 At present, it comprises the whole civil districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka state.This region was collectively referred as South Canara during the British Raj and the early post-independence era, prior to the States Reorganisation Act in 1956.It was established as a separate Apostolic Vicariate from the Apostolic Vicariate of Verapoly in 1853 and was promoted to a diocese on 1 September 1886.