty and almost 10000 other support and service staff, who cater to the various professional institutions in health sciences, engineering, management, communication and humanities which dot the Wi-Fi-enabled campus. The University has off-campuses in Mangalore and Bangalore, and off-shore campuses in Dubai(UAE) and Melaka (Malaysia).

In Manipal, there are educational facilities like the Simulation Lab with computer driven Manikins, an Innovation Centre, one of Asia’s largest health sciences libraries, one of the world’s best anatomy museums, a business incubation centre and various other centers of excellence. Academic collaborations and twinning programs with several universities in the US, UK, Australia and other countries ensure that students get international exposure and expertise.

Campus Life at Manipal

Manipal University is a sub-city in itself, having hotels, hospitals, canteens, food courts, multi-cuisine cafes and eateries, indoor and outdoor sports complexes, hostels, etc.Campuses at Manipal provide a cosmopolitan and congenial atmosphere in which students from over 60 countries create a relationship for life. Manipal, a classic mix of cultures, provides a wonderful opportunity for dialogue and understanding of cultures. Students can join clubs for music and fine arts, literary pursuits, meditation, yoga, debating and photography.

There are a lot of facilities to supplement classroom teaching. These facilities encourage and aid students in innovative thinking and pursuing careers of their choice.It is a green campus with eco-friendly practices. Extensive use of rain-water harvesting structures, solid-waste and waste water management systems, and constant monitoring of pollution levels ensure that ‘Green Manipal’ is a way of life for one and all.

Manipal University – A way to a good life and bright future

The calm, peaceful, noise & pollution free, and secure environs of Manipal University and surrounding areas provide the perfect setting to enhance your learning and explore your creative potential. You can live a good life here, and expect a bright future ahead. Of the many rankings and recognition, Manipal has been ranked #1 Private University in India (2015), ranked #97 amongst BRICS nations (2015), ranked #201 amongst Asian Universities (2015), and the Best Institute for Placement (2015).

Manipal University is an ocean of knowledge and you can choose from a wide variety of programs in Under Graduate, Post Graduate, Certificate Diploma and Super Specialty categories. With students from 60 nationalities, Manipal is a melting pot of various cultures and thinking, which will help expand your horizons and transform you into a true global professional. For inspiration, you can always look up to the likes of SatyaNadella (CEO, Microsoft), VikasKhanna (Michelin Starred Chef)and Rajeev Suri (CEO, Nokia), some of the most prominent names in the Alumni list of Manipal University.