First of all, Manipal University is NOT in Mangalore. It’s around 6–7 kms from a town called Udupi and around 70 kms from Mangalore.
And whoever said that Manipal University is bad is nothing but a crazy nutter(no offense)
Manipal is one of the best private engineering institutes in India. I have a lot of friends in other private institutes like SRM and VIT, and most of them tried to get in Manipal first. Manipal University has one of the best faculties along with state-of-the-art infrastructure and lab equipment. Also Manipal has a lot of clubs and project teams that have earned a lot of praise all over the world. Manipal not just offers you the chance to study, it offers you the chance to implement what you have studied and if possible, innovate. It has a very industrial approach to studies so that by the time you appear for placements, you have solid theoretical knowledge and technical experience. And one of the best things about it, all the project teams, all your brilliant new innovative ideas are funded by the university.
And the place Manipal in itself is mind-blowing. I can guarantee you that you will absolutely love this place.