Murudeshwar is a coastal town located in Bhatkal taluk of the state of Karnataka. A tourist’s delight, Murudeshwar is highly renowned for owning the second tallest statue of Lord Shiva after the one situated in Sanga, near Kathmandu in Nepal. The astounding temple is located on a hill named Kanduka Giri where the westernmost tip of the town is a landmass that sticks out of the mainland and forms a tiny peninsula spread to about 2 km towards the western side of the temple.
An architectural marvel, the statue is built in such a way that the back of Lord Shiva faces the Arabian Sea and stands tall at a towering 249 ft. Besides this, the marvelous beach that abounds this area is also a great picnic spot and with the Western Ghats in the backdrop, the silvery beach is a great spectacle and is well equipped for various water sports activities like boat rides, water jet, etc.
Best Time to Visit Murdeshwar
Though not advisable to visit during monsoon, Murudeshwar should be visited from October to May. The place is best equipped with good accommodation and the nearby railway station and bus stand along with taxi service which makes it convenient for commuters. Even the place is dotted with quality restaurants.
Places to Visit in Murdeshwar:
Gopuram: The Lord Shiva statue is constructed at a specific angle so that at sunrise the rays fall directly on it for it sparkle while a 20-story Gopura has been built adjacent to the statue in the same temple complex. This edifice has an elevator that takes you to the top and gives you a 360-degree panoramic view of the place. The Rameshwara linga is placed at the bottom of the hill but the Sanctum Santorum where it is placed is not within the reach of devotees.
- Ganesh temple: A renowned Ganesh temple is located 15 km from Murudeshwar at a place called Idagunji, which houses an ancient temple which is known to date back 1500 years. Around 1million pilgrims are known to visit the temple where the black-stoned idol of Ganapathi stands tall with two hands.
- Apsarakonda: Apsara Konda is a small waterfall located near the neighboring town of Honnavara where water cascades down from a height of 10 meters and with this pond facing the sea it appears like a lagoon. The best time to visit is from October onwards.
- Bhatkal: This is also another nearby town from Murudehwar down south and is famous for its market. This place is famous for the Chitrapur Math, the Jali beach, and the lighthouse.
- Netrani Island: A small island located in the Arabian sea it is 10 nautical miles off the coast of Murudeshwar and is a paradise for scuba divers.
