In the North Canara district in coastal Karnataka’s Bhatkala Taluk sits the temple town of Murudeshwara. It is situated between the scenic Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea on the primary Mangalore-Karwar Highway. Its main draw is a Shiva Temple with Chalukya and Kadamba sculptures constructed in the Dravidian architectural style, along with
its immaculate beach and magnificent Shiva statue. The temple is perched atop a hillside with a stunning view of the ocean. The temple complex is well-known for its tall Shiva statue, the tallest Shiva monument in India at about 37 m high. With a height of 237 feet, the temple’s gopura ranks second in India. The enormous statue may be seen shimmering against the water across the beach. With a height of 237 feet, the temple’s gopura ranks second in India. One can see the huge monument glittering against a backdrop of a blue sky from across the beach. In the lovely garden nearby, there is also a sizable statue of the Gitopadesha that is represented with a chariot.
The twenty-story Raja Gopuram, which stands at the entrance to the temple complex, is around 237.5 feet tall. On top of a tiny mound known as Kanduka, the temple was constructed. For the convenience of the worshippers, a list has been constructed that takes them to the summit of the hill and the Gopuram. The beautiful vista of the Lord
Shiva monument and the breathtaking beach are the temple’s most enticing features. Shri Rameshwara temple can be seen at the base of the temple. Below the Lord Shiva’s idol is a little cave, and there is also a shrine dedicated to Shaneeshwara just next to the Lord Shiva’s idol.

Two elephant statues that are said to serve as the temple’s guardians are located at the entrance gate. There is a statue of Lord Shiva, delivering Arjuna the Geeta teaching on the temple grounds, and next to it is a statue of Ravana offering Lord Ganesha the Atma Linga. The entire temple has been modernised, with the exception of the principal
sanctum, which retains its original flavour. The businessman and philanthropist R.N. Shetty had constructed the modern temple.

The Hindu gods acquired immortality and invincibility by worshipping a sacred Linga known as the Atma-Linga. Ravana, the Lankan king, sought immortality by taking possession of the Atma-Linga (Soul of Shiva). Since Sri Maheshwara was the rightful owner of the Atma-Linga, Ravana reverently worshipped Shiva. Following his prayers, Sri
Mahadeva stood before him and enquired about his desires. Ravana asked the Atma-Linga a question. Until he reaches Lanka, Sri Rudra consented to grant him the blessing that it should never be set down. If the Atma-Linga ever set on the surface, it would be difficult to move. After receiving his approval, Ravana set out on his return trip to Lanka.
Following his prayers, Sri Mahadeva stood before him and enquired about his desires. Knowing about this incident, Lord Vishnu believed that Ravana may use the Atma-Linga to become immortal and wreak havoc on Earth. He warned Sri Ganesha not to enter Lanka via the Atma-Linga in his address to him. Sri Skandapurvaja was aware of Ravana’s devotion to God and his consistent attendance at nightly prayers. He made the decision to use this fact and devised a scheme to seize Ravana’s Atma-Linga.

To create the illusion of dusk as Ravana approached Gokarna, Sri Mahavishnu snuffed out the light. Now that it was time for Ravana to do his evening rites, he was concerned that holding the Atma-Linga might prevent him from performing them. He was then approached by Sri Shashivarnam, who was posing as a little Brahmin lad. Before he
performed his rites, Ravana instructed him to maintain the Atma-Linga and pleaded with him not to set it down on the ground. In exchange for his cooperation, Sri Vinayaka agreed to call Ravana three times and place the Atma-Linga on the ground if Ravana didn’t return by then.

When Ravana came back, Sri Chaturbhuja had already placed the Atma-Linga on the ground. When Sri Keshava removed his misconception, the sun was shining once more. Ravana attempted to smash the linga after learning he had been duped. Ravana’s force causes several fragments to become dispersed. According to reports from Surathkal, one of these pieces fell from the linga’s head today. According to legend, that linga fragment served as the foundation for Sadashiva’s well-known temple. He then made the decision to deface the Atma-Linga cover and tossed the protective case 37 kilometres away to Sajjeshwar. Then he tossed the case’s lid to Guneshwar (now Gunavanthe) and Dhareshwar, which are both located 16–19 kilometres apart. Finally, at a place called Mrideshwar in Kanduka-Giri (Kanduka Hill), he threw the cloth covering the Atma-Linga. That’s about the temple’s history.
Maha Shivaratri is the major festival, celebrated at this temple on a grand scale, attracting thousands of people from Karnataka and the nearby states.
One should visit to capture the rustic charm of the place

And you can also experience snorkelling and scuba diving Making the trip even more adventurous and eventful.