This is my second visit to Mangalore, India. I first came here during my 2017 Around the World Cruise. Mangalore has a population of 700,000 and is primarily a commercial port rather than a cruise ship destination. Last year, only eight cruise ships docked here.
The streets of Mangalore are busy and chaotic, with no stop signs or traffic lights. Cars, scooters, buses, trucks, and tuk-tuks weave through traffic, while pedestrians cross wherever they can, as there are no designated crosswalks.
Our first stop was Belmont House, a traditional colonial home in Mangalore, known for its well-preserved original architecture. It was built in 1820 by Michael Thomas Harris, who tragically passed away at age 40. Later, the Peres family, successful coffee and rubber merchants, purchased the house and raised their five children there. This visit offered a glimpse into what homes looked like 150 years ago.
The house had seven bedrooms, each painted a different color, many with attached bathrooms. It also had a living room, a dining room, and two kitchens. Interestingly, there were no hallways—each bedroom connected directly to another bedroom or to the living areas.
Today, 87-year-old Joan Peres maintains the home with her son, Greg. She enjoys giving tourists a tour, explaining the significance of various pictures, and pointing out the different knick-knacks inside.
Next, we visited the fish market, where we saw freshly caught fish, dried fish—preserved for the dry season when fishing stops—and a variety of spices.
Another great day in this world cruise adventure!
This featured blog entry was written by Susan.Mercer from the blog Cruise Around the World with Susan.
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