This picturesque place situated 16 kms from Bhatkal has a gorgeous temple perched on a hillock by the shore. Murudeshwar is around 180 km from Mangalore on the National Highway.
 
On the route along the highway is the alluring Maravanthe Beach with the Arabian Sea roaring on the west and a serene river on the east along this route for almost 2 kilometres.
 

The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple scape at  Murudeshwar. The sea surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri on three sides.
  
Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The Murudeshwar temple has a history that dates back to a few centuries.

Local Belief
The temple, which embodies a linga, is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the atmatlinga at Gokarana while lifting it. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse.

Fort:
There is also a huge fort behind the temple said to have been renovated by Tipu sultan, the ruler of Mysore