Murudeshwara is a major pilgrimage and beach destination located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India. Murudeshwara is known for its ancient temple, tallest statue of lord shiva and beautiful beach. Murudeshwara Beach is located overlooking the monumental statue of Lord Shiva, this beach is the perfect picnic spot for families and loved ones. You can also enjoy boat rides around the magnificent Murudeshwar Temple. The Statue of Lord Shiva on the lap of the Arabian sea in Murudeshwara is the second biggest statue of Lord Shiva in the world after the statue in Nepal. The statue and temple are located on the beach in Murudeshwara. The magnificent Murudeshwara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. The main temple's entrance, also called the 'gopura' stands at 123 feet and you can witness the breathtaking view of the Shiva statue from the top of the gopura. With these attractions Murudeshwara is one of the top tourist destinations in the region. Murudeshwara is located at approx 12km from Bhatkal, 77km from Gokarna, 156km from Mangalore, 488km from Bengaluru, 190km from Goa, 570km from Kochi, 265km from Belgaum.

With a number of beautiful places to visit in Murudeshwar, this beachside pilgrimage town is an excellent getaway. If you are seeking a serene place then you can head to the Shri Murudeshwar Temple that is a shrine of Lord Shiva or can stroll around at the Murudeshwara beach that is known for its wonderful landscapes. The quaint town is an excellent vacation spot and is snuggled alongside the Arabian Sea and features the tallest status of Lord Statue that is a delight to witness.

Apart from this, there is a wide array of Murudeshwar Tourist Places namely Jali beach, Murudeshwar Fort, Statue Park, and several others. The town gives divine feels and is dotted with a number of beautiful temples and beaches that will melt your heart away-and make your holiday memorable. Whether you are vacationing with your family or a bunch of friends this destination is perfect for all kinds of travelers.

History of Murudeshwar temple

Murudeshwar is a town, a pilgrimage destination ideally positioned at the Bhatkal Taluk of the Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka.

The beauty of Murudeshwar temple is recognized to be the home of the 123 feet tallest statue of Lord Shiva. The temple tower is around 249 feet tall. The temple is built on the splendid Kanduka hills in between the Bhatkal and Honnavar, surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats makes it look charismatic.

At a distance of around 162 kilometers from Mangalore this temple is located. It covers a distance of around 497 kilometers from Bangalore, 214 kilometers from Panjim, 113 kilometers from Karwar, 76 kilometers from Gokarna and 188 kilometers from Shimoga.

Murudeshwar apart from being one of the leading pilgrimage destinations is one of the top beach resorts in the south. The history of the Murudeshwar temple is large. It is known by the name of Mrideshwara, later renamed to Murudeshwar once the construction of the temple was done.

Known as the abode of Lord Shiva, cherished and worshipped across the nation, this popular pilgrimage destination is visited by people from time to time.

As history states, Ravana once brought the Atma Lingam from the Kailash mountain. The mischievous, as we all know, Ganesha, used his tricks to fool Ravana on the way back to Lanka. He put down the Linga ground of Gokarna.

Ravana was so angry by this, that he tried to destroy the Linga and uprooted it from the ground. However, the broken pieces of the Linga cast away due to natural changes. A cloth is used to cover the lingam fell at the location, Kanduka Giri. Murudeshwar temple thus, built on this site.

Best Time To Visit Murudeshwar

Winter season from October to February is the best time to visit Murudeshwar. Winter is the perfect time to explore the sea life of Murudeshwar and the weather is cool, pleasant for sightseeing. Also, adventure activities like scuba diving are usually open from November. If you are planning to visit Murudeshwar for scuba diving, then November to January is the best time to visit this sacred place.

Peak Season In Murudeshwar

December to January, Maha Shivaratri and May to June are the peak seasons in Murudeshwar. December and January is the busiest season in Murudeshwar and it is also the New Year holiday time, which attracts a large number of travelers visiting this place and hotels are usually expensive during this season. Maha Shivaratri is the major festival celebrated at this temple in a grand scale, attracting thousands of people from Karnataka and the nearby states during this season. Summer would be quite hot and humid but the evenings are pleasant with cool breeze.

How to Reach Murudeshwara

By Air- The nearest airport to Murudeshwara is the Mangalore international Airport which is located at a distance of 153 km away. This airport is well connected to all the major cities in India as well as around the world. From the airport you can hire a taxi or you will get rental cars that will take you to Murudeshwara.

By Road- There are private and state run buses that ply among Murudeshwar to Mumbai, Kochi and Bengaluru. Murudeshwara is located on National Highway 17,connecting Mumbai to Kochi via Mangalore.

By Rail- The Murudeshwar railway station is well connected to Mangalore and Mumbai. Mangalore is the major railhead and it is connected to all the major Indian Cities. Murudeshwar railway station is located 2 km east of Murudeshwara and can be reached by buses and auto-rickshaws.