PILIKULA VILLAGE NISARGADHAM
Like all other districts, Dakshina Kannada district too is rich in heritage and culture. Spread across 350 acres, Pilikula Nisargadham offers an array of activities one can think of. Botanical Garden, Medicinal Garden, Guthu Mane, Pottery, Handloom,Blacksmith, nursery, and Folklore gallery are the few main attractions of the Pilikula Nisargadham. Dakshina Kannada’s economy primarily depends on tourism, agriculture, and its by-products. The region is bestowed with heritage, culture, and historical marvels. At Pilikula Nisargadham, after deep research on the village and cultural aspects, a heritage village is recreated. This heritage village facilitates the visitors on how the various activities like handloom, pottery making, black-smithy, stone carving, carpentry, and many other hand-crafted activities are performed. This gives visitors a first-hand experience of the various rural activities.
What to see
Pottery Designs at Pilikula
Established in the year 1990, Pilikula in Tulu means ‘Tiger Pond’ and is about five acres in area. It is the lake where tigers once upon a time used to come to quench their thirsts, hence the name. Tulunadu culture of Dakshina Kannada district is one of the exquisite cultures which is becoming extinct. As you walk in you will find a navigation board mentioning things to see in the artisan village-like beaten rice mill unit, oil extraction, stone carvings, black smithy, handloom, carpentry, cane, and bamboo handicrafts. The other arts and crafts include Pottery, Handloom, Wood Carving, Toddy Jaggery, Fish Net Weaving, and Jasmine Culture. Pilikula artisan village was established to protect and preserve the old age unique traditional art and crafts forms and depict them to the newer generation so that the tradition goes on.
One of the traditional and hand-crafted processes of molding iron and steel to produce various domestic and agricultural equipment is Black Smithy. In this process, the metal is heated until it turns red and becomes soft enough, and is hammered to the desired shape.
The most significant art of Dakshina Kannada is stone carving and sculpturing. Rich in natural rocks and stones, the district uses granite, soapstone, slate, and black stone for sculpting and carving the idols of deities and Nagas.
Pilikula Nisargadham Village apart from the artisan village also consists of many other attractions like a boating center, a biological park, an arboretum, a science center, a water amusement park, and a golf course.
Guthu Mane
Interior of Guthu Mane
An architectural marvel, Guthu Mane is a traditional house of the coastal landlords. As the landlords of the yesteryears are progressing or migrating to the city life, the legacy of traditional and cultural heritage homes is becoming extinct. Look for intricately carved interiors, wooden pillars, ancient furniture and artifacts, and brass and copper antiques and vessels which are noteworthy. A huge Guthu Mane is restored and reinstalled to educate the visitors about the tradition, heritage, and culture of the region. The house also exhibits the dance forms, traditional attire, and other forms of folk arts and folk sports like Kambala, Yakshagana, etc.
The Handicraft and a Souvenir shop
Handloom at Pilikula
Do not forget to take home a little bit of Dakshina Kannada along with you. The souvenir shop or the outlet at Pilikula called ‘Parampara’ has some of the most interesting artifacts, handicrafts, hand-crafted vessels in terracotta, bamboo handicrafts, clothes, and many other products made at the artisanal village itself. You can also buy cold-pressed edible oils, hand-pounded beaten rice, organic jaggery, and much more. The intention is purely to promote traditional and cultural heritage.
How to reach
Ancient Artefacts at Guthu Mane, Pilikula
Located just 10 km away from Mangalore, Pilikula Nisargadhama is easily accessible via road. With beautiful and scenic roads, this heritage village is en route to Mudibidre and Karkala and is situated in Mudushedde village.
Mangalore is an international airport and is also well connected via rail and road.
Timings and Tickets
Open on all days except Mondays, the artisanal heritage village timings are from 10 am until 5 pm. The ticket rates are as below:
Children below 3 years: Free
Children from 3 to 10 years: Rs 20/-
Adults (above10 years): Rs 50/-
School Groups minimum 15 numbers: Rs 15/- per head
College Groups minimum 15 numbers: Rs 30/- per head
