Dakshina Kannada, also known as South Kanara, is a coastal district in the state of Karnataka in India. It is bordered by Udupi District to the north, Chikkamagaluru district to the northeast, Hassan District to the east, Kodagu to the southeast, and Kasaragod District in Kerala to the south. The Arabian Sea bounds it on the west. Mangalore is the headquarters and chief city of the district. Dakshina Kannada district has an area 4,866 square kilometres, and a population density of 390 persons per square kilometre. There are 354 villages in the district.
The district is divided into five talukas, Mangalore, Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, and Belthangady. It used to include three northern talukas, Udupi, Kundapur and Karkal, but these were separated in August 1997 to form Udupi district. Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod taluk are often called Tulu Nadu, as Tulu is the majority language in the region. The Alupas who ruled this region between the 8th and 14th century CE as a feudatory of all the major Kannada empires of those times and it is for this reason that the Tulu speaking districts are a part of Karnataka state.
Important towns in Dakshina Kannada include Mangalore, Bantwal,Vittal, Puttur, Sullia, Moodabidri, Kadaba, Surathkal, Mulki and Dharmasthala.
Mangaloreans (Tulu: Kudladakulu; Konkani: Kodialghar; Kannada: Manglurnavaru; Beary:Maikaaltanga) are generally considered to be a collection of ethnic groups that hail from the areas comprising Tulu Nadu (historical South Canara district) on the south western coast of India. Mangalorean communities like that of the Mogaveeras, Billavas, Bunts, Saraswat Brahmins, Mangalorean Catholics and the Bearys.
Udupi district in the Karnataka state of India was created in August 1997. The three northern taluks, Udupi, Kundapur and Karkal, were separated from Dakshina Kannada District to form Udupi district. Udupi district is surrounded by Uttara Kannada district in north, Dakshina Kannada district in southern direction. Shivamogga district borders on north east side and chikamagalur district on east. Arabian sea is on west of Udupi district. Udupi is famous for Udupi cuisine originated in the district as well as at Ashta Matha, i.e., eight Matts, Sri Krishna Temple and Udupi Hotels. Udupi is also one of oldest Educational Centres. Yakshagana, the drama and dance folk art is highly developed and popular in Udupi district as well as other coastal districts of Karnataka. The administrative headquarters of Udupi district is Udupi town.
Source: Wikipedia
