By Akash Sharma Every convention centre that earns the descriptor “international” takes on a responsibility the word implies. The Dr. TMA Pai International Convention Centre at MG Road, Kodialbail, Mangaluru — Karnataka 575003 — has met that responsibility consistently since its inauguration in 2005. Named after Dr. Thonse Madhav Ananth Pai, the visionary philanthropist who founded Kasturba Medical College in Manipal in 1953 and whose institution-building created what is today one of India’s most significant private university ecosystems — the convention centre stands as his most visible civic legacy in the city of Mangaluru itself.
Owned and operated by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) — formerly Manipal University — and currently managed by Ocean Pearl Hotels under an operational partnership, the TMA Pai International Convention Centre covers a surface area of 16,730 square metres (approximately 1,80,100 sq ft) with a basement area of 4,200 square metres — placing it among India’s largest convention centres by floor area. It is built as two shells of different heights: 32.4 metres and 29.9 metres respectively from the basement, with a common lobby for entrance featuring elevators and an escalator. Phone: 0824-2497871 / 2497872. Email: conc.mng@manipal.edu. Website: tmapai.in / manipal.edu/mu/campus-life. Total capacity: over 4,000 people with some sources citing up to 10,000 for the combined venue and grounds.
The venue encompasses three well-furnished conference halls, a main auditorium with luxury recliner seats designed for specific acoustic requirements and fitted with modern audiovisual equipment, an exhibition hall, a dining hall, a kitchen, and a cafeteria. Section-wise centralized air conditioning covers the full facility. Ample car parking is available. The auditorium is designed with different acoustic zones — a specific engineering decision that allows the hall to serve both the intimate formality of medical conferences and the broader acoustic demands of cultural performances and public addresses. KNACON 2025 (a national neuroscience conference) was held at the venue — one of dozens of medical, academic, and corporate national events hosted annually.
Booking terms: 25% of rental and service charges (AC, electricity, housekeeping, security) plus applicable tax due at time of booking. Balance 75% one month prior to function. Liquor served only in conference rooms during designated hours (day till 3 PM, night till 10 PM).
TMA Pai International Convention Centre Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Dr. TMA Pai International Convention Centre (TMA Pai ICC) |
| Named After | Dr. Thonse Madhav Ananth Pai — Founder of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal |
| Address | Kodialbail, MG Road, Mangaluru — Karnataka 575003 |
| Phone | 0824-2497871 / 2497872 |
| Email (MAHE) | conc.mng@manipal.edu |
| Website | tmapai.in |
| Opened | 2005 |
| Owner | Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) |
| Current Manager | Ocean Pearl Hotels |
| Total Surface Area | 16,730 sq mt (1,80,100 sq ft) |
| Basement Area | 4,200 sq mt |
| Capacity | 4,000+ (up to 10,000 including grounds) |
| Building Structure | Two shells — 32.4 m and 29.9 m heights; common lobby with elevator and escalator |
| Auditorium | Luxury recliner seats; acoustic engineering; state-of-the-art AV |
| Conference Halls | 3 well-furnished halls |
| Exhibition Hall | Yes |
| Dining Hall | Yes |
| Cafeteria | Yes |
| AC | Section-wise centralised throughout |
| Parking | Ample car parking |
| Liquor Policy | Permitted in conference rooms only (day till 3 PM; night till 10 PM) |
| Booking Terms | 25% at booking; 75% one month prior |
| Recent Events | KNACON 2025 (Neuroscience Conference); medical, corporate, cultural events |
| Nearest Railway Station | Mangaluru Junction / Mangaluru Central — Approx. 3–5 km |
| Nearest Airport | Mangaluru International Airport — Approx. 18–20 km |
Location
Kodialbail is a central Mangaluru locality on MG Road — the city’s main commercial arterial running from the old town toward the newer civic zones. Being on MG Road gives the TMA Pai ICC the most commercially central convention address in Mangaluru, accessible from all directions without inner-city navigation complexity.
Directions
From Mangaluru Junction Railway Station: Travel approximately 3 to 5 kilometres northward on MG Road, 10 minutes. From Mangaluru Central Railway Station: Travel approximately 2 to 3 kilometres, 8 minutes. From Mangaluru International Airport: Travel approximately 18 to 20 kilometres, 30 to 40 minutes. From Manipal (Udupi): Travel approximately 62 kilometres southward, 1.5 hours.
Connectivity
Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central Railway Stations — the twin rail hubs of the Konkan Railway and Karnataka mainline — are 3 to 5 kilometres away. Mangaluru International Airport handles flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and international Gulf routes. The MG Road corridor is served by KSRTC and city bus services throughout the day.
Nearby Areas
KMC (Kasturba Medical College) Mangaluru — founded by TMA Pai himself — is the most historically resonant institutional neighbour, giving the convention centre’s location a heritage significance beyond its physical address. Panambur Beach — Mangaluru’s most popular sea beach — is approximately 10 kilometres north. The Sultan Battery and St. Aloysius College Chapel are Mangaluru’s most visited heritage sites, both in the central MG Road zone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Where is TMA Pai International Convention Centre in Mangaluru?
A: Kodialbail, MG Road, Mangaluru — Karnataka 575003. Phone: 0824-2497871/2497872. Owned by MAHE; managed by Ocean Pearl Hotels. Website: tmapai.in.
Q2. What is the total capacity at TMA Pai International Convention Centre?
A: 4,000+ people across three conference halls, main auditorium, and exhibition hall. Total area 16,730 sq mt; building structure features two shells of 32.4 m and 29.9 m height.
Q3. When was TMA Pai International Convention Centre inaugurated?
A: 2005 — named after Dr. Thonse Madhav Ananth Pai, founder of Kasturba Medical College and the Manipal educational ecosystem.
Q4. Who currently manages TMA Pai International Convention Centre?
A: Ocean Pearl Hotels (Ocean Pearl Group) — which took over operational management from MAHE while MAHE retains ownership.
Q5. What is the liquor policy at TMA Pai International Convention Centre?
A: Liquor is permitted only in conference rooms — during day events until 3:00 PM and during evening events until 10:00 PM.