Murudeshwara Temple

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India /Karnataka /Uttara Kannada /Murudeshwar

Murudeshwar Temple is situated on Main Road, NH – 17, Murudeshwar, Bhatkal Taluk, Karnataka 581350. Edit

Detail InformationEdit

Murudeshwar is a pilgrim’s paradise. Right from the monumental entrance arch, the divinity of the place envelops the pilgrim. The Rajagopura at the entrance of the Temple is the world’s tallest, standing at 249 feet. Inaugurated in May 2008, this mammoth structure is the latest addition to the Temple. The Gopura has 22 floors and is the only Gopura to be fitted with elevators. Besides the temple, the pilgrim finds himself in the midst of numerous sculptures on the Kanduka hill. The Geetopadesha, Sun chariot, the sculpture of Lord Ganesh receiving the Atmalinga from Ravana in the form of a young boy, and others dot the landscape of the hill. On the very top is the Shiva statue. Beneath the statue is a cavern with impressive life-size sculptures depicting the story of Murudeshwar narrated through an impressive sound and light show. Not to be missed out are the Thirthas (water streams) like Bheema thirtha and Agni thirtha which originate on the hillock. This tranquil temple town surrounded by the sea on three sides, is the ideal destination for the seeker.

Murudeshwara Temple, Murudeshwar

HistoryEdit

Murudeshwara town, earlier known by the name ‘Mrideshwara’, is named after the ancient Murudeshwara Temple of Lord Shiva. The ancient scriptures point to the existence of the town to the period of the Ramayana. As per legend, the Demon King Ravana brought Atma – Linga or Mahabaleshwara Linga – from Kailasa Parvata but Lord Ganesha placed it in Gokarna. Ravana, in great anger, flung the other parts of the idol such as the casket, the lid, the string around the lingam and the covering cloth of the idol to Sajjeshwara, Guneshwara or Gunavanthe, Dhareswara and Kanduka Hill of Mrideshwara respectively. The lid took the form of Vamdev Linga, the thread as Tatpurusha Linga and the cloth became Aghora Linga or Mridesa Linga. Knowing about this incident from Lord Vayu, Lord Shiva, along with Goddess Parvathi and Lord Ganesha, visited these places and consecrated the lingas. He declared these lingas as his ‘pancha-khshetras’ and also that worshipping these idols can wash off the sins of the devotees and transcend them from the cyclical re-incarnation of the soul by attaining Moksha. ‘Mrideshwara’ was later renamed as ‘Murudeshwara’ after the construction of the temple atop Kanduka Hill. Murudeshwara Temple is the chief attraction of the place with its 123 feet tall idol of Neelkanta or Lord Shiva and 249 feet high entrance tower, the Raja Gopura. Apart from being a pilgrimage destination, Murudeshwara is also known for the ‘Murudeshwara Fort’ located in its vicinity, which was renovated by Tipu Sultan.

Must SeeEdit

Popular

Visiting TimeEdit

5:00 am – 1:00 pm
3:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

November to February.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning, Evening.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

1 hour.

Ticket Required : No Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

Sri Ganesh Bhavan ; Near KSRTC Bus Stand, Murudeshwara, Karnataka, India. ; Ph/M – N.A. ; Food Serve – South Indian.

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Taxies are available in Murudeshwara from airport and railway station.

Bus : Murudeshwar is well connected by road and most buses plying on the NH-17 between Mangalore and Mumbai stop at Murudeshwar. There are overnight buses also from Bangalore to Murudeshwar.

Train : Nearest railway station is Murudeshwar. But some trains do not stop here. Therefore another Nearest station is Bhatkal station. From Murudeshwara railway station, it takes is just 2 km to reach Murudeshwara Temple and Beach.

Air : Nearest airport is also at Mangalore. Daily flights operate from Bangalore to Mangalore.

Others : Auto-rickshaws are also available in Murudeshwara.