Manipal

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Manipal
Manipal
State - District(s)	Karnataka - Udupi
Coordinates	13.35° N 74.78° E
Area - Elevation	- 73 m
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Population (2001) - Density	-
Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle	- 576 119/104 - +0820 - KA -20

Manipal is a university town situated in the state of Karnataka in India. It is located in the rocky hinterland of the Malabar Coast of southwest India, about 8 km (5 mi) from the Arabian Sea. From its location on a plateau, it commands a stunning view of the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats range to the east. It is situated a few kilometres from the temple city of Udupi, and is 60 km (37 mi) north of Mangalore. Parkala is one of its residential areas. Manipal was previously under Shivalli village panchayat. The name is derived from manipalla angliced to Manipal. Palla means stream in Tulu Language.

It is a center of academic learning, healthcare, industry and finance. Manipal has more than 70,000 students graduate and has an ever increasing enrollment number of more than 15,000 students.^{[citation needed]} The township of Manipal comprises two universities, 24 professional colleges, affiliated institutes and numerous primary and high schools.

Manipal is home to the Manipal University (formerly known as, MAHE), comprising of educational institutions, including the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (KMC, Manipal), Manipal Institute of Technology (ManipalTech), the T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), the Manipal campus of Melaka Manipal Medical College (also known as International Centre for Health Sciences or ICHS), the Manipal College Of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS) and the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA). The spectrum of educational institutions covers everything from elementary schools to professional and graduate level colleges.

The town gained prominence in the 1950s, when T.M.A. Pai, doctor, banker, educator, industrialist and philanthropist transformed a barren hillock into what is today a renowned university town. Pai first established the Kasturba Medical College in 1953, and Manipal Institute of Technology in 1957. In the year 1999 the Posts and Telegraph department of the Government of India released a commemorative stamp in honour of Pai.

Manipal Institute of Communication is a constituent college of Manipal University. It is one of the premier journalism and communication colleges in India.

It is also home to Syndicate Bank, a leading bank in India, and the Karnataka Microelectronics Design Centre. Manipal was in the news recently for having the highest density of mobile phone users in the country. A record 99% of Manipal's population have mobile phones.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Climate

The climate is humid and warm between November and May and wet and cool during the monsoon months from June to October. It has a tropical climate characteristic of coastal plains in the West of India. Manipal, being located on an elevated place near the seashore, has fine breeze throughout the day and the temperature ranges from 24 °C to 38 °C for most part of the year.^{[citation needed]}