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

Mangaluru Mangaluru (), formerly called Mangalore ( ), is a major industrial port city in the Indian state of Karnataka and on the west coast of India. It is located between the Laccadive Sea and the Western Ghats about west of Bengaluru, the stat ...

city in

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

, managed by the District Administration of

Dakshina Kannada Dakshina Kannada district is located in the states and territories of India, state of Karnataka in India, with its headquarters in the coastal city of Mangaluru. The district covers an area nestled in between the Western Ghats to its east and the ...

. It is a major tourist attraction of

Mangalore Mangaluru (), formerly called Mangalore ( ), is a major industrial port city in the Indian state of Karnataka and on the west coast of India. It is located between the Laccadive Sea and the Western Ghats about west of Bengaluru, the st ...

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

Etymology

In the

Tulu language The Tulu language (, Tigalari script: , Kannada script: , Malayalam script: ; ) is a Dravidian language whose speakers are concentrated in Dakshina Kannada and in the southern part of Udupi of Karnataka in south-western India and al ...

, "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, near Kushalnagar.

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 An arboretum (: arboreta) is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees and shrubs of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, many modern arbor ...

(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 (embry ...

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

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 Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...

medicine. Nine aquatic

pond A pond is a small, still, land-based body of water formed by pooling inside a depression (geology), depression, either naturally or artificiality, artificially. A pond is smaller than a lake and there are no official criteria distinguishing ...

s contain plants such as lotus and lilies.

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 Mangaluru 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 Mangaluru 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 (also waterpark, water world, or aquapark) 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 ...

, which is similar to the Water Kingdom in

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

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 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 Kodagu district () (also known by its former name Coorg) is an administrative district in the Karnataka state of India. Before 1956, it was an administratively separate Coorg State at which point it was merged into an enlarged Mysore State ...

Mysore Mysore ( ), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, the city functioned as the capital of the ...

Chikmagalur Chikmagalur (officially Chikkamagaluru, ), previously known as ''Kiriya-Muguli'' is a city and the headquarters of Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the foothills of the Mullayanagiri, Mullayanagiri peak of the We ...

, and

Bengaluru Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

. 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 A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

, 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 Tulu Nadu, or Tulunad, is a region and proposed state on the southwestern coast of India. The Tulu people, known as 'Tuluva' (pl. 'Tuluver') are speakers of Tulu, a Dravidian language, and are the predominant ethnic group of the region. Sout ...

traditions, culture, dance forms, pottery, handicrafts, cuisine etc.

Transport

Pilikula is just south of the

Gurupura River The Gurupura River (also known as Pachamagaru River, Phalguni River or Kulur River) is a river in the Karnataka state of India. It originates in the Western Ghats and is a distributary of the Netravati River, which empties into the Arabian Sea ...

, 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 - 12 km *

New Mangalore Port New Mangalore Port or New Mangalore Port Trust(NMPT) is an all-weather port at Panambur, Mangalore in Karnataka state in India. The total land area of the port is approximately . The New Mangalore Port is the deepest inner harbour on the wes ...

- 13 km * Tannirbhavi Beach - 16 km * Panambur Beach - 17 km *

National Institute of Technology Karnataka The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), also known as NITK Surathkal and formerly known as Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KREC), is a public technical university located in Surathkal, Mangalore, Mangaluru. Established in ...

- 22 km *Infosys DC, Mudipu - 28 km * Sasihithlu Beach - 30 km *

Manipal 300px, The house of T. M. A. Pai located in Manipal; it has since been converted to a museum. Manipal is a suburb and university town within Udupi, in coastal Karnataka, India. Manipal is located five kilometres away from the centre of Udupi C ...

- 71 km *

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

- 73 km * Kukke Subramanya Temple - 104 km *

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

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

- 147 km *

Murdeshwar Murdeshwar is a village in Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India, and lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea. It contains the world's third tallest Shiva statue, as well as the Murudeshwara Temple. The town has a railway statio ...

- 165 km *

Gokarna, Karnataka Gokarna is a small temple town located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state in southern India, It has a population of around 20,000. The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna, Mahabaleshwara Temple is dedicated to Shiva. Gokarna is one of ...

- 240 km *

- 253 km *

Bangalore Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

- 349 km *

Hubli Hubli (officially 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 district of ...

- 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 est ...

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 bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...

- 374 km Nearest Railway Stations: * Mangalore Junction railway station,

Kankanady Kankanadi or Kankanady is one of the major upscale commercial and residential localities of the city of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. Educational institutions The Father Muller's hospital campus houses the following educational institutions. ...

- 11 km * Mangalore Central railway station, Hampankatta,

- 13 km * Surathkal railway station,

Surathkal Surathkal(kn:ಸುರತ್ಕಲ್)" is one of the major localities in the northern part of Mangaluru taluk located on National Highway 66 (old NH-17) in the Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka state, India on the shore of Arabian sea. I ...

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

Climate

Mangaluru 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 subtype 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 Botanical gardens in India Biosphere reserves of India Zoos in India