It was once part of forest land visited regularly by tigers, cheetahs, and other wild animals.

It is about 900 years old, built with mud walls and had a thatched roof, which was replaced by Mangalore Tiles about a century ago, and is maintained by the present heirs of the Jain Ajila Kings.

The succession to the Ajila throne was as per the Bunt custom of matrilineal inheritance (Aliya Santana).

Languages spoken are Tulu Konkani and Byari Bashe, and Literacy rate of this town with a population of 30,000 is 95 percent.

Popular festivals are Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishnastami, Deepavali for Hindus, Ramzan for Muslims, Christmas, Easter and Mother Mary's Feast Day for Christians.

Breakfast includes dose, Idli, Mutlim, Appam, mandas, soyo, pathrade, bakri, and panpale.