The coastal city of Mangalore is home to a number of beautiful beaches apart from other tourist attractions.  Having visited the city earlier and seen the Panambur and nearby Surathkal beaches, we were on the lookout for something new when the helpful receptionist of our hotel suggested Someshawar beach.  Located just about 9 km from the city centre this pristine beach is situated at the confluence of the Netravati River and the Arabian Sea in the quaint town of Ullal which is almost adjacent to Mangalore.

The road to the beach premises first lead us to the ancient Someshwara temple which we were given to understand is hundreds of years old.  Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, this temple is considered to be one of the 12 sacred Shiva Kshetras of the country. It is built on an elevation and legend has it that the Pandavas of Mahabharata times visited this place and worshipped Lord Somanatha (Shiva) here.  There are also shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga.  Apart from this, there is an elevated enclosure that houses the rare idol of Parashurama in the temple complex.  One can witness spectacular views of the beach from here and also take the small flight of steps that lead to the beach below.

The beach itself is a glorious sight with clear waters lashing against the soft, almost white sand.  Rocks set amidst the waters add to the natural beauty and getting your feet to sink in the moist sand can be one of the most rejuvenating experiences.

We could see one of the boulders speckled with dozens of birds, almost camouflaged with the color of the rock.  Zooming in on the lovely sight, we could see earthy feathered friends which seemed to belong to the Plover family.

The beach was not very crowded during the early morning hour we visited; it was a great time to watch the fishermen return from their daily morning ritual of catching fish.  There was a flurry of activity each time a boat reached the shore with people eagerly crowding around to anchor the vehicle and take a look at the prized catch of the session.

Overall a great, multi-faceted experience!