Surathkal is a suburb of Mangalore city in Karnataka state of India. Previously Surathkal was separate town, but is now merged to Mangalore city corporation. Surathkal lies in revenue district of Dakshina Kannada .Suratkal has a post office and its postal index number code ( Pincode ) is 575014. Once upon a time most of land within Surathkal was of paddy fields, coconut gardens, arecanut plantations and evergreen forests, but today most of land is filled with houses, residential apartments and shopping complexes.
Surathkal is on the shore of the Arabian Sea. It is part of Tulunadu also called Karavali in Kannada, meaning coastal region of Karnataka state.
Surathkal is an educational and industrial centre, which has the finest beaches. There are very good educational institutions like National Institute of Technology,Karnataka ( NITK ), Govindadasa college ( GDC ) and Vidyadayinee High School ( VHS ). There are many factories like Mangalore petroleum refinery ( MRPL ), Mangalore Fertilizers ( MCF ) and BASF in and around Surathkal.
Surathkal town has connectivity by air, sea , road and railway. Mangalore International Airport is just 15 kilometre from Suratkal. New Mangalore sea port ( NMPT ) at Panamburu is at distance of 6 kilometres from Surathkal. Surathkal railway station ( Station Code:SL ) lies on Konkan railway route connecting Mangaluru to Mumbai city. National Highway 66 ( NH 66 ) formerly numbered as National Highway 17 ( NH 17 ) running from Panvel near Mumbai to Ernakulam ( Kochi ) goes via Surathkal. There is also a Karnataka state highway 101 starting from Surathkal to Kaikamba via Bajpe , This road was previously known as Bajpe road now popular as MRPL road.
Various modes of transportation are available to roam around Suratkal like Autorickshaws ( Three wheel passenger vehicle ), Car taxis and Buses. Buses generally run along predetermined routes fixed by Road Transport Office ( R.T.O.) on approved fares for different stages of journey . Autos or taxis can be hired to your destinations. Even though Autorickshaws are supposed to charge distance covered as per meter fare fixed by R.T.O. this is hardly followed by auto drivers.
During rains water logging and floods occur due to unplanned,rapid construction of houses, apartments (flats) and commercial complexes with beginning of 21st century. It is advisable to take help of a known guide or person when venturing out for first time. Do not go far away from the beaches onto Arabian sea as sea bed suddenly plunges deep in Suratkal. Also do not sit on the rocks near sea shore as high waves may wash you off.