Mangalore’s geography has changed dramatically over the course of history. The famous two rivers, Nethravathi and Phalguni (Gurupur), which gave Mangalore the name Kudla, have changed their drainage courses several times in the past. The city’s numerous valleys are silent testaments to river courses that have been shifted many times, as in delta areas. Piyatro Delavale, an Italian tourist who visited Mangalore in 1623AD, reported that the city is surrounded by water on three sides. When the two rivers joined the Arabian Sea between Bukkapatna and the Kudroli-Alake area, such a geographical feature was visible. Thus, the rivers flew through the Kodialbail and Attavara valleys during the aforementioned historical periods.

While geological evidences such as river valley remnants and pebble-rich sediments indicate the ancient drainage courses of the two rivers, historical place names confirm the other half of the story.

During the years 1336-1650 AD, Mangalore was ruled by the Vijayanagar Empire. At Hampi, the Hakka and Bukka brothers ruled Vijayanagar. The Vijayanagar kings established a port in Mangalore for trade and exports. The port they built was not near the current New Mangalore Port or the old British port in the Bunder area. Surprisingly, it was found in the Bukkapatna neighbourhood, near the current Urwa civic extension. Tulunad’s name is strangely named Bukkapatna. But it was the port named after Vijayanagar King Bukka at the time. Even today, there are many fishermen families in the area, indicating the presence of relics of settlements near the ancient Bukkapatna port.In Tulu, uruwa refers to the bamboo gate that is common in rural households. It also refers to a checkpoint. In those days, it makes sense to have an administrative checkpoint near the Bukkapatna port to verify materials and documents and collect taxes. Kottara extension is close to Uruwa. Kottara is a storehouse, stockyard, or granary, and it is also associated with the Vijaynagar regality.

Kudroli is located on the southern side of Bukkapatna and is home to the now-famous artful temple of Gokarnanatheswara. Some have interpreted the name ‘Kudroli’ as Kudure+Oli or horse-yard, implying that the location was named after the ground where horses were kept. However, it appears to me that it was originally Kuduru+ Oli. The term ‘Kuduru’ refers to an island within a river. ‘Oli’ means village in Marati, and is a word derived from or influenced by the Marati language. The term ‘island village’ (>) is used as a placeholder.

Tippu Sultan, ruling from Sriranagpatna, built the Sultan battery in Mangalore for storing armaments and explosives for warfare against enemies entering from the Arabian Sea around 1775 AD. The Sultan battery is close to Bukkapatna, proving once again the location of the ancient port at Bukkapatna.

Prior to the Vijayanagar Empire, the Alupa chieftains of the Pandya dynasty ruled Mangalore (ca 4th century to 13 century AD). Their township appears to have been in Pandeswar, which was on the banks of the Nethravathi at the time. The township of Mangalapura was established on the southern bank of the Nethravathi, named after a Malabar queen who renounced her regality and settled in the area. The ground on the other side of the river is named Attavara (Atta+avara). Bolar (Bolu+Ara = barren or planar ground) was near Mangalapura, and Bolur (Bolu+Ooru=planar village) was near the Bukkapatna port. During the 6th to 8th centuries AD, the Alupa chieftains ruled from the Kulashekara area, which was named after King (or chieftain) Kulashekara.Kulashekara was situated on the bank of a river at the time. Apparently, the rulers relocated their township from Pandeswar due to geomorphic issues such as river course changes, particularly the Nethravathi.

The river Phalguni (Gurupur) changed course somewhere around the end of the 18th century AD. Previously, the river curved near Panjimogaru and Marakada before flowing into the Kottara and Kudroli areas. It took a westerly turn near Kulur and flowed up to Tannirbavi before turning south and joining the River Nethravathi. Rivers Gurupur and Nethravathi debouched into the Arabian Sea together from then on, as seen today near Ullal, south of Mangalore.