Basrur, once called Vasupura, is a historic port town on the banks of the Varahi River on the Kanara coast in Karnataka, India.
In his travel account Moroccan Traveller Ibn Batuta (Abu Abdullah Mohammed (1304–1358)) who visited Canara on his way to Malabar from Honavar says, "The first town in the land of Mulaybar (Malabara) that we entered as the town of Abu-Sarur (Basrur), a small place on a large inlet and abounding in coco palms"[4] British Major of Engineers James Rennel has concluded with due analysis that the Bares of Ptolemy's Map is the Barcelor or Basrur.
[5] Towards the end of the 16th century, Basrur came under Portuguese control, who built a church there and a fort called Santa Luzia.
[7] On 13 February 1665, the Maratha ruler Shivaji conducted a naval raid on the Portuguese at Basrur, and gained a large booty which enabled him to strengthen the base of his new kingdom by building a strong navy and forts.
The annual chariot festival (ratha or teru in Kannada) is held every April on Chitra Pournima - Hanuman Jayanti (in the Hindu calendar) day.
"Basrur" is connected to other sub-villages (koodu-grama) like Hattikudru, Anagalli, Margoli, Merdy, Japthi, Kalanje, Othinane (Panakada-katte), Kolkere, Ulloor, Kandavara Balkur and gulwady with new bridge to form a larger area.