Mangaluru: Visitors heading to Sasihithlu and Idya beaches may soon have a new way to experience Mangaluru’s coastline. Horses are entering the city’s growing tourism landscape with the Mangaluru Horse Riding Academy launching what it describes as Karnataka’s first beach horse safari.
Founded by Avinand Achanahally, the academy has introduced three horse safari packages aimed at giving tourists a different perspective of the coast. The initiative combines horseback riding with beaches, backwaters, countryside landscapes and the region’s heritage.
The concept is relatively new in Karnataka, though similar horse-riding experiences are available in parts of Gujarat, Mumbai and Kerala. International destinations such as Dubai, Bali and Morocco have also developed horse safaris as popular tourism attractions.
“The response from tourists, particularly those outside the district, has been encouraging,” Avinand said.
Beach rides along Sasihithlu and Idya
The beach riding package takes visitors along the scenic coastline of Sasihithlu or Idya.
The approximately one-hour experience includes guided horseback rides along the beach and shoreline, allowing visitors to experience the coastal landscape from a different vantage point.
The package also offers sunrise and sunset rides, which are expected to be particularly attractive to tourists and photography enthusiasts.
The academy believes the combination of horses, the Arabian Sea coastline and the changing light during sunrise and sunset can provide a distinctive tourism experience for visitors to Mangaluru.
Countryside safari explores coastal life
The coastal countryside safari offers a more immersive experience beyond the beach.
The ride takes visitors through coconut groves, mangroves, backwaters and other coastal landscapes, providing an opportunity to experience the natural environment of the region.
A key feature of the package is a visit to a fisherman’s house, where tourists can learn about the traditional lifestyle and livelihood of coastal communities.
Visitors can also witness activities such as beedi rolling and demonstrations of traditional ganas, or oil mills, giving the safari a cultural component in addition to the horseback experience.
The countryside safari can extend up to 90 minutes, making it longer than the regular beach ride.
Heritage safari connects horses with history
The third package, the heritage horse safari, combines horseback riding with an introduction to the historical and cultural heritage of the region.
The safari takes visitors to old temples and basadis, allowing them to explore heritage sites while travelling on horseback.
The academy sees the heritage package as a way of combining adventure tourism with Mangaluru’s history, architecture and cultural traditions.
Together, the three packages are designed to offer visitors different experiences depending on whether they are interested in the coastline, rural life or heritage.
No prior horse-riding experience required
Visitors do not need previous horse-riding experience to participate in the safaris.
According to Avinand, participants are provided 15 to 30 minutes of basic training before the ride. The orientation includes instructions on how to lead and handle the horse as well as safety precautions.
Handlers accompany riders throughout the safari. One lead horse moves ahead while another handler follows the rider to provide assistance when required.
Avinand said all the horses have undergone training and that necessary safety measures have been put in place for visitors.
The focus on basic training and supervised rides is intended to make the experience accessible even to first-time riders.
Academy has 20 horses
The Mangaluru Horse Riding Academy currently has 20 horses, including 14 based in Mangaluru and six in Sakleshpur.
The academy also conducts horse safaris in Sakleshpur, taking visitors through coffee plantations and the region’s natural landscapes.
Avinand believes horse riding can become another major attraction in Mangaluru’s tourism sector, alongside activities such as surfing and kayaking.
“Water sports like surfing and kayaking have picked up in a big way in Mangaluru. We want horseriding also to emerge as a major tourist attraction,” he said.
The academy is also exploring partnerships with surfing schools to create integrated coastal tourism experiences.
Horse riding and surfing could be combined
The academy has already partnered with Surf’s Up in Mulki, enabling visitors to combine surfing lessons with horse riding.
The initiative could help create multi-activity packages for tourists looking to spend more time exploring the coast rather than visiting individual attractions.
Such combinations could also strengthen Mangaluru’s positioning as an adventure tourism destination, with its beaches and coastal landscape providing opportunities for several outdoor activities.
Avinand said discussions have also been held with the Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner regarding the initiative.
The academy is now hoping to showcase the horse safari concept to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar during his visit to Mangaluru for the Cabinet meeting scheduled on September 18.
Aim to create signature coastal attraction
The long-term objective is to establish horse safaris as a signature tourism attraction along Mangaluru’s coastline.
The academy is looking at established equestrian tourism destinations such as Dubai, Indonesia and Abu Dhabi for inspiration. While the local experience would be rooted in Mangaluru’s beaches, villages, heritage and coastal culture, the broader aim is to develop a professionally managed tourism product capable of attracting visitors from outside the district.
Mangaluru already has a strong natural advantage with its beaches, backwaters, coconut groves, mangroves and historic sites. The introduction of organised horse safaris adds an adventure element to this tourism mix.
If the initiative gains wider acceptance, horseback rides could become another activity associated with Mangaluru’s coastline, alongside surfing, kayaking and other water-based experiences.
For now, the academy is focusing on providing supervised rides, improving visitor experiences and building partnerships with other tourism and adventure operators. Its vision is to eventually make a horse safari along the Mangaluru coast a distinctive experience for both domestic and international visitors.