[14] Moreover, the term "Tulunad" is cited as "Tuḷu Nāṭṭu" in the "Akananuru", which is a classical Tamil poetic work and part of the "Eight Anthologies" (Ettuthokai), a collection of Sangam literature composed around more than 2000 years ago.

[18] In accordance with the 17th-century Malayalam work Keralolpathi, the lands of Kerala and Tulu Nadu were recovered from the Arabian Sea by the axe-wielding warrior sage Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu (hence, Kerala is also called Parasurama Kshetram 'The Land of Parasurama'[19]).

P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar theorised, that Senguttuvan may have been inspired by the Parashurama legend, which was brought by early Aryan settlers.

[21] According to the works of Sangam literature (300 BCE – 300 CE),[22][23][24] Tulu Nadu was one of the 12 socio-geographical regions included in the ancient Tamilakam.

[25] Tulu Nadu must certainly at one time have formed part of ancient Kerala (Chera dynasty), where the western coastal dialect of Middle Tamil was spoken.

[26] The longest-ruling and oldest known native dynasty of Tulu Nadu was that of the Alupas (c. 5th – 14th century CE).

After the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri controlled much of Tulu Nadu.

Konkanis from Goa arrived by sea, as Mangalore was a major port that served not only the Portuguese but also the Arabs for maritime trades.

Though small in number, the Jains left behind indelible reminders of their glory with temples (bastis) in (Moodabidri) and monolithic statues of Bahubali in Karkala, Venoor and Dharmasthala.

[citation needed] Under Portuguese rule, the region was called the Misao do Sul (Mission of the South).

In the mid to late 18th century, it was conquered by Hyder Ali, the de facto ruler of Mysore.

After the British defeated Haidar's successor Tipu Sultan in 1799, the region was attached to the Madras Presidency before being reverted to the state of Mysore after independence.

Organisations like the Tulu Rajya Horata Samiti have taken up the cause of the Tuluvas and meetings and demonstrations were held at towns like Mangalore and Udupi to voice their demand.

[36] The original indigenous people of the region are Tuluvas (Bunts, Billavas, Mogaveeras, Tulu gowda, Kulalas, Devadigas, Bearys, Jogis) and Malayalis in the Kasaragod Taluk (Nambudiris, Nairs, Thiyyas, Mappilas etc.).

[42] The other languages spoken in Tulu Nadu include Kundagannada, Arebhashe, Malayalam, Konkani, Koraga and Beary.

Summer and winter months experience similar temperate conditions, with average temperatures ranging from 24–33 °C (75–91 °F).

[citation needed] Monsoon starts in the beginning of June, heaviest rainfall during Aati month, which spans from mid-July to mid-august.

[citation needed] The Yakshagana is a night-long dance and drama performance practised in Tulu Nadu with great fanfare.

[46][47] Pilivesha is a unique form of folk dance in the region fascinating the young and the old alike, which is performed during Marnemi (as Dussehra is called in Tulu) and Krishna Janmashtami.

Nagaradhane (Snake worship) is practised in the Tulu Nadu according to the popular belief of the Naga Devatha to go underground and guard the species on the top.

In the early part of the 21st century the area has been transforming itself into a hub of the information technology and medical services industries.

There has been large-scale decline in agriculture and related industries due to the non-availability of labour and preference for white-collar jobs.

This region has an international airport at Mangalore which is well connected to the rest of India and middle eastern countries.