Murudeshwar is a well known pilgrimage site located in the Bhatkal taluk of Uttara Kannada district (North Canara district). The place is known for Shiva temple surrounded by the Arabian Sea. The temple has been reconstructed in recent times. The place attracts wide range of tourists because of the scenic beauty. The place can be visited along with other destinations nearby (Idugunji Ganapathi temple, Gokarna Shiva temple) in a package. Murudeshwara is said to be the place where a part of Lord Shiva?s ?Atma Lingam? was fallen. The story refers back to the story of the Ramayana: People say that Ravana , the king of Lanka tried to take away the ?Atma Lingam? (Shiva incarnated) of Shiva to Lanka from Gokarna?another holy place near Murudeshwar. It is also said that he was halted on his expedition and was made to drop the ?lingam?; and, one part of it was fallen in Murudeshwar. The temple of Shiva is situated on a hill (Kanduka hill) amidst the Arabian Sea. The temple has been reconstructed in concrete attracting a huge crowd of devotees every day. Besides being a pilgrimage spot, Murudeshwar has also become a good picnic spot. There is a huge statue of Shiva made in concrete. The statue is known as the second tallest statue in the world. Murudeshwar is located on the Bhatkal-Mangalore National Highway that passes through Kumta-Honnavar-Bhatkal-Kundapur-Udupi route. It is just 16 km away from the city of Bhatkal. It is just at a distance of one kilometer from the National highway. It can be reached via Mangalore by air. Mangalore is the nearest airport. Taxi cabs are available from Mangalore. If you want to travel by train, take the Konkan Railways route. Trains passing through Mumbai, Goa, and Mangalore stop at Murudeshwar.
