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Murudeshwara Temple is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist spots in Karnataka because of the humongous statue of Shiva that it houses. The temple is built on the Kanduka Hill and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. Travellers from all over the world come to marvel at not just the 123-ft Shiva temple but also the 20-storey (237ft) Gopuram at the front.
Address : Murudeshwar Temple, NH 7, Bhatkal Taluk, Murudeshwar, North Canara, Karnataka- 581350
Although the Murudeshwara Temple is hundreds of years old, you wouldn’t believe it if you were standing right in front of it. This is because the temple and the Shiva Statue have been renovated by the businessman and philanthropist R.N Shetty to make the ancient structure last for several more centuries. Apart from the inner sanctorum, almost everything here has been recently renovated. Now there is a lift as well for devotees of all age groups to reach the top of the temple with ease.
With the whole Gopuram now being renovated, the temple looks even more majestic. Of course, even with the renovations, the sanctity of the main shrine has been kept intact.
There are multiple statues, parks and pools in the complex. A large number of statues are of Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Ganesha while the other statues are that of chariots, a scene of Lord Ganesha deceiving Ravana and so on.
The nearest airport to this temple is the Mangalore Airport, which is 160 km away. Since the temple lies near the Mangalore-Mumbai highway, it is easily accessible from here.
If you travel by road, you can get a direct bus to the Murudeshwara Temple from all major cities in Karnataka like Karwar, Gokarna, Bangalore, Mangalore, Dharmasthala and so on. All these cities are within the distance of 200 kms from the temple.
The nearest railway station is at Murudeshwar itself, which is well connected to many major cities in South India.
The best time to visit the temple is during the winter months from October to February. However, you might want to avoid going there in December if you do not like crowds. Also, keep in mind that December is the peak season, which leads to price hikes in nearby hotels.
The temple opens daily at 3 AM and remains open till 1 PM. It then reopens after two hours at 3 PM and then closes at 8 PM after the sun sets.
There are no ticket charges applicable at the Murudeshwar Temple.
Murudeshwar Temple is definitely one of the best places to visit in Karnataka. Here, you not only get to visit a holy place but also see something architecturally stunning. Check out our travel packages to visit this lovely temple!
Explore our travel packages to Karnataka to visit the Murudeshwara Temple and pay your respects to the second-largest Shiva statue in the world!
