Defeating the Mighty
Portuguese, Twice

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YEARS OF PRESERVATION

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ARTEFACTS

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YEARS OF HISTORY

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VISITORS EACH YEAR

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ORAL HISTORY RECORDS
VISITOR VOICES

What People Say

Prof. Poojary spoke with so much depth and took us to a different world. Art has this unique power to take us into a 'wow' state of mind. When we experience something good, our mind would be like 'I wish I had this experience much earlier'. Tulu Museum was one such great experience.

Prajwal Suvarna

The museum is full of stories, material culture and local history. The efforts of Dr. Poojary and Dr. Ashalatha should be an example to all of us. Beautifully designed and displayed.

Dr Indira ChaudhryBangalore

The best regional museum ever visited.

Dr Daniela De SimoneProject Curator, British Museum

Amazing treasure house of artefacts representing living and vanishing Tulu culture. That one man has built it all the more amazing, and that he was once my student makes it an assuring footnote!

Prof B Surendra Rao

I see lots of similarities between Japanese and Tulu heritage and felt closeness between the nations.

Keiko SetoJapan

A wonderful exploration into the visual culture of Tulunadu. As all traces of earlier cultures disappear, references to material culture will be well preserved.

Deborah ThiagarajanPresident, Madras Craft Foundation, Dakshina Chitra

A fantastic collection and excellently arranged and presented.

Dr H BrucknerGermany
PLAN AHEAD

Visitor Information

Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Contact

ratakendra@gmail.com

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Location

Rani Abbakka Tulu Museum, Sanchayagiri B.C Road, Bantwal Karnataka, India 574219

Open Location

Guided Tours

Monday to Saturday

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Group tours available by prior booking

THE JOURNEY

History of Rani Abbakka

c.1525

Birth & Matrilineal Lineage - Born into the Jain Chowta dynasty of coastal Karnataka. She belonged to the Aliyasantana, a matrilineal system of succession, through which she inherited the throne of Ullal.

Early Years

Warfare Training & Administration - Raised under the guidance of her maternal uncle, Tirumala Raya, she was trained in archery, sword fighting, horse riding and military strategy, and also learned administration and the responsibilities of a ruler.

Marriage

Strategic Marriage & Independence - She married Lakshmappa Arasa, ruler of the Banga kingdom, strengthening a political alliance. After the marriage ended, Abbakka returned to Ullal and continued to rule independently; her estranged husband eventually allied with the Portuguese against her.

1555–1556

Portuguese Resistance - Abbakka refused to pay tribute or surrender control of important trade routes, successfully resisting the Portuguese attack led by Dom Álvaro da Silveira. Her victory established her reputation as a fearless warrior queen.

1567–1570s

Alliances & Lasting Legacy - She joined forces with regional powers, including the Zamorin of Calicut and the Bijapur Sultanate. Together, they resisted further Portuguese expansion along the coast, and Abbakka became celebrated as "Abhaya Rani" - the Fearless Queen.