Popular Temple
Murudeshwar Temple
Murudeshwar, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka
Home to one of the world's tallest Shiva statues, overlooking the Arabian Sea
At a glance
- Location
- Murudeshwar, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka
- Presiding deity
- Lord Shiva (as Murudeshwar)
- Temple type
- Popular Temple
- Tradition
- Shaiva
- Nearest railway station
- Murudeshwar railway station (~2 km)
- Nearest airport
- Mangalore International Airport (~165 km)
- Best time to visit
- October to March, avoiding the monsoon humidity and coastal storms.
History
Murudeshwar Temple sits on a small hill surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. Its standout feature is a roughly 37-metre statue of Shiva, installed in the early 2000s by businessman R.N. Shetty, alongside a striking 20-storey gopuram offering sweeping sea views.
Spiritual significance
Visitors can take a lift up the gopuram's upper floors, with the coastal views making the site popular for both pilgrimage and tourism.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
6:00 AM to 8:30 PM.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
Murudeshwar railway station lies on the Konkan Railway line, connected to Mumbai, Goa, and Mangalore; the temple is a short auto ride from the station.
Continue your Shiva bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.