Murudeshwara Temple & Beach
The Murudeshwar Beach at Mangalore is another beach with a major tourist attraction from the upcoming beaches in south India. Although it is famous mainly as a religious city that is home to the famous Murudeshwar temple, it is also acquiring an increasing number of pan India and foreign visitors with a beautiful beach in the offing
This temple is a natural wonder with aesthetically carved designs. Its other religious tourist attractions are a temple that houses the famous Pranling, which is an ancient preservation for centuries now. A few other temples, notably the Kanduka Giri, bring immense mythological value to this venue. A rather recently constructed Shiva statue near the beach stands huge at 15 meters in height, and it is another major tourist attraction.
Life Along the Beaches of Murudeshwar
The beaches are located amidst a perfect blend of natural blue waters being lapped by a beautiful landscape of mountains and hillocks in the background. The ambience is made near perfect with the tall coconut trees, which are so common of the south Indian beaches. Other vegetation in the forms of rare areca groves brings the beauty that is restricted only to an area like Murudeshwar. The waters here are cool and bed gentle waves for swimming, but strong currents do frequent the shores during high tides.
The religious mood of the place is well complimented by the active sea and its constantly splashing waters at all times of the day. The nearest urban settlement is at about 15 km to the town of Bhatkal.
Being a much sought-after tourist destination, Murudeshwar is well connected from Bhatkal and arrangements have been put in place for both intra-state tourists as well as foreign travelers. Other than the temples and natural beaches, Murudeshwar has restricted areas of interests. However, the experience remains incomplete without the following:
The Local Cuisine Near the Beach
A visit to Murudeshwar temples and beaches will gradually lead you to the third important facet – that of the simple local gourmet. The coastal lands abound in coconut and hence sweets prepared from local coconut and other flavors of rice and fish curry are sure to leave you insatiated and wanting for more. A plentiful combination of jackfruits, local mangoes, and cashews completes the list. Small temple cottages of modest comfort will be available for resting at nights.
Distance from Murudeshwara :
Bangalore: 514 Km
Mysore: 407 Km
Mangalore: 156Km
Shimoga: 187 Km
Chikmagalur: 238 Km
Karwar: 118.5 Km
Kundapura: 65.5 Km
Udupi: 101.5 Km
Kollur: 60 Km
Maravanthe: 12.5 Km
Bhatkal: 14.8 Km
Gokarna: 78.5 Km
Byndoor: 33 Km
How to get there:
Nearest Airport: Mangalore International Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Murudeshwara
Road: Murudeshwara well connected by road network. It lies on National Highway NH-66. Direct buses are available from Bangalore, Sagara, Honnavara, Murudeshwara and other main places of Coastal Karnataka.
Route map to reach Murudeshwara:
From Bangalore: via Nelamangala – Tumkuru – Davangere – Shivmoga – Sagara – Honnavara – Murudeshwara
From Mysore: via Hunsur – Kushalanagar – Madikeri – Sulya – Puttur – Mangalore – Mulki – Udupi – Kundapur – Byndoor – Bhatkala
From Mangalore: via Surathkal – Mulki – Udupi – Kundapur (NH-66) – Byndoor – Bhatkala
From Udupi: via Kundapur on National Highway (NH-66) – Byndoor – Bhatkala
