Karnataka’s coast is known to have some of the best places which offer unique experiences to tourists and explorers. If you’re ever planning to visit this part of India, one town you must stop at is Murudeshwar. Known for Asia’s second tallest Gopura and Shiva statue, Murudeshwar is a small place that simply envelopes you in its tropical and surreal vibe.
In Murudeshwar, you can see and do many things, and it is a must-visit place in Karnataka. Now that we’ve built the hype and have your attention let us take you through the top 5 things you must do/see in Murudeshwar. Let’s get right to it.
Things To Do At Murudeshwar
Table of Contents
1. Visit The Murudeshwar Temple
Needless to say, the first thing you must see is the titular temple. This religious site is situated near the Arabian Sea and harbors the Gopura (Temple Tower) and the Shiva statue. It has a rich cultural and spiritual history and is a pilgrimage site for the devotees of Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Lord Shiva is also known as Murudeshwara or Sri Mridesa Linga. Hence the temple and the town are named after him.
To know more about the temple’s history, interesting information about the Shiva statue, temple tower, entry fee, timings, etc., refer to the Murudeshwara Temple guide.
2. Scuba Diving At Netrani Island
The heart-shaped Netrani island, located 21 Km away, is accessible only by boat from the shores of Murudeshwar. The area around the tiny landmass is known to harbor rich marine life, and the island is home to one of India’s PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified scuba diving centers.
Netrani Island is rich in underwater marine life and is one of India’s PADI-certified scuba diving centers. Our experience exploring the underwater realm was unparalleled, and if you’d like to try your hand at this activity, we’ve got a blog for you.
3. Take A Day Trip To Honnavar
Honnavar is a beautiful town located just 27 Km from Murudeshwar. The place is an abode for hidden gems that every explorer must check out if they are backpacking across the West coast. We rented a bike from Murudeshwar and rode to several lesser-known places far from urbanization and commercialization. Don’t worry, you too can go to all those places and perhaps more. Read our Honnavar travel guide and equip yourself with all the necessary details that will come in handy.
4. Taste Gudbud Ice Cream
When we travel to any place, we like to taste the authentic dishes of that land. While looking for some new and intriguing, we stumbled upon the Gudbud ice cream. Thanks to the locals who introduced this mouth-watering dessert which added to our overall experience. The Gudbud ice cream resembles a Falooda but contains more nuts and cherries. There’s a Mangalorean touch to the delicacy, which you just can’t forget.
We loved Gudbud at Hotel Indraprastha. Have you heard of the Gudbud ice cream? Let us know how you liked it, and drop names of some other Mangalorean dishes we must try. We’ll surely have them the next time we travel to the region.
5. Watch The Sunset
After wandering across towns, we know you must be tired and would want to relax. For this, you’ll have to head back to the Gorpura Temple Tower for the golden hour. The sunset from the 18th floor is almost ethereal.
Although we have seen quite a few sunsets from different viewpoints, something about them feels so fresh and unique each time we witness them from another place. Perhaps the diverse backdrops make the sunset seem so different, or we merely romanticize a simple natural phenomenon.
Nevertheless, we couldn’t stop gazing at the golden circle as its rays reflected on the waters of the Arabian Sea. In the forefront, the Shiva statue stood with sheer magnificence, and the complete landscape was a sight to behold. We then relaxed by the Murudeshwar beach and saw the sun dip into the horizon as the sky transformed from orange to pink to purple and finally to blue.
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