Pilikula Nisargadhama (or Nisarga Dhama) is a multi-purpose tourist attraction, at

Vamanjoor Vamanjoor is a residential locality which falls within the city corporation of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. It is en route to Moodabidri and Karkala by National Highway 169 (India), National Highway 169 (old NH13). Vamanjoor in Detail Vamanj ...

, eastern part of

Mangalore Mangalore (), officially known as Mangaluru, is a major port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats about west of Bangalore, the state capital, 20 km north of Karnataka–Ke ...

city in

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

, managed by the District Administration of Dakshina Kannada. It is a major tourist attraction of

. It attracts large number of tourists due to the availability of multiple facilities.

Etymology

In the

Tulu language Tulu () in Kannada script, ml, ത‍ുള‍ു ഭാഷെ in Malayalam script. ''bhāṣe'', , ''bhāśe'', and ''bāśe'' are alternative spellings for the Tulu word ''bāse'' in the Kannada script. The correct spelling for the word ...

, "pili" means tiger and "kula" means lake. The name Tiger Lake is because tigers used to come to this lake to drink. The state of Karnataka also has a nature preserve called

Kaveri Nisargadhama ''Kaveri Nisargadhama'' is a delta which is called as island by local people, formed by river Kaveri near Kushalnagar in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka, India. Location It is approximately from Kushalanagara, off the State Highway and ...

, near

Kushalnagar Kushalanagara or Kushalnagar is a city located in the Kodagu district of the Indian state of Karnataka. Surrounded by Kaveri river, it is the gateway to Kodagu district. It also serves as the headquarters of Kushalanagar Taluk. By population ...

Facilities

The Pilikula Nisarga Dhama Society has developed this area to offer scenic beauty and peace. Pilikula has a huge lake encircled by gardens. Swans and ducks swim in the lake and sometimes occupy the gardens. Boating facilities are available in the lake. Couples prefer pedal boats; larger parties use motor boats that carry 10 to 15 people.

Botanical Garden and Arboretum

Image:Pilikula-Lake-Garden-1.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - beside the Lake Image:Pilikula-Lake-Garden-2.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Ducks taking rest Image:Pilikula-Lake-Garden-3.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Pine tree Image:Pilikula-Lake-Garden-4.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Forest near the Lake Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Mussaenda trees near the entrance.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Mussaenda trees near the entrance Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Peace Lilies near the entrance.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Peace Lilies near the entrance Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Swans swimming in the lake.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Egrets swimming in the lake Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Pedal Boat.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Pedal Boat Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Lake and Tree Cover.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Lake and Tree Cover Image:Pilikula-Botanical-Garden-5.jpg, Near the entrance of the Pilikula Botanical Garden Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Mini garden beside the lake.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Mini garden beside the lake Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Motor boat.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Motor boat Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Lawn overlooking the lake.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Lawn overlooking the lake Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden in Mangalore - 12.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Beside the walkway Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden in Mangalore - 24.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Walkway and shelters near the lake Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden - Pruned bushes near the lights.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Pruned bushes alongside the lights Image:Perfect scenery 01.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Geese wandering around the lake Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden in Mangalore - 16.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Bougainvillea garden near the lake Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden in Mangalore - 9.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Sunflower garden near the lawns Image:Pilikula Botanical Garden in Mangalore - 18.jpg, Pilikula Botanical Garden - Near the lawn garden The Pilikula Arboretum (Pilikula Botanical Garden) extends over 35 ha. About 60,000

seedling A seedling is a young sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle (embryonic root), the hypocotyl (embryo ...

s belonging to 236 taxa of flowering plants of Western Ghats, spread over 60 families, have been planted randomly as well as family clusters. They include 70 taxa endemic to the Western Ghats region, whose conservation is the arboretum's focus. The arboretum contains not only

threatened species Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of '' critical depen ...

but also a few species that had been considered extinct. The arboretum also includes 6 acres devoted to medicinal plants with more than 460 varieties, often visited by students of botany and Ayurvedic medicine. Nine aquatic

pond A pond is an area filled with water, either natural or artificial, that is smaller than a lake. Defining them to be less than in area, less than deep, and with less than 30% emergent vegetation helps in distinguishing their ecology from ...

s contain plants such as lotus and

lilies ''Lilium'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. M ...

Zoo and water park

Image:Near the entrance of the Pilikula Biological Park in Mangalore.jpg, Near the entrance of the Pilikula Biological Park in Mangalore Image:Wolves.jpg, Dholes in the theme park Image:Entrance of the Manasa Water Park at Pilikula in Mangalore.jpg, Entrance of the Manasa Water Park at Pilikula in Mangalore On the other side of the road, there is a zoo featuring several wild animals. The animals are not kept in cages but are in the open, with more natural barriers, such as wide trenches or wire mesh, to separate them from visitors. There are tigers, leopards, bears and other wild animals inside the park. There is also a variety of snakes and birds in the zoo. Adjacent to the zoo is the Manasa

Water Park A water park (or waterpark, water world) is an amusement park that features water play areas such as swimming pools, water slides, splash pads, water playgrounds, and lazy rivers, as well as areas for floating, bathing, swimming, and other baref ...

, which is similar to the Water Kingdom in

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' fin ...

Science centre

Pilikula Regional Science Centre was inaugurated in October 2014, with an area of approximately 4000 square metres. Image:Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangalore - 5.jpg, Pilikula Regional Science Centre - 1 Image:Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangalore - 7.jpg, Pilikula Regional Science Centre - 2 Image:Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangalore - 8.jpg, Pilikula Regional Science Centre - 3 Image:Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangalore - 9.jpg, Pilikula Regional Science Centre - 4 Image:Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangalore - 10.jpg, Pilikula Regional Science Centre - 5 Image:Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangalore - 12.jpg, Pilikula Regional Science Centre - 6

3D Planetarium

Image:Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium (Dome) in Mangalore.jpg, Dome of the Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium Image:Entrance to Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at Pilikula in Mangalore.jpg, Entrance to Swami Vivekananda Planetarium

Swami Vivekananda Planetarium Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at Pilikula in Mangalore is the first 3D planetarium in India. It is also the first planetarium in the country with 8K digital and opto-mechanical (hybrid) projection system. The planetarium is at the Pilikula Reg ...

situated in Pilikula is the 1st and the only 3D Planetarium in India.

Golf course

Image: Pilikula Nisargadhama golf course, Mangalore.jpg, Pilikula Golf Course The Pilikula Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course set in an area of comprising nine fairways and nine greens, with a total of about through hilly terrain. Mid-day weather can be problematic but serious golfers play through it. Popular times of tee-off are usually early in the morning (6:30), and in the evenings after 4:00. The annual Pilikula Challenge Cup attracts more than 150 golfers from Coorg,

Mysore Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...

Chikmagalur Chikmagalur, known officially as Chikkamagaluru, is a city and the headquarters of Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the foothills of the Mullayanagiri peak of the Western Ghats, the city attracts tourists fro ...

, and

Bangalore Bangalore (), List of renamed places in India, officially Bengaluru (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan area, metropolitan population of a ...

. The club has over 500 members. A

clubhouse Clubhouse may refer to: Locations * The meetinghouse of: ** A club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal ** In the United States, a country club ** In the United Kingdom, a gentlemen's club * A ...

inaugurated in December 2010 has 7 rooms, a restaurant, and a bar.

Heritage village

Image:Pilikula Heritage Village 05.jpg, Pilikula Heritage Village - 1 Image:Pilikula Heritage Village 36.JPG, Pilikula Heritage Village - 2 Image:Pilikula Heritage Village 28.JPG, Pilikula Heritage Village - 3 Image:Pilikula Artisan Village in Mangalore.jpg, Pilikula Artisan Village - products sales house Tulunadu culture is displayed here. Ancient house exhibiting various ancient Tulunad traditions, culture, dance forms, pottery, handicrafts, cuisine etc.

Transport

Pilikula is just south of the Gurupura River, off National Highway 169. It can be reached using city buses. However, a personal vehicle would make it easier to visit all the facilities. Inside Pilikula battery operated car facilities are available. Image:Pilikula Road in Mangalore - 6.jpg, Pilikula Road leading to the Botanical Garden Image:Pilikula Road in Mangalore - 1.jpg, Road leading to the Pilikula Manasa water park Image:Bamboo tree beside the Pilikula Road in Mangalore.jpg, Bamboo tree next to the road joining the Pilikula zoo Distance from other nearby major tourist destinations: *

Pumpwell Pumpwell Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Pumpwell Junction is one of the busiest junctions in Mangalore. Pumpwell is just away from Hampankatta a major commercial centre, 3 km from Mangalore Central railway station, 2.3 km from Mangalore ...

- 12 km *

New Mangalore Port New Mangalore Port is a small water af, all-weather port at Panambur, Mangalore in Karnataka state in India, which is the deepest inner harbour on the west coast. It is the only major port of Karnataka and the seventh largest port in India. I ...

- 13 km * Tannirbhavi Beach,

- 16 km *

Panambur Beach Panambur Beach is a beach in the city of Mangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. This beach is on the shores of Arabian sea and is credited as one of the safest and best maintained beaches of India. It is the most popular, well connected a ...

- 17 km *

National Institute of Technology Karnataka National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), also known as NITK Surathkal, formerly known as Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KREC), is a public technical university at Surathkal, Mangalore. It was founded in 1960 as KREC while tod ...

, Surathkal,

- 22 km *Infosys DC, Mudipu,

- 28 km * Sasihithlu Beach,

- 30 km *

Manipal Manipal is a suburb and university town within Udupi, in coastal Karnataka, India. Manipal is located five kilometres away from the centre of Udupi City, in Udupi District, Karnataka (state) in south western India. It is administered by the Udup ...

- 71 km *

Dharmasthala Dharmasthala (earlier known as Kuduma) is an Indian temple town on the banks of the Nethravathi River in the Belthangady taluk of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, India. The town is known for its centuries old Dharmasthala Te ...

- 73 km *

Kukke Subramanya Temple Kukke Subramanya (IAST: ''Kukke Subrahmaṇya'') is a Hindu temple located in the village Subramanya, of Kadaba taluk (Earlier in Sullia taluk) in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India. In this temple Kartikeya is worshipped as Subrama ...

- 104 km *

Kannur Kannur (), formerly known in English as Cannanore, is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kannur district and situated north of the major port city and commercial hu ...

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

- 147 km * Murdeshwar - 165 km *

Gokarna, Karnataka Gokarna is a small temple town located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state in India, It has a population of around 20,000. The main temple and deity is Shiva, who is also known as Mahabaleshwara. This temple houses what is believed t ...

- 240 km *

- 253 km *

- 349 km *

Hubli Hubli, officially known as Hubballi, is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. The twin cities Hubli–Dharwad form the second largest city in the state by area and population and the largest city in North Karnataka. Hubli is in Dharwad distr ...

- 354 km *

Panaji Panaji (; also known as Panjim) is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Previously, it was the territorial capital of the former Portuguese India. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi river estuary ...

Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...

- 374 km Nearest Railway Stations: *

Mangalore Junction railway station Mangaluru Junction railway, formerly Mangalore Junction railway station (station code: MAJN) is a gateway to the port city of Mangaluru located at Darbar Hill, Padil, Mangaluru, 575007, coming under the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway. ...

Kankanady Kankanadi or Kankanady is one of the major upscale commercial and residential localities of Mangalore city. It houses many highrise buildings and transforming into a highrise hub of Mangalore CBD region along with its major counterparts like Be ...

- 11 km *

Mangalore Central railway station Mangaluru Central railway station, formerly Mangalore Central railway station (Station code: MAQ) is the main railway terminus in the city of Mangalore. It is one of the major railway stations in Karnataka state and it is the biggest terminal ...

Hampankatta Hampankatta (pronounced as 'Hampanakatte' in Tulu and Kannada) is the centre of Mangalore City, Karnataka. Hampankatta also called as Happananakatte/Hampankatte/Hampananakatte/Hampanakatte. Most of the public utilities are located here and the ...

- 13 km *

Surathkal railway station Surathkal railway station is one of the main railway stations of Mangalore city along with Mangalore Central railway station and Mangalore Junction railway station and is located in north Mangaluru. Twenty-two trains stop here. KRCL operates RO- ...

, Surathkal,

- 20 km Nearest Airport: * Mangalore International Airport (India) - 12 km

Climate

Mangalore has a

tropical monsoon climate An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ...

and is under the direct influence of the Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon.

References

{{reflist Tourist attractions in Mangalore Parks in Mangalore