Shiva statue at Murudeshwara

Murudeshwar is a small pilgrimage town on the coast in the Karnataka state of India.

Understand

"Murudeshwara" is another name of the Hindu god Shiva. Famous for the world's tallest Shiva statue, this beach town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwara Temple.

Get in

By bus

Now sleeper/sitting non AC buses are available from Bangalore. They take just over 12 hours to reach and costs vary from 600-750 depending on the operator and the seating chosen.

By train

Murudeshwara station lies on the Konkan Railway. Some trains from Mumbai and Mangalore stop here. There are no direct trains from Bangalore. However there is a train (on Mon, Wed and Fri) at 07:30 hrs from Yeshwantpur, which is in the outskirts of Bangalore, to Bhatkal. Alternatively, one can alight at Bhatkal station.

By air

Nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport, 165 km away. Hubli and Panaji airports are other alternatives.

See

• Murudeshwar is a land mass projected into the Arabian sea in the shape of a Shiva Linga. There are beaches on all the three sides of the land mass. The beaches are hard sand and drivable.
• Murudeshwara Temple and Raja Gopura: This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and a 20-storied Gopura is being constructed on the temple. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The entire temple and temple complex, including the 249 feet tall Raja Gopura, which is considered the tallest gopura in the world, was constructed to its present form by businessman and philanthropist Mr R N Shetty.
• Statue of Lord Shiva: A huge towering statue of Lord Shiva, visible from great distances, is present in the temple complex. It is the tallest statue of Shiva in the world. The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, and took about 2 years to build. The statue was built by Shivamogga's Kashinath and several other sculptors, financed by businessman and philanthropist Mr R.N. Shetty, at a cost of approximately ₹50 million. The idol is designed such that it gets the sun light directly and thus appears sparkling. Originally, the statue had four arms, and was adorned in gold paint. However, large wind gusts blew the arm off (the one that held a small drum), and rains dissolved the paint.
• Murudeshwara Fort: A fort present behind the temple is said to have been renovated by Tipu Sultan.
• There is a small exhibition of statues telling the story of Murudeshwara and Shiva from the epics. The exhibition is inside a cave built under the Shiva statue. Tickets ₹10/- for adults and ₹5/- for children.
• Near the Shiva statue, there is a more beautiful statue representing the discourse of Krishna and Arjuna in a chariot.

Do

Diving: For those who want to dive in clear waters, there are organized trips to 1 Netrani Island (also known as Pigeon Island). Netrani Island is about 10 nautical miles off shore from Murudeshwara. Diving shops in Goa can help you in getting you there.

Buy

There are several souvenir shops and bag shops all around the beach.

Eat

Good restaurants and roadside stall are scattered all around the beach.

Sleep

• Naveen Beach Resort. A/C rooms just across from the shore. Also has a multi-cuisine restaurant and bar. About ₹2100.00 per double room; ₹300.00 extra per child. 
• RNS Residency, 581350. Bhatkal Taluk, ☏ +91-22-6150 6363. 3-star hotel facing the Arabian Sea, near the temple. It has 90 rooms with centralised air-conditioning, modern amenities, a health club, swimming pool, gymnasium and other facilities. ₹3000.00 per double room; ₹500.00 extra per child.