Mangalore is located on the western coast of India at 12.87°N 74.88°E in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka state.
It has an average elevation of 22 m (72 ft) above mean sea level.
The city is the administrative headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district and is the state's largest coastal urban centre.

Mangalore is bounded by the Arabian Sea to its west and by the Western Ghats to its east.
As a municipal entity, the city spans 170 km² (65.64 sq mi).
The Netravati and Gurupura rivers encircle the city; the Gurupura flows around the north and the Netravati flows around the south of the city.
The rivers form an estuary in the south-western region of the city, from where they flow into the Arabian Sea.
Coconut, palm and ashoka trees comprise the primary vegetation of the city.

The city's topography consists of a plain that stretches up to 30 km (18.64 mi) from the coast and undulating, hilly terrain towards the east near the Western Ghats.
The local geology is characterised by hard laterite in hilly tracts and sandy soil along the seashore.
The Geological Survey of India has identified Mangalore as a moderately earthquake-prone urban centre and categorised the city in the Seismic III Zone.
Mangalore is located on the western coast of India at 12.87°N 74.88°E in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka state. It has an average elevation of 22 m (72 ft) above mean sea level. The city is the administrative headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district and is the state's largest coastal urban centre.
Mangalore is bounded by the Arabian Sea to its west and by the Western Ghats to its east. As a municipal entity, the city spans 170 km² (65.64 sq mi). The Netravati and Gurupura rivers encircle the city; the Gurupura flows around the north and the Netravati flows around the south of the city. The rivers form an estuary in the south-western region of the city, from where they flow into the Arabian Sea. Coconut, palm and ashoka trees comprise the primary vegetation of the city.
The city's topography consists of a plain that stretches up to 30 km (18.64 mi) from the coast and undulating, hilly terrain towards the east near the Western Ghats. The local geology is characterised by hard laterite in hilly tracts and sandy soil along the seashore. The Geological Survey of India has identified Mangalore as a moderately earthquake-prone urban centre and categorised the city in the Seismic III Zone.
Mangalore