Murudeshwar Beach
Location
: 16 Kms From Bhatkal, Karnataka
Main Attraction
: Murdeshwar Temple
Best Season
: Throughout The Year
Famous As
: A Picnic Spot
We came to the beach of the temple-town of Murudeshwar in the evening when dusk gilded the promontory dominated by its Shiva temple, with a heroic statue of the Mahayogi enthroned on the ridge. The beach leading up to the sacred hillock, thrusting out to the sea, is wide and long, dotted with occasional fishing boats. Viewing the sun sinking into the gilded sea at dusk, from the headland of the promontory, is a favoured activity with visitors. We stayed in the low-rise, lawn-centred, Naveen Beach Resort. It is separated from the beach by a coastal road and so we ambled across to the beach, and walked briskly down it, early one morning.
The statue of Lord Shiva was resplendent and women in bright saris stood in their own reflections, as the tide swept in, dabbling for shellfish.
Fishermen assured us that it's a safe beach and we did see a few brave swimmers but it's not quite the Goan-Calangute scene. Murudeshwar is, essentially, a very laid-back, beach with very few tourists when we visited it and, thanks to the presence of the temple, which dominates it, still very far from the bikinis and bronzed hulks set. We view it as a serene, do-nothing, escape by the sea with the bonus of acquiring spiritual benefits during your holiday. And if you care to stroll across to the fishing harbour in the morning, when the catch comes in, you could persuade your hotel to serve you your favourite sea food, hopping fresh.
The fare served in the Naveen Beach Resort was delectable. We also liked the simple, homely, food we had in the understated Turtle Bay Resort. It's just off the dramatic coastal highway with its impressive seascapes: sandy coves guarded by rocks fringed by snarling surf; mysterious wooded creeks winding into the hinterland; unexpected, red-tiled, fishing villages snuggling under palm groves. One such village is Trasi.
Prime Attractions
Murdeshwar Temple
This picturesque place situated 16 kms from Bhatkal has a gorgeous temple perched on a hillock by the shore. Murudeshwar is around 180 km from Mangalore on the National Highway.
On the route along the highway is the alluring Maravanthe Beach with the Arabian Sea roaring on the west and a serene river on the east along this route for almost 2 kilometres.
The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple scape at Murudeshwar. The sea surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri on three sides.
Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The Murudeshwar temple has a history that dates back to a few centuries.
Local Belief
The temple, which embodies a linga, is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the atmatlinga at Gokarana while lifting it. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse.
Fort:
There is also a huge fort behind the temple said to have been renovated by Tipu sultan, the ruler of Mysore .
How To Get There
Air : The nearest airport is at Goa.
Rail : Hubli is the nearest railhead.
Road : Bhatkal is 16 kms by road from Murudeshwar.
