Moodabidri

As of 2001 India census,[4] Moodabidri had a population of 25,710. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Moodabidri has an average literacy rate of 88.57%, Male literacy is 93.13%, and female literacy is 84.13%.[5]

Moodabidri basically contains two villages: Pranthya and Marnad. Moodabidri is also called as "Jaina Kashi of the South".[3][6]

Moodabidri is on National Highway 169 (old NH 13). It is accessible from Mangalore city (34 km away) by road.[2] Mangalore International Airport is 23 km away from Moodabidri.[7]

It is 54 km from Udupi and 18 km from Karkala. Other nearby places are Venur (20 km), Belthangady (37 km), Kudremukh (66 km), Agumbe (68 km), Puttur (54 km) and Mijar (5 km)

Tulu spoken by majority of the population, followed by Kannada and Konkani. Muslims speak Urdu and a small Muslim population speaks Beary.

Moodabidri has a state-run health centre. The hospital has improved in the last few years. Medicine supply to the hospital is stable and medicines are available for all common ailments. Well qualified doctors, including dentists, are available and PG interns practice. The hospital has an X-ray machine, dental chair, and an ambulance facility.

Private hospital services (allopathic and ayurvedic) are available. A few of the hospitals are Alva's nursing home, Prabhu Hospital, G.V. Pai hospital, dental clinics like Dr Parveen's Modern Dental Clinic, Dr Hegde's Dental Speciality Clinic, and Dr.Shinaj's dental clinic. Alva's Health Centre is a holistic centre for comforting patients. There is an ayurvedic wing with all the rare ayurvedic plants in Shobhavana, near Mijar, outskirts of Moodbidre. In 2014, Ever Care Clinic opened, focusing on management and care of chronic illnesses.

The town also has a reasonably well maintained veterinary hospital with a veterinary doctor and a veterinary inspector.

Jain Bhattaraka Samadhis

Jainism was and still is strongly practised in Moodabidri. The Thousand Pillars Temple (Saavira Kambada Basadi) is a holy shrine for Jains across the country. It also has Guru Basadi which houses the treasured Dhavala text. There are other Basadis: Ammanvara Basadi and Leppada Basadi. There are several Jain temples in Moodbidri.

There are a number of Hindu temples in Moodbidri as well. Hanuman temple of Moodbidri is one of the area's Hanuman temples . Here the devotees offer tender coconut as offering to the God. On Saturdays an average of about four to five thousand tender coconuts are offered to Lord Hanuman.

Shri Venkataramana temple is a rock built temple and is known for the celebration of Karthika Deepotsava , holy Keredeepotsava , Sharada Mahotsava , and other functions. There are carved Dashavatar statues in the other veranda.

A sizable number practice Roman Catholicism in Moodbidri. There are around 14 churches in and around Moodbidri Varado. Among them, is the 16th century old Portuguese-built church Igreja da Santa Cruz Hospet or Hospet Church.

Moodabidri has elementary, higher elementary, high schools, junior colleges and first grade colleges. Among the various high schools in the city, Babu Rajendra Prasad High School is one of the oldest high schools, which celebrated its golden jubilee in the year 2016-2017. It has been administered by Mahaveera Vidyvrdhaka Sanga,Regd. Moodbidri. It is a Kannada medium high school having 300 students.Excellent pu college, Sri Dhavala College & Jain PU College sponsored by DJVV Sanga, Sri Mahaveera College & S N M Polytehcnic, headed by Manipal Academy. It has 22 primary and higher elementary schools, five high schools. There are also C.B.S.E school's such as Little Stars Indian School etc.

Alva's Education Foundation[9] has become one among the leading education institutes in Karnataka, it education facilities starting from high schools to Post graduation education. Alva's has slowly changed this sleeping Jain Temple town to a thriving education town. It has graduation courses in the field of Education, Medical, Para Medical & Engineering.

Alva's Education Foundation is also known to hold events which attracts participants from all-over Karnataka, it has held annual fest in the form of Alvas Virasath[9] (College Fest) & Alvas Nudisiri[9] (Event for enrichment of Kannada Language).[10]

Moodabidri has three engineering colleges:

1. Mangalore Institute of Technology And Engineering (MITE)
2. Alvas Institute of Engineering & Technology (AIET)
3. Yenepoya Institute of Technology(YIT)
4. Putthige institute of technology(PIT)

Moodabidri was ruled by the Jain Chowta dynasty 1603, who moved their capital to Moodabidri in 1603. They lost power when the region was taken over by Tipu Sultan[11] They continued symbolic rituals after the British defeated Tipu Sultan. The last coronation at Moodabidri was done in 1865 according to a pattavali.

There are 18 lakes, 18 Jaina Basadis, 18 temples, and 18 roads connecting various villages in Moodbidri.

During 14th–16th centuries this town emerged as a center of Jain religion, culture, art and architecture. 18 Jain temples, known as Basadis, were constructed during this period. The Jain Math at Moodabidri is headed by a Bhattaraka belonging to the Mula Sangh order.

The most famous among them are Guru basadi, Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi (known as "Thousand Pillar Temple") and Ammanavara Basadi.

• Guru basadi is the earliest of the Jain monuments. A stone idol of Parshwanatha, about 3.5 metres tall, is installed in the sanctum of this basadi. Here the rare Jain palm leaf manuscripts of 12th century A.D. known as ‘Dhavala texts’ are preserved.
• Saavira Kambada Basadi basadi is the largest and the most ornate of the Jain temples of this region. People also call this temple Thousand Pillared Temple or Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani. This is a large granite temple built in 1430 A.D. The 2.5 metres tall bronze image of Lord Chandranatha Swami in the sanctum of this basadi is considered to be very sacred. This three-storey construction was supported by the rulers, the Jain Bhattaraka Swamiji, merchants and the common people. The temple has an open pillared hall in front, consisting of a large variety of ornate pillars decorated with carvings typical of Vijayanagara style. A 15 meter tall single stone pillar called manastambha stands in front of the basadi.
• Ratnakara Varni, the medieval Kannada author of Bharatesha Vaibhava belonged to this place. The Jain canonical texts known as Dhavala texts and also a number of palm leaf manuscripts of historical and literacy value are preserved in the Jain Math (monastery).

Moodabidri was the seat of the Chowtas, a Jain ruling family, who were originally located at Puthige, about 5 km from here. They moved their capital to Moodabidri in the 17th century. The remains of the 17th century Chowta Palace is known for its carved wooden pillars and ceilings.

• Gowri Temple in the heart of the city is said to have been built in the 7th century.
• Hanuman Temple in the heart of the city is the most famous temple around Moodbidri. People from many religions including Hindus, Muslims, and Christians offer prayers to the Lord Hanuman.

Yearly and monthly sports activities are held Swaraj Maidhan and SMC ground. State level and national sports meets are held here. Cricket, volleyball, badminton and different types of matches are played. Many flood light cricket and volleyball matches are held here. Alva's Education Foundation has hosted many state and national level sports meets here.

Small-scale industries employ many people. Many cashew industries are here. Kadale Kere is the industrial area where many small-scale industries are situated.

Other entertainment is watching Yakshagana, unique to this district. This includes a drama like play on epics, which lasts a whole night, starting at 9:30 pm and ending at 6 am next day. This is played normally once a week, and only in few months a year.

Some private Tulu drama companies play comedy drama at regular intervals between November and June.

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  Idol of Chandraprabha at Saavira Kambada Basadi
• 
  Kallu Basadi, Moodbidri
• 
  Koti Basadi and Guru Basadi, Moodbidri
• 
  Leppada Basadi, Moodbidri
• 
  Vikram Setty Basadi, Moodbidri
• 
  Guru basadi
• 
  Nandeesware Dweepa painting within a Jain temple, Moodbidri
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  Kalpavruksha painting within a Jain temple, Moodbidri

• Belthangady
• Dharmasthala
• Kodangallu
• Siddakatte

Media related to Moodabidri at Wikimedia Commons

• Alvasvishwanudisirivirasat - 2013
• Namma Bedra - Moodbidri News portal being published by Jaison Taccode
• Moodabidri Town Municipal Corporation