Passed some interesting places on the way - a chapel, and old movie theatre Prabhat Talkies, the University building, the clock tower, St Paul's Church and right in front of the church, the Central Maidan or Nehru maidan as its called now.
The city was just waking up and people were hurrying to work, to college, to play. There were people sleeping on the sidewalk, a few waiting for daily work, street vendors selling clothes setting up shops early.
I took a few pics of St Paul's Church which is one of the oldest churches in Mangalore and stepped into Central Maidan.
There's not a blade of grass on it, it's full of red, hard mud. The walls are lined with trees and there are almost 10 practice nets, all matting.
The pavilion also houses the office of the Uttara Kannada Cricket Association with a prominent score board. Young cricketers were warming up for a match. A few parents hung on. On another side is a statue of Jawaharlal Nehru.
It is surprising that there is no turf wicket and if this is the head quarters of UKCA I'd expect it to be a turf ground. Can't imagine kids playing matches on matting and suddenly playing selection games on turf.
From the Central Maidan I walked past a lovely astro turfed soccer ground where a lot of kids were training. A vollyball court was filled with amateur players enjoying themselves, egged on by a sporty couple sitting in the bus stand. A few weekend cricketers were playing by the side.
I went past the clock tower, and found the University College of Distance Education which was such a beautiful building that i stepped in to take a closer look much to the worry of a suspicious sweeper lady who suspended all work to keep an eye on me. I normally shrink under any severe eye, and this one was especially severe, so I eggressed from the nearest exit.
Down the road I saw the beautiful Milgres Church, massive, and turned towards the St Aloysius Chapel which is the first sight to see in Mangalore. It was a nice walk uphill to what's called the Lighthouse Hill and I passed the Mangalore Ladies Club and entered the St Aloysius Educational Institutes.
The watchman guided me to the chapel which one cannot access when a service is on - luckily there was no service and I walked into a quiet chapel with not a soul in it. I sat for a while, looked at the beautiful paintings by an Italian artist, donated some money in a box for the upkeep of the paintings, and stepped out.
Next I descended the steps to the cricket ground which is credited with the beginning of all cricket activity in Mangalore. The year 1878 was when 7 Jesuit priests started the college and cricketing activity which was publicized by Father Moore's lively coverage in his Mangalore Magazine.
Some young cricketers played in the ground, shirtless. One of them bowled real quick too. They guided me to the Academy ground which I think was where those matches happened all those years ago. I passed the gents hostels and walked back to the hostel.
Good walk.
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