Surathkal, the quiet, serene beach suburb of Mangalore city, located in Dakshina Kannada district . This town boasts of many educational institutions and industries. The name, Surathkal is derived from the word “Shiradakal” meaning headstone in Kannada and in Tulu (local language in Dakshina Kannada, it has no script). According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Ganesh, disguised as bramhin boy, was holding the Shiva Linga belonging to Ravana. It so happen the Ravana went to bathe and did not return for long. Ganesh grew impatient and called for Ravana who still did not return. Ganesh placed the sacred Linga on the ground at Gokarna. The linga got fixed on the ground (today, this place is called Gokarna) and could not be moved. In anger, Ravana tried forcefully to remove the Linga in the process, some pieces were scattered. The head piece of the Linga is said to have fallen in present day Suratkal. One more piece landed in Murudeshwara.
Industries in Surathkal
Some of the major industries are Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), BASF, a chemical company, New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) and Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited ()MCF are located at the Surathkal. Baikampady Industrial Estate about 6 kilometres from Surathkal also houses many small and medium industries.
Industries at Baikampady
Surathkal is famous educational hub, host to the institutions,
NITK National Institute of Technology Karnataka
Formerly known as Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KREC), was established in 1960, under the able supervision of U Srinivas Mallya and V S Kudva. The institution began with offering basic courses like mechanical, civil, electrical engineering.
NITK at Surathkal
KREC came into jurisdiction of Mangalore University in 1980 and in 2002 it was renamed as National Institute of Technology, now affiliated to the University Grants Commission . Over the years it has full-fledged institution offered advanced and post graduate courses in many disciplines like mining, marine engineering, industrial electronics, heat power, hydraulics and water resources, chemical plant design engineering, process metallurgy and computer science and information technology.
Light house at NITK, Surathkal
This instituteboasts of a private beach with a light-house. The campus covers a sylvan area of about 295 acres (1.19 km 2 ) with long lawn stretches providing an ideal environment for both intellectual and recreational pursuit. Because of it importance, its connectivity by land (40kms to highway NH_17), rail(3 kms to Konkan railway) and air(14kms to Mangalore Airport) has been good.
Vidyadayanee High School and Govindadasa College
These educational institutions are run by the Hindu Vidyadayanee Sangha, Surathkal, is one of the famous school from pre –independence times.
Piligrimages near Surathkal
Many important pilgramages like Mangalore, Udupi, Dharmasthala, and Manipal are nearby. About 3 kms from Surathkal, is the Astha Matha established by Sri Madhwaacharya.
Tourist Spots :
Beach at Surathkal
Sandy shores like NITK campus beach, Panambur beach, Kapu beach, Murudeshwara beach and St. Mary’s Island, near Malpe, Udupi are situated close by. Nearby Sashihitulu village about 5kms from Surathkal is an estuary formed by the joining of Pavanje river to the Arabian sea. This is a beautiful tourist spot.
How to reach:
By Road: from Udupi is 40 kilometers to the north along the NH - 17
By Rail: from south of NITK 3 kms is Railway station at Surathkal, on Konkan railway
By Air : nearest airport is Mangalore ( Bajpe ), 15 kilometres from Surathkal
By Ship : New Mangalore sea port is 6 km away, on Arabian sea.
