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:
- Visiting all the temples located by the sea one by one and experiencing the immense rich natural flora that the adjoining scenic green hills offer.
- A popular picnic spot, it provides a soothing getaway from the rigors of a hectic and pressure-oriented city lifestyle.
- The local buffalo races and cock fights continue to enthrall locals and foreigners alike. More than entertainment it helps the visitors connect with the city in its original form. They relish the local flavor of knowing this place first hand in the way it survives.
- For those looking for heritage value, two larger than life elephants adorn the entry to the famous temples. They have stood their ground for centuries as if to welcome all tourists in grand fashion. Lastly, the trip would remain incomplete without a timely visit of the gigantic fort that is believed to carry the memoirs of none other than the Mysore Tiger – Tipu Sultan.
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.
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