Murudeshwara is a beachside pilgrimage town on the shores of the Arabian sea in Uttara Kannada. This place is one of the Pancha kshetras of Karnataka namely Dharmasthala, Dharneshwara, Gokarna, and Nanjangud. All the above temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Apart from this, Murudeshwara is also noted for a huge Shiva statue that sits on the shore overlooking the sea.
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History Of Murudeshwara
As per the legends, how this temple got originated dates back to Ramayana times. Lord Ganesh played tricks and put the Atma Linga on the ground, which was to immortal powers to King Ravana. But when Lanka king Ravana tried to lift the Atma linga from the ground giving all his energy, tiny pieces flew in all directions. After an unsuccessful event, he became angry and threw the holy cloth which was used to cover the Atma Linga and it fell on Mrideshwara in Kanduka Giri. Later Mrideshwara was renamed Murudeshwar.
Murudeshwara Temple
Murudeshwara is an ancient temple perched on top of Kanduka hill which is covered by the sea on 3 sides. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the God represented in the form of Rameshwara Lingam. The whole temple is modernized except for the main shrine that is built using stone.
Another specialty about the temple is the Rajagopuram at the entrance which is 249 ft. It is the 2nd tallest gopuram in the World. And there are 20 floors with lift facilities to reach the top of the Rajagopuram. You can’t afford to miss the panoramic view of the Arabian sea, nearby town, and seashores that are bound to take your breath away, from top of the Gopuram.
Maha Shivaratri is one of the most popular festivals that is celebrated in a grandeur way. The whole town comes alive with a lot of colorful lights, huge processions, and fireworks. You can witness thousands of devotees visiting this place during Maha Shivaratri.
Temple Timings:
Morning 5 Am to 1 Pm
Evening : 3 Pm To 8 Pm
Shiva Statue Park In Murudeshwara
Shiva Statue in Murudeshwar is the 2nd tallest statue after the Kailashnath Mahadev statue in Nepal. This statue is 123 ft into the sky. And, it is built in such a way that sunlight always falls on the statue and it glows all the time. Try visiting the small cave at the base of the Shiva statue that narrates the whole story of Atmalinga with statues.
Above all, the view of the sun running down the horizon behind the Shiva statue is an absolute treat to the eye.
Timings: 8 Am to 9 Pm.
Murudeshwara Beach
It is a pristine beach with silky sand of seashore that extends up to 3 kilometers. With palm grooves along the shores, serene surroundings, lofty hills, and a lot of greenery around make this place an ideal picnic spot for travelers. The beach is shallow and it is perfect to take a swim without any worries. You can spot birds like seagulls and kingfishers flying on top of your head. Apart from this, you can experience activities like banana boat ride, parasailing, and water scooter ride.
Evenings are usually busy at Murudeshwara beach. You can see flea markets, small shops, and street food vendors occupying the beach. It is the best place to shop for local goods and have lip-smacking street food delicacies.
Murudeshwara Fort
This fort which is right behind the temple was built during the Vijayanagar Empire and was renovated by Tipu Sultan. There are paintings, stylish artworks, and a lot of carvings on the fort wall.
Netrani Islands Or Netrani Gudda
It is an uninhabited island that is 20 Km away from the temple and it takes about 90 minutes to reach through boats. Netrani islands are home to wild goats and pigeons, hence this is also known as” Pigeon islands”.Usually, when you look at this island from the sky it appears it appears in the shape of a heart.
Clearwater and visibility range up to 25 to 30 meters make this an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling. The best time to experience scuba diving is from December to January. This place is suitable for all kinds of divers be it amateurs are experts. Netrani Islands is the perfect place in Karnataka to experience and explore rare and beautiful marine life underwater. Climate, water, currents, and environment everything in here is ideal for underwater diving. Not just that even the services offered here are top class, safe, and reliable.
You can spot Napoleon wrasse, cobia, stonefish, blacktip sharks, great barracuda, stingrays, butterflyfish, triggerfish turtles, etc.
Where And What To Eat In Murudeshwara
This place hosts a large number of eateries and restaurants that serve authentic local cuisines to travelers. You have to definitely go to Naveen restaurant that is built a few yards into the Arabian sea. And this restaurant is possibly one of the best places to witness the dramatic sunsets. You will get idlis, vada, dosas, ghee roast, Upma, Kesaribath, Bisibelebath, rice, sambar, rasam papad, etc
Even though it is a temple town, a little far away from the temple, there are restaurants that serve you some delicious seafood. You gotta try Bhatkal biryani, fish fry, fish thali, kingfish Rava fry, prawns thali, prawns, Anjal masala, pepper chicken, etc. For seafood Nayak Fishland, Naveen beach resort, and sea lounge restaurants should be on top of your list.
How To Reach Murdeshwara
It is a very popular Pilgrimage center in Karnataka. So, you will be finding plenty of government as well as private bus services from Bangalore to this region. Moreover, It drops you off right next to the Murudeshwara Temple. You will even find frequent bus services from different parts of Karnataka.
Also, read: Maravanthe Beach
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