Murudeshwara : Bond of Arabian sea and Spirituality

Murudeshwara is town located at coastal region in Uttar Kanada (Karnataka state). The word 'Murudeshwara' represents one of the name for lord Shiva. This town is popularly know for second tallest statue of lord Shiva (after statue of Kailashnath Mahadev situated at Sanga, around 40 km from Kathmandu in Nepal) in the world. 

Murudeshwara has the railway station (around 3 km from temple) on the Manglore-Mumbai Konkan railway route. It is a small station and only 4 or 5 trains have halt at this station.

                                   Murudeshwara Station ( Source: google images)
                                     

                   Time table of trains having halt at Murudeshwara (Source: cleartrip.com)

If you are travelling by road, this town is located on NH17 (Panvel-Kochi national highway) around 100 km north of Udupi and 110 km south of Karvar.

                          Location of Murudeshwara with respect to Karvar and Udupi

 We were on Costal Karnataka trip when we visited Murudeshwara and Gokarna on same from Udupi. If you are travelling from Udupi, you must visit Maravanthe beach en-route around 50 km before Murudeshwara which is only one of its kind in India. The highway lies between Suparnika river and Arabian sea, so if you are travelling from Udupi to Murudeshwara, sea coast lies on your left hand side and river lies on your right hand side. This beach is very scenic and beautiful and you will also notice that level of sea is above that of river.

Once you reach Murudeshwara town on highway you need to turn left and travel around 2 km to reach temple complex. You get glimpse of giant Shiva statue from distance. In complex near coast, there is Murudeshwara temple which is built on hill surrounded by sea water on three sides. Next to temple giant statue of lord Shiva is constructed which around 123 ft in height.

In front of temple, 20 storied Gopuram has been constructed which is also called as 'Raj- Gopuram'. The temple authorities have provided lift facility so that visitor can go on top of the Gopuram to get beautiful view of statue and sea surrounding it. Unfortunately, on the day we visited, this lift was closed for maintenance work.

The temple premises also has has lavish gardens and different statues and sculptures. Few amazing sculptures include two big elephants at steps leading to main temple, Sun Chariot, sculpture of Geeta -upadesh by lord krishna to Arjuna, sculpture of lord Ganesha getting Atmalinga from Ravana, different rishi-muni performing their tapasya  and lord Ganesha writing Mahabharata under guidelines of Vyas muni.

Do not miss to capture pictures of giant lord Shiva statue from every possible angle. You will feel like capturing more and more pics from every angle.

view of lord Shiva's statue and Gopuram from sea shore offers one of the amazing view.

 It is worth spending couple of hours in this temple premises especially from top of hill where you will feel amazed divine beauty of Arabian sea on one side and statue and Gopuram on the other.